Monday, February 28, 2011

Ephesians Extra: God's Will For Your Life!

For the Creeksiders who were around when I preached from Ephesians 1:9-10, you got to hear me tell you God's will for your life. I'm sure you're still thanking me! (For those who didn't hear it, you can listen here if you feel so inclined.)  I want to offer just a few extra thoughts about God's will, with a little help from Wayne Grudem.  "Just as we can will or choose something eagerly or reluctantly, happily or with regret, secretly or publicly, so also God in the infinite greatness of His personality is able to will different things in different ways."

Theologians have for centuries made a distinction between God's secret and revealed will.  Deuteronomy 29:29 is one verse that makes this distinction.  There are many aspects of God's will that He simply has not revealed to us in detail: how He runs the universe, future events, difficulties, blessings, etc. When God does reveal His will, He does so for the sake of our obedience.  (Theologians sometimes call this God's will of precept or command.)

However, in Ephesians 1:9-10, we see God's secret will becoming His revealed will!  There was a mystery hidden for generations, and God has made it known.  Along the way God gave glimpses behind the curtain, like in Psalm 2:7-9.  But now, as Paul Harvey used to say, we know the rest of the story.  The day will come when the nations will bow to Jesus Christ.  Jesus will bring His people together in His kingdom under His banner.

"Jesus Christ is Lord" is the proclamation we make together.  Unity in submission to Christ is God's will for us.  Now you know God's will for your life.  Glad I could help.

2 comments:

Claudia Finn said...

"Well thought out" said Pat , and I loved it and the definition of God's will as unity in submission to Christ is God's will. I also love the widgets of the books that you and the kids are reading together! Great blog Dean!

Dean said...

Thanks a ton, Claudia & Pat!