I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within
my heart.
PSALM 40:8
DEFINING THE WILL OF GOD
O that we would not only know God's will, but that we like David would delight in His will also! In general, the Bible refers to the "will of God" in three different senses as you
will see below.
THE WILL OF GOD AND THE LAW OF GOD
In some passages, "the will of God" is another way of saying "the law of God." For example, David parallels the phrases "thy law" with "thy will" in (PSALM 40:8). Similarly, the apostle Paul considers knowing God's law to be synonymous with knowing God's will (ROMANS 2:17-20). In other words, since in His law God instructs us in the way that He wants us to walk, the law may properly be called "the will of God." "Law" essentially means "instruction" and includes the whole word of God.
GOD'S PERFECT WILL
"The will of God" is also used to designate anything that God expressly desires; this may properly be called God's "perfect will." For example, it is God's revealed will that everyone be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 PETER 3:9) and that no saved believer should fall from grace. This truth does not mean that everyone will be saved, but only that God desires the salvation of everyone.
GOD'S PERMISSIVE WILL
Finally, the "will of God" may refer to what God permits or allows to happen, even though He does not specifically desire it to happen; this may properly be called God's "permissive will." Indeed, much that happens in the world is contrary to God's perfect will (e.g., sin, lust, violence, hatred, and hardheartedness), yet He permits evil to continue for the time being.
For example, the decision of many people to remain unsaved and thus lost for all eternity is permitted by God, for He does not force saving faith on those who refuse to accept His Son's salvation. Similarly, God permits many troubles and evils that befall a person in life (1 PETER 3:17 & 4:19), but they are not necessarily His desire or ultimate will for that person
(1 JOHN 5:19).
TODAY: Delight and Surrender, letting God's Will be done in each of us.
BELOW:
Song: Sweet Will of God
my heart.
PSALM 40:8
DEFINING THE WILL OF GOD
O that we would not only know God's will, but that we like David would delight in His will also! In general, the Bible refers to the "will of God" in three different senses as you
will see below.
THE WILL OF GOD AND THE LAW OF GOD
In some passages, "the will of God" is another way of saying "the law of God." For example, David parallels the phrases "thy law" with "thy will" in (PSALM 40:8). Similarly, the apostle Paul considers knowing God's law to be synonymous with knowing God's will (ROMANS 2:17-20). In other words, since in His law God instructs us in the way that He wants us to walk, the law may properly be called "the will of God." "Law" essentially means "instruction" and includes the whole word of God.
GOD'S PERFECT WILL
"The will of God" is also used to designate anything that God expressly desires; this may properly be called God's "perfect will." For example, it is God's revealed will that everyone be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 PETER 3:9) and that no saved believer should fall from grace. This truth does not mean that everyone will be saved, but only that God desires the salvation of everyone.
GOD'S PERMISSIVE WILL
Finally, the "will of God" may refer to what God permits or allows to happen, even though He does not specifically desire it to happen; this may properly be called God's "permissive will." Indeed, much that happens in the world is contrary to God's perfect will (e.g., sin, lust, violence, hatred, and hardheartedness), yet He permits evil to continue for the time being.
For example, the decision of many people to remain unsaved and thus lost for all eternity is permitted by God, for He does not force saving faith on those who refuse to accept His Son's salvation. Similarly, God permits many troubles and evils that befall a person in life (1 PETER 3:17 & 4:19), but they are not necessarily His desire or ultimate will for that person
(1 JOHN 5:19).
TODAY: Delight and Surrender, letting God's Will be done in each of us.
BELOW:
Song: Sweet Will of God
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