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God’s Will for Your Life
(Editor’s Note: This article was completed in 2004, prior to the author becoming fully aware of the tripartite [past (spirit), present (soul), and future (body)] nature of God’s redemption plan for mankind. Nevertheless, the article contains a great deal of biblical truth, even if the topic of “sanctification” should be altered to reflect the truth of “soul salvation.” The author strongly recommends that any reader should take the time to read the book, Salvation of the Soul, by Arlen L. Chitwood, which may be accessed at the home page of this website.)
General Aspects of God’s Will
Definition of God’s Will
The Greek word for “will” in the Bible is thelema. When used in reference to God, it designates His “purpose or plan” that has been designed for mankind in eternity past. God’s “will”—His purpose and plan—for mankind is certain in character, i.e. it will be carried to fruition (completion); although, from man’s perspective, it is contingent upon man’s freedom to make choice—an inviolable trait given by God to man.
In actuality, because God is omnipresent (exists everywhere) in the past, the present and the future (from a temporal viewpoint) and because His “directive will” and His “permissive will” are merged with His omniscience (infinite knowledge—including His foreknowledge) and His omnipotence (infinite power and authority—including His preordination/pre-election), God’s will anticipates and includes man’s choices at each stage of His developing plan and therefore His predeterminations are compatible with man’s freedom of choice.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:29, 30)
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. (Ephesians 1:11)
Uniqueness of God’s Will
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
God’s will—purpose and plan—for mankind is triune in nature. It is:
1. Good—Gk. agathos—meaning “just, benevolent and profitable.”
2. Acceptable—Gk. euarestos—meaning “well-pleasing to God.”
3. Perfect—Gk. teleios—meaning “complete, lacking nothing and absolute.”
It embodies God’s justice, His pleasure (emotion) and His perfection (detailed planning). It is utterly complete and lacks nothing!
Summation (mystery) of God’s Will
Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (Ephesians 1:9, 10)
The Greek word for “mystery” (musterion) here does not designate something that is “mysterious or unknowable,” but “a truth that is up to this point hidden or not fully revealed.” In this sense there were several mysteries of God that were not revealed until Christ came to earth as sin’s sacrifice and the beginning of the Dispensation of Grace (the Church Age).
God created the universe and mankind in order that He might have companionship with sentient (sensing and conscious) and willing beings. For this to be genuinely possible; God created man with a soul, a spirit, a physical body and the freedom to choose. But in the Garden of Eden man abused this freedom and sinned against God, thereby alienating and separating himself from God (initiating immediate spiritual death and progressive physical death), from nature, from other humans and from himself. From that time onward all of creation has been in a state of spiritual and physical corruption and disruption.
But through Christ, who was God in human flesh, and His vicarious (substitution) sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, all of which were attested to by His resurrection from the dead, God will eventually (in the dispensation of the fullness of time) bring all creation back into unity in Jesus Christ. This will be the ultimate realization of God’s will for His creation.
Everything in temporal space and time that has ever existed or occurred and everything that will ever exist or occur has been or will be designed and sanctioned toward this ultimate end—the core or essence of God’s will, which is the restoration of His creation unified in Jesus Christ for His pleasure.
Specific Aspects of God’s Will
God’s Will Pertaining to Salvation—Applicable Only to Non-Christians
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. . . . He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16, 18)
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires [wills] all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3, 4)
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance [in this context “repentance” equates to salvation; specifically it refers to a “change of mental attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ”]. (2 Peter 3:9)
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. . . . This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:37, 39, 40)
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (John 10:28, 29)
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38, 39)
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22)
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13, 14)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
The moment a person places his faith in Jesus Christ alone for his personal salvation he is sealed by and indwelt by the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. This action unites him with Jesus Christ for eternity. This sealing and unification can never be undone. Nothing and no one (including God or the believer) can ever separate the believer from Jesus Christ. The believer is held absolutely secure in the impenetrable hand of God.
God’s Will Pertaining to Sanctification—Applicable Only to Christians
For this is the will of God, your sanctification . . . . (1 Thessalonians 4:3a)
The Greek word for “sanctification” (hagiasmos) means to be “set apart,” which comes from being in fellowship with the Lord for the purpose of pleasing Him through worship and service. The doctrine of sanctification is a triune concept, that is, there are three different types or aspects of sanctification in the Bible. It is important to know which type is being discussed in any given passage of Scripture. The three types are:
Keys to Experiential Sanctification—Applicable Only to Christians
The aspect of sanctification that is of immediate and continuing concern for the Christian while upon earth is experiential sanctification. This is often phrased as spiritual growth, which is contingent solely on the Christian being filled with the Holy Spirit and is the will of God for every Christian.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation [abuse or excess]; but be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
In contrast to what many “charismatic” Christians believe (i.e., that the “filling” of the Holy Spirit is a subsequent act after salvation and that it may be experienced multiple times), the Bible teaches that immediately upon salvation the believer is born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8), is baptized with the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (Acts 1:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13), is indwelt (in full) by the Holy Spirit (John 7:39; Romans 5:5; 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:24), and is permanently sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30).
The three primary factors or keys outlined in God’s Word that significantly impact a Christian’s spiritual growth (experiential sanctification), which correlate with the “filling” of the Holy Spirit, are:
The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity. When He enters the believer He does not do it “in part,” and He never leaves (in part or whole) the believer. The word “filled” as used in Ephesians 5:18 essentially means “to be influenced or controlled by.” The only way a Christian impedes this influence or control is by choosing to sin, which action or actions will most certainly quench (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and grieve (Ephesians 4:30) the Holy Spirit.
When this happens the only way a Christian may restore the “fullness” (control) of the Holy Spirit in his life is to utilize 1 John 1:9, which states:
If we confess [name, take responsibility for] our [known] sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our [known] sins and to cleanse us from all [unknown or forgotten] unrighteousness.
Immediately upon the confession of sins, the Christian’s fellowship (“filling” of the Holy Spirit) is restored. This is a matter of fact, not feeling! It is a matter of faith, not frenzy!
NOTE and this is CRITICAL: God’s Holy Spirit never works apart from or in conflict with God’s Word (Bible doctrine). The study (not just the reading) of God’s Word must be a staple in every Christian life if he is to mature spiritually.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth. (John 17:17)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
That He [Christ] might sanctify and cleanse her [the Church] with the washing of water by the Word. (Ephesians 5:26)
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:2-4)
It is only through the study and absorption of God’s Word (Bible doctrine) that a Christian may be transformed by the renewing of his mind, resulting in his cleansing (made to think and judge correctly by “the washing of water by the Word”) and achieving the mind of Christ (“knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”) that he may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Faith (not obedience) is the only means by which a Christian may access God’s power and blessings. Obedience without faith does not honor God. Faith is the only true foundation for biblical obedience. It is what God requires regarding His Word, i.e., to believe it.
As you have therefore received [by faith] Christ Jesus the Lord, so [in the same manner, by faith] walk in Him. (Colossians 2:6)
For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38; see also Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)
If these three doctrinal principles of experiential sanctification are maintained in a Christian’s life, resulting in the continual “filling” with the Holy Spirit, then the following will be true of him:
Make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:21)
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
The important point expressed in these passages is that it is only when Jesus Christ operating in the person of the Holy Spirit is able to work through the submissive Christian that the Christian is truly serving God in accordance with God’s will.
Just as the Christian had no power to affect his personal salvation, he has no power to do good works that are pleasing to God, or to do any type of service that will honor God. The Christian life, from start to finish, is by grace through faith and must in all situations be by God’s initiative and power.
Outward Signs of Following God’s Will—Applicable Only to Christians
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. (Luke 6:22)
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17)
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good [divine] works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
For this is the will of God, that by doing [divine] good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1 Peter 2:15)
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)
But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [human good] are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
Divine Good Works Common to Christians in God’s Will
Prior to listing a few of the divine good works common to Christians who are in the will of God, it should be noted that all the human good works performed by an unsaved person will provide him no avenue into heaven.
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23)
Satan is capable of performing (apparent) good works and is able of even ordering his minions (demons) in and out of willing individuals. The world abounds with religious ministers and prophets that are lost yet who say they represent God in all their deeds. But Jesus makes it clear that at the Day of Judgment He will have “never known” them and will order them away. Jesus also makes it clear that only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven. And what is the will of God in this regard?
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40)
It should also be noted that Christians are capable of doing human good works, which are works done in the flesh (under one’s own power and with improper motivation), apart from the Holy Spirit. Such works will one day be consumed in fire by God and the Christian will suffer loss of rewards, yet he will be saved.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation [salvation], and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones [divine good works], wood, hay, straw [human good works], each one's work will become clear; for the Day [of Judgment] will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
But divine good works (those done in the power of the Holy Spirit), classified above as “gold, silver, precious stones,” will result in God’s approval and reward. A few of these will be common to every Christian who resides in the will of God, such as:
This is not a complete list. The one universal thread that runs through all of the above divine good works that will be common to all Christians who are in the will of God is a strong belief in and knowledge of God’s Word (Bible doctrine). All actions of any individual proceed from that individual’s repertoire (range) of information or knowledge. A Christian’s beliefs and acts are directly proportional to his knowledge base. To know what evil to avoid, to know how to test all things, to know how to exercise spiritual gifts, to know how to pray, to know how to witness effectively and to know how to instruct the newly saved; the Christian must be grounded in Bible doctrine. It is just that important!
Recapitulation
God’s will is revealed with clarity in the Bible. His will for every lost person is salvation; although, man may thwart God’s will in this matter by his freedom of choice. God’s will for His children (Christians) is that that they continue to grow spiritually (experiential sanctification) until ultimately it is not so much they that live, but that Jesus Christ by means of the Holy Spirit lives through them.
When this becomes the norm for the Christian, he will find that God will direct him in many ways regarding the type and nature of his service to Christ, as well as the physical location he is to accomplish his designated service. |