Article by Brad Hambrick
The Bible talks about “God’s will” in at least three very distinct ways. This accounts for many of the arguments Christians have about God’s will. Often committed Christian couples will argue because they emphasize one of these definitions of “God’s will” over the other two. Both are left feeling the other is less-spiritual or hyper-spiritual when, in fact, they have not been talking about the same thing.
God’s Sovereign Will
This is what we refer to when we say that “God is the author of history” or “Nothing happens without God’s permission.” God’s sovereign will is what allowed God to inspire prophets to foretell details about the birth of Christ and write about the end times. There is nothing in our decisions that can interrupt God’s sovereign will. We are never out of God’s sovereign will. God does not make a “Plan B” for anyone’s life.
Passages: Here are several passages that refer to God’s sovereign will – Proverbs 21:1; Acts 2:23, 4:27-28; Romans 9:19, 11:33-36; Ephesians 1:11; and Revelation 4:11. What do you learn about God’s will from these passages?
Applied Rightly: God’s sovereign will gives us confidence that we can pray boldly against injustice knowing God is capable of affecting change. God’s sovereign will gives us peace knowing there is order behind the seeming chaos of our broken world. God’s sovereign will gives us assurance there is meaning and significance to our choices.
When have you experienced the benefits of thinking about God’s sovereign will rightly?
Applied Wrongly: God’s sovereign will does not mean we are robots living out a program about which we’re unaware. God’s sovereign will does not give us permission to be flippant about important choices or risky actions. God’s sovereign will does not allow us to justify sin with “God knew I was going to do it.”
When have you experienced the consequences of thinking about God’s sovereign will wrongly?
God’s Moral Will
This refers to God’s commandments and God’s character. God’s moral will is the ideal that defines how things should be on earth and how they will be in heaven. God’s moral will is where the words “good” and “bad” get their meaning. God’s moral will is why we experience guilt and place high value on things that are pure.
Passages: Here are several passages that refer to God’s moral will – Romans 2:18; II Corinthians 6:14; I Thessalonians 4:3-4, 5:18; and biblical commands. What do you learn about God’s will from these passages?
Applied Rightly: God’s moral will is the clearest and most accessible part of God’s will. God’s moral will is the expression of God’s character through behavioral expectations. God’s moral will is meant to regulate many of our emotional experiences (i.e., guilt, awe, longing) as we treasure God’s character more than the things that upset, motivate, or please us.
“The moral will of God is the expression, in behavioral terms, of the character of God (p. 153).” Garry Friesen in Decision Making and the Will of God
When have you experienced the benefits of thinking about God’s moral will rightly?
Applied Wrongly: God’s moral will is not an insecure deity arbitrarily enforcing His preference on His creation. God’s moral will does not belong to (i.e., is not defined by) any time period, generation, or culture. God’s moral will is not meant to be used as a leveraging point to allow some people to feel superior to others.
When have you experienced the consequences of thinking about God’s moral will wrongly?
God’s Individual Will:
This is what most people want to know when they ask questions about “God’s will.” This arena of God’s will seeks to answer the questions: What does God want to do through the passions, experiences, and talents He’s given me? Who does God want me to partner with through life (i.e., marriage, church, friends, job) to accomplish these purposes? How should I utilize the resources God has given me (i.e., money, time, talent)?
Passages: Here are several passages that refer to God’s individual will –Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:9; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 2:8, 5:15-17, 6:6; and Colossians 1:9-10. What do you learn about God’s will from these passages?
Applied Rightly: God’s individual will should cause us to reflect on how God made us and how we can best serve Him with those gifts. God’s individual will should cause us to ask, “How would God reveal His character in this circumstance?” God’s individual will should usually be in keeping with the interests and passions God gave you.
When have you experienced the benefits of thinking about God’s individual will rightly?
Applied Wrongly: God’s individual will should not be a point of insecurity or pride as we compare life circumstances with other people. God’s individual will should not be a fearful attempt to find the perfect option in every situation as if God were playing “hard to get.” God’s individual will should not be assumed to be fearful or dreaded in order to be appropriately “spiritual” or marked by faith.
When have you experienced the consequences of thinking about God’s individual will wrongly?
At this point you should be able to identify what you, your spouse, a friend, or a Bible passage is referencing in a particular usage of the phrase “God’s will.” The more decisions two Christians make together, the more they need to agree upon how to think about God’s will. Otherwise, the Bible, subjective feelings of being “lead” to do something, and emotions of guilt or insecurity will begin to divide the marriage.
Article posted at: http://bradhambrick.com/clarifying-confusion-three-definitions-of-gods-will/