10/20/16
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
What is the will of God? Does God have a secret will? Is there some sort of hidden will of God? I’ve heard this allegation from some. It usually is pointed in one of two directions.
One group of people will suggest that we should seek out God’s hidden will. This is the way we will find the victorious life. It opens the door to great divine wisdom, to spiritual gifts, to all manner of miracles which will empower us to truly live out God’s kingdom on earth and have a living hope for the future.
Another group of people will suggest that God has a divided will. He candidly says that he desires to save and bless all people, but means those “all people” to be “all the elect.” He has a negative will which will be directed to those who are not elect. They stand condemned. Because God has a sovereign, irresistible will, he is the one who has actively predestined some to condemnation. His will, therefore, is to bless the elect and curse the non-elect.
John 5:19-23 clearly describes God as having just one will. It is complex in some ways. It is beyond what we can understand fully. Yet it is unified. The Father and the Son are of one mind. And that mind is for the good of all creation. God’s will is for the redemption of mankind and the care of the created order. Other passages will deal with the idea of God’s will being resistible. Here we are simply presented with a good God who desires to save and bless.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
What is the will of God? Does God have a secret will? Is there some sort of hidden will of God? I’ve heard this allegation from some. It usually is pointed in one of two directions.
One group of people will suggest that we should seek out God’s hidden will. This is the way we will find the victorious life. It opens the door to great divine wisdom, to spiritual gifts, to all manner of miracles which will empower us to truly live out God’s kingdom on earth and have a living hope for the future.
Another group of people will suggest that God has a divided will. He candidly says that he desires to save and bless all people, but means those “all people” to be “all the elect.” He has a negative will which will be directed to those who are not elect. They stand condemned. Because God has a sovereign, irresistible will, he is the one who has actively predestined some to condemnation. His will, therefore, is to bless the elect and curse the non-elect.
John 5:19-23 clearly describes God as having just one will. It is complex in some ways. It is beyond what we can understand fully. Yet it is unified. The Father and the Son are of one mind. And that mind is for the good of all creation. God’s will is for the redemption of mankind and the care of the created order. Other passages will deal with the idea of God’s will being resistible. Here we are simply presented with a good God who desires to save and bless.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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