What Is The Will of God?

1 The Lord also said to Moses, 2 “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

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 NLT

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

2 Samuel 7:21 NLT

21 Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant.

Psalm 103:20–21 NLT

20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!

Colossians 1:25–26 NLT

25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.

1 John 2:4–5 NLT

4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

Through the law

Exodus 18:15–16 NLT

15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”

Exodus 24:12 NLT

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.”

Psalm 119:43 NLT

43 Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope.

Romans 7:12 NLT

12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.

Through the prophets

2 Kings 3:11 NLT

11 But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him.” One of King Joram’s officers replied, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.”

Jeremiah 42:3–4 NLT

3 Pray that the Lord your God will show us what to do and where to go.” 4 “All right,” Jeremiah replied. “I will pray to the Lord your God, as you have asked, and I will tell you everything he says. I will hide nothing from you.”

Ezekiel 12:25 NLT

25 For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

In the apostolic gospel

Galatians 1:11–12 NLT

11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

The fulfilment of God’s will

God’s will is fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:9–10 NLT

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

Ephesians 3:4–11 NLT

4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus Christ obeyed his Father’s will

John 6:38 NLT

38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

Matthew 26:39 NLT

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

John 4:34 NLT

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

Hebrews 10:7 NLT

7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’ ”

Psalm 40:8 NLT

8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Jesus Christ’s death fulfilled God’s will

Isaiah 53:10 NLT

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

In Conclusion:

Proper responses to God’s will

Ephesians 5:17 NLT

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Romans 2:18 NLT

18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.

Colossians 1:9 NLT

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

What has the Lord spoken to you today about His will in your life?

Are you willing to do His will for you?

Matthew 7:21 NLT

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.