1175 God, will of

The intent and purpose of God, as revealed in Scripture. God’s will for his creation and his people is set out in the Law and the Prophets, which find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ. A central aspect of the will of God is that his people be faithful and obedient.

The revelation of God’s will

In his word 2Ti 3:16 See also 2Sa 7:21 pp 1Ch 17:19; Ps 103:20-21; Col 1:25-26; 1Jn 2:4-5

Through the law Ex 18:15-16; Ex 24:12; Dt 30:16; Ps 119:43; Ro 7:12; 1Ti 1:8

Through the prophets 1Ki 22:6-7 pp 2Ch 18:5-6; 2Ki 3:11; Jer 42:3-4; Eze 12:25; Am 3:7

In the apostolic gospel Ac 20:27; Gal 1:11-12

The fulfilment of God’s will

God’s will is fulfilled in Jesus Christ Eph 1:9-10 See also Eph 3:4-11; Col 1:27

Jesus Christ obeyed his Father’s will Jn 6:38 See also Mt 26:39 pp Mk 14:36 pp Lk 22:42; Jn 4:34; Jn 5:30; Heb 10:7; Ps 40:8

Jesus Christ’s death fulfilled God’s will Gal 1:3-4 See also Isa 53:10; Ac 2:23

God’s will for the world

God desires justice and righteousness Am 5:24 See also Ps 33:5; Isa 5:7; Jer 9:24; Mic 6:8

God desires honesty and truth Pr 12:22 See also Ex 20:16 pp Dt 5:20; Lev 19:35-36; Pr 11:1; Zec 8:16-17

God desires harmony and peace 1Ti 2:2-3 See also Isa 2:3-4 pp Mic 4:2-3; Isa 11:6-9

God desires the world to be saved 1Ti 2:4 See also Eze 18:23; Eze 33:11; Mt 18:14; Jn 3:16-17; 2Pe 3:9

God’s will for his redeemed people

God desires loving obedience Mt 22:35-38 pp Mk 12:28-29 pp Lk 10:27 See also Dt 6:5 Scripture regularly makes obedience to God a higher priority than performing religious acts: Ps 51:16-17; Isa 1:11; Jer 7:22-23; 1Jn 2:5

God desires worship 1Pe 2:9 See also Ps 100:4; Isa 45:23; 1Th 5:18; Rev 1:6

God desires holiness 1Th 4:3 See also Lev 19:1-2; 1Co 1:2; Col 1:22; 1Th 4:7; Heb 10:10; 1Pe 1:15-16

God desires love for one another Jn 13:34-35 See also Lev 19:18; Mt 22:39 pp Mk 12:31 pp Lk 10:27; Jn 15:12-13; Gal 5:14; 1Jn 3:11

God desires high moral standards 1Pe 2:15 See also Mt 5:16,48; 1Pe 3:4

God’s will may involve suffering 1Pe 3:17 See also Ac 14:22; Ac 21:13-14; Heb 12:5-7; 1Pe 4:19

Proper responses to God’s will

Discovering God’s will Eph 5:17 See also Ro 2:18; Col 1:9

Obeying God’s will Mt 7:21 See also Ezr 10:11; Mt 12:50 pp Mk 3:35; Eph 6:6; Heb 13:21; Jas 4:15

Praying for God’s will Mt 6:10 See also Ps 143:10; Mt 26:42; Jn 14:13-14; 1Jn 5:14

Making radical changes to do God’s will Ro 12:2 See also Ro 8:5; Gal 5:16-17; Jas 1:20; 1Pe 1:14; 1Pe 4:2; 1Jn 2:15-17

Rejecting God’s will

Lk 7:30 See also Ps 107:11; Isa 30:1; Eze 3:7; Mt 23:37 pp Lk 13:34; Jn 8:44

Examples of people who obeyed God’s will

Dt 33:21 Gad David: 1Sa 13:14; Ac 13:22,36
Isa 44:28-45:1 Cyrus Paul: Ac 18:21; Ac 21:14; Ro 1:10; Ro 15:32; 1Co 4:19

Ways of discovering God’s will

Ex 18:20 teaching; Ex 28:30 Urim and Thummim; Ps 86:11 prayer; Ps 119:105 God’s word; Da 2:22-23 revelation; Jn 14:26 the Holy Spirit; Ac 1:26 drawing lots

God’s will and the human will

God’s will overrules human wills Pr 19:21 See also Ps 33:10-11; Pr 16:9

God’s will overrides the desires of the wicked Ge 50:20; Isa 10:5-11; Hab 1:5-11; Ac 2:23

God’s will can harmonise with human wills 1Ch 13:2; Ps 37:4; Ps 145:19; Ac 15:28

God’s will is sovereign

Over all things Eph 1:11

Over creation See also Mt 10:29; Ro 8:20; Rev 4:11

Over evil Ge 45:8; 1Sa 2:25; Pr 16:4; Isa 65:12; Ro 9:18

Over the gospel Mic 7:18; Mt 11:25-26 pp Lk 10:21; Jn 5:21; Ac 13:48; Ro 9:18; 1Co 1:21

In the church 1Co 1:1; 1Co 12:11,28; Php 2:13; 2Ti 1:1; Heb 2:4

See also