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

2 Timothy 3:16 See also 2 Samuel 7:21 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:19; Psalm 103:20–21; Colossians 1:25–26; 1 John 2:4–5

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

The fulfilment of God's will

God's will is fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:9–10 See also Ephesians 3:4–11; Colossians 1:27

And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

Jesus Christ obeyed his Father's will

John 6:38 See also Matthew 26:39 parallels Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42; John 4:34, John 5:30; Hebrews 10:7; Psalm 40:8

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

Jesus Christ's death fulfilled God's will

Galatians 1:3–4 See also Isaiah 53:10; Acts 2:23

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

God's will for the world

God desires justice and righteousness

Amos 5:24 See also Psalm 33:5; Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 9:24; Micah 6:8

But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

God desires honesty and truth

Proverbs 12:22 See also Exodus 20:16 parallel Deuteronomy 5:20; Leviticus 19:35–36; Proverbs 11:1; Zechariah 8:16–17

Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

God desires harmony and peace

1 Timothy 2:2–3 See also Isaiah 2:3–4 parallel Micah 4:2–3; Isaiah 11:6–9

for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

God desires the world to be saved

1 Timothy 2:4 See also Ezekiel 18:23, Ezekiel 33:11; Matthew 18:14; John 3:16–17; 2 Peter 3:9

who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God's will for his redeemed people

God desires loving obedience

Matthew 22:35–38 parallels Mark 12:28–29, Luke 10:27 See also Deuteronomy 6:5PSA Deuteronomy 51:16–17; Isaiah 1:11; Jeremiah 7:22–23; 1 John 2:5

One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

God desires worship

1 Peter 2:9 See also Psalm 100:4; Isaiah 45:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Revelation 1:6

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

God desires holiness

1 Thessalonians 4:3 See also Leviticus 19:1–2; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Colossians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 1:15–16

For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;

God desires love for one another

John 13:34–35 See also Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39 parallels Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27; John 15:12–13; Galatians 5:14; 1 John 3:11

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

God desires high moral standards

1 Peter 2:15 See also Matthew 5:16, Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 3:4

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

God's will may involve suffering

1 Peter 3:17 See also Acts 14:22, Acts 21:13–14; Hebrews 12:5–7; 1 Peter 4:19

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Proper responses to God's will

Discovering God's will

Ephesians 5:17 See also Romans 2:18; Colossians 1:9

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Obeying God's will

Matthew 7:21 See also Ezra 10:11; Matthew 12:50 parallel Mark 3:35; Ephesians 6:6; Hebrews 13:21; James 4:15

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Praying for God's will

Matthew 6:10 See also Psalm 143:10; Matthew 26:42; John 14:13–14; 1 John 5:14

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Making radical changes to do God's will

Romans 12:2 See also Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:16–17; James 1:20; 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 4:2; 1 John 2:15–17

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Rejecting God's will

Luke 7:30 See also Psalm 107:11; Isaiah 30:1; Ezekiel 3:7; Matthew 23:37 parallel Luke 13:34; John 8:44

But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

Examples of people who obeyed God's will

Deuteronomy 33:21 Gad; 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22, Acts 13:36; Isaiah 44:28–45:1 Cyrus; Acts 18:21, Acts 21:14; Romans 1:10, Romans 15:32; 1 Corinthians 4:19

Ways of discovering God's will

Exodus 18:20 teaching; Exodus 28:30 Urim and Thummim; Psalm 86:11 prayer; Psalm 119:105 God's word; Daniel 2:22–23 revelation; John 14:26 the Holy Spirit; Acts 1:26 drawing lots

God's will and the human will

God's will overrules human wills

Proverbs 19:21 See also Psalm 33:10–11; Proverbs 16:9

Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

God's will overrides the desires of the wicked

Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 10:5–11; Habakkuk 1:5–11; Acts 2:23

God's will can harmonise with human wills

1 Chronicles 13:2; Psalm 37:4, Psalm 145:19; Acts 15:28

God's will is sovereign

Over all things

Ephesians 1:11

In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

Over creation

Over evil

Genesis 45:8; 1 Samuel 2:25; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 65:12; Romans 9:18

Over the gospel

Micah 7:18; Matthew 11:25–26 parallel Luke 10:21; John 5:21; Acts 13:48; Romans 9:18; 1 Corinthians 1:21

In the church

1 Corinthians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 12:11, 1 Corinthians 12:28; Philippians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:1; Hebrews 2:4