Now we arrive at the point of contention. Bill Bright told us
that God “offers a wonderful plan” for our lives. Many believe this
refers to a specific plan God has for our lives that we must discover
and follow. I’ll call this concept the Personal Will
of God. Does God’s Word teach the idea of a Personal Will? Let’s look
at some verses that are most often used to support the idea of God’s
Personal Will.
For this
reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying
for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Colossians 1:9 (NIV)
This
verse is clearly referring to God’s Moral Will when you read it
together with verse 10. Paul goes on in verse 10 to say the purpose of
knowing His will is to “live a life worthy of the Lord,” to “please Him
in every way.” The most natural reading of these phrases would point us
toward God’s revealed commands.
Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Here
Paul is beginning his discourse on the use of spiritual gifts. The
verses following are used to explain what God’s “good, pleasing and
perfect will” is; that we should use our spiritual gifts for the
benefit of the Body of Christ. There’s no mystery to be discovered,
there a moral command that is given. Use your gifts.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
Ephesians 5:17 (NIV)
Again,
Paul isn’t teaching that we should pray and wait for God to reveal His
plan. Paul goes on in verses 18-20 to explicitly state what the Lord’s
will is, that we should “not get drunk with wine” and “be filled with
the Spirit.” This is another instance of God’s Moral Will being taught.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
Psalms 32:8 (NIV)
Some commentators believe this Psalm was written with Psalm 51
in response to David’s sin with Bathsheba, and that seems to be a
reasonable assumption based on its content. Regardless, this Psalm is
clearly about sin and forgiveness. Based on that, it is most natural to
read this verse as referring to God’s Moral Will.
There are
other verses that have been used to support the idea of God’s Personal
Will, but in each case the simplest reading reveals a reference to
either God’s Moral Will or His Sovereign Will. The explicit teaching of
scripture reveals only these two facets of God’s Will. What about the
implicit teaching of scripture? How did the Apostles, in the power of
the Holy Spirit, make decisions? I’ll look at that next.
The rest of the series: