God's Will and Predestination

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(Romans 12:2)

This series primarily addresses the doctrine of predestination or, more precisely, explains how God governs His creation. Due to our limited understanding in this present age, we will focus on one aspect of predestination: salvation. For humanity, this is undoubtedly the most critical aspect to understand. Thus, this series will explore the principles revealed in Scripture that God uses to predestine our lives for salvation. These principles, however, also apply to every aspect of our lives and, indeed, to how God predestines His entire creation. There are strong opposing opinions within the church on this subject. The purpose of this series is not to support or refute any of those opinions but to examine what the New Testament teaches about this doctrine.

In the above passage from Romans, the Apostle Paul reveals that there are two aspects to the will of God: His acceptable (or permissible) will and His perfect will. The word translated “acceptable” can also be rendered “permissible.” What does the Bible mean when it refers to God’s perfect will and His permissible will? It means that God reveals His perfect will to us and then allows humanity to decide, of their own free will, whether to submit to it. Those who choose to submit to His will walk in God’s perfect will and, as a result, experience His perfect blessings for their lives. Those who choose not to submit walk in God’s permissible will and, consequently, forfeit His perfect blessings.

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

(Luke 11:1-2)

The Lord Jesus taught us to pray that God’s perfect will be accomplished in our lives. In the above passage, He instructs us to pray that our Father’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The reason Jesus taught us to pray this way is that in heaven, there is perfect submission to God’s will. In other words, Jesus encourages us to pray that, like the saints in heaven, we too would be fully submitted to God’s will. Another key truth from this passage is that God’s perfect will for our lives does not occur automatically; we must pray for it. The default position for our lives is not God’s perfect will but His permissive will. This is because God does not override human free will in this life. However, while God allows people to reject His perfect will and walk in His permissive will, there is a cost. God warns of the consequences of not submitting to His will, such as the consequence of rejecting salvation through Jesus Christ.

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

(Ephesians 1:11)

For those who persistently reject God’s perfect will, there is eventually a point of accountability. God does not permit people to walk in His permissive will indefinitely; as the One who ultimately governs His creation, He will judge them. The above passage from Ephesians confirms this truth, as Paul teaches that God works all things according to the counsel of His will. In other words, God’s will for His creation ultimately prevails. Some might argue that this overrides human free will, but that is not the case. In working all things according to His will, God simply applies the consequences He has warned about to those who continually reject His perfect will, namely salvation through submission to the Lordship of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Michael E.B. Maher

The End of the Age

Buy Now

Donate

Payoneer