114 – The Divisions of the Will of God

SEMESTER 1

114 – The Divisions of the Will of God

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY I LESSON # 14
THE DIVISIONS OF THE WILL OF GOD

INTRODUCTION:

1. I mentioned briefly these divisions of the will of God in the previous lesson.
2. Let it be said, this subject cannot be learned or preached rightly, by the lazy mind.
3. Be admonished by the words of Paul in II Timothy 2:15.

I. THE DIFFICULTY STATED

1. The Bible clearly and repeatedly indicates that God’s will is ultimate­ly carried out. (Eph. 1:11, Acts 2:23, Isa. 14:24-27)
2. Yet the Bible clearly states that men do resist the will of God. (Acts 7:51, Jn. 1:1-3, Mat. 23:37)
3. Hopeless contradiction? Never! – Unrevealed difficulties? No! It is a simple area of truth requiring Bible study.

II. THE DIFFICULTY EXPLAINED

1. There are two phases or categories of the will of God.

i. There is God’s will of decree, or purpose.
ii. There is God’s will of approbation.

2. These are not actually contradictory, but they do require study.

III. GOD’S WILL OF DECREE, OR PURPOSE

1. It is a biblical statement that God has decreed all things that ever come to pass. (Ps. 135:6, Isa. 46:10, Dan. 4:35, Acts 2:23, Acts 4:27, Acts 13:48, Rom 8:29-30, Rom 9:15-18, Eph 1:11)
2. God is the effectual cause of all good; i.e., to say, God motivates and provides for it. (Phi 2:13)
3. God permits all evil: This is not at all to say God is the author of sin.

i. It is wrong to hold that those Scriptures which ascribe evil to God, such as Ex. 7:3-4, II Sam. 24:1, I Sam. 18:10, Ex. 4:21, Jn. 12:40, Rom 9:18, etc., acclaim God to be the author of sin.
ii. It is equally wrong to ignore them or explain them away if they, on the surface, seem to so state.

4. It is Gods method of bringing these to pass, that explains the difficulty.

i. He permits sin, that can be overruled to glorify His justice, but does not authorize it. (Ps. 76:10, Acts 2:23, Job 1:12, Job 2:6)
ii. He allows depravity to function, thus blinding and hardening. (Jn. 5:40, Rom. 9:17)
iii. He endures vessels of wrath, He does not motivate them. (Rom. 9:22-24)

IV. GOD’S WILL OF APPROBATION

By this, I mean an act which God wills or approves of, as an act within itself; without respect to indirect and ultimate results.

1. This section or phase, embraces only good as a thought, motive or act (never evil).
2. It has several usable titles:

i. Revealed will.
ii. Perceptive will.
iii. Will of command.
iv. Will of desire.
v. Will of pleasure.

3. This division encompasses revelation, commandment, and responsi­bility.
4. This division of God’s will is not carried out, except in very limited senses.
5. This will is revealed:

i. by the Word.
ii. by the indwelling Spirit, and to this will we are eternally respon­sible.