Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1010 God, nature and qualities of  »  1015 God  »  1175 God, will of

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 See also 2 Samuel 7:21 pp 1 Chronicles 17:19; Psalm 103:20-21; Colossians 1:25-26; 1 John 2:4-5

Through the law

Exodus 18:15-16; Exodus 24:12; Deuteronomy 30:16; Psalm 119:43; Romans 7:12; 1 Timothy 1:8

Through the prophets

1 Kings 22:6-7 pp 2 Chronicles 18:5-6; 2 Kings 3:11; Jeremiah 42:3-4; Ezekiel 12:25; Amos 3:7

In the apostolic gospel

Acts 20:27; Galatians 1:11-12

The fulfilment of God's will

God's will is fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:9-10 See also Ephesians 3:4-11; Colossians 1:27

Jesus Christ obeyed his Father's will

John 6:38 See also Matthew 26:39 pp Mark 14:36 pp Luke 22:42; John 4:34; John 5:30; Hebrews 10:7; Psalm 40:8

Jesus Christ's death fulfilled God's will

Galatians 1:3-4 See also Isaiah 53:10; Acts 2:23

God's will for the world

God desires justice and righteousness

Amos 5:24 See also Psalm 33:5; Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 9:24; Micah 6:8

God desires honesty and truth

Proverbs 12:22 See also Exodus 20:16 pp Deuteronomy 5:20; Leviticus 19:35-36; Proverbs 11:1; Zechariah 8:16-17

God desires harmony and peace

1 Timothy 2:2-3 See also Isaiah 2:3-4 pp Micah 4:2-3; Isaiah 11:6-9

God desires the world to be saved

1 Timothy 2:4 See also Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11; Matthew 18:14; John 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:9

God's will for his redeemed people

God desires loving obedience

Matthew 22:35-38 pp Mark 12:28-29 pp Luke 10:27 See also Deuteronomy 6:5

Scripture regularly makes obedience to God a higher priority than performing religious acts:

Psalm 51:16-17; Isaiah 1:11; Jeremiah 7:22-23; 1 John 2:5

God desires worship

1 Peter 2:9 See also Psalm 100:4; Isaiah 45:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Revelation 1:6

God desires holiness

1 Thessalonians 4:3 See also Leviticus 19:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Colossians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 1:15-16

God desires love for one another

John 13:34-35 See also Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39 pp Mark 12:31 pp Luke 10:27; John 15:12-13; Galatians 5:14; 1 John 3:11

God desires high moral standards

1 Peter 2:15 See also Matthew 5:16,48; 1 Peter 3:4

God's will may involve suffering

1 Peter 3:17 See also Acts 14:22; Acts 21:13-14; Hebrews 12:5-7; 1 Peter 4:19

Proper responses to God's will

Discovering God's will

Ephesians 5:17 See also Romans 2:18; Colossians 1:9

Obeying God's will

Matthew 7:21 See also Ezra 10:11; Matthew 12:50 pp Mark 3:35; Ephesians 6:6; Hebrews 13:21; James 4:15

Praying for God's will

Matthew 6:10 See also Psalm 143:10; Matthew 26:42; John 14:13-14; 1 John 5:14

Making radical changes to do God's will

Romans 12:2 See also Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:16-17; James 1:20; 1 Peter 1:14; Peter 4:2; 1 John 2:15-17

Rejecting God's will

Luke 7:30 See also Psalm 107:11; Isaiah 30:1; Ezekiel 3:7; Matthew 23:37 pp Luke 13:34; John 8:44

Examples of people who obeyed God's will

Deuteronomy 33:21 Gad

David:

1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22,36 Isaiah 44:28-45:1 Cyrus

Paul:

Acts 18:21; Acts 21:14; Romans 1:10; Romans 15:32; 1 Corinthians 4:19

Ways of discovering God's will

Exodus 18:20 teaching; Exodus 28:30 Urim and Thummim; Psalm 86:11 prayer; Psalm 119:105 God's word; Daniel 2:22-23 revelation; John 14:26 the Holy Spirit; Acts 1:26 drawing lots

God's will and the human will

God's will overrules human wills

Proverbs 19:21 See also Psalm 33:10-11; Proverbs 16:9

God's will overrides the desires of the wicked

Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 10:5-11; Habakkuk 1:5-11; Acts 2:23

God's will can harmonise with human wills

1 Chronicles 13:2; Psalm 37:4; Psalm 145:19; Acts 15:28

God's will is sovereign

Over all things

Ephesians 1:11

Over creation

See also Matthew 10:29; Romans 8:20; Revelation 4:11

Over evil

Genesis 45:8; 1 Samuel 2:25; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 65:12; Romans 9:18

Over the gospel

Micah 7:18; Matthew 11:25-26 pp Luke 10:21; John 5:21; Acts 13:48; Romans 9:18; 1 Corinthians 1:21

In the church

1 Corinthians 1:1; Corinthians 12:11,28; Philippians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:1; Hebrews 2:4

See also

1115  God, purpose of
1130  God, sovereignty
1427  prophecy
1439  revelation
1610  Scripture
2525  Christ, cross of
3263  Holy Spirit, guidance
5375  law
6663  freedom of will
8124  guidance
8453  obedience
8605  prayer & God's will