THE FOURFOLD WILL OF THE SOVEREIGN GOD

1
THE FOURFOLD WILL OF THE SOVEREIGN GOD

• Does God make all decisions?

2
Questions about the Will of God

• Can an individual know the will of God?
• Can the will of God be defeated?
• Are such things as tragic accidents and deformed
  infants the will of God?
• The answer to these questions depends on what one
  means by "the will of God."
• Three separate and distinct ideas are used in
  scripture to express Gods will in its various
  aspects.
• These ideas are desire, permission and purpose.

3
THE IDEAL WILL OF GOD

• A. This is what God desires man to be and/or do
  as the ideal.
• B. For example, God desires that no human being
  ever sin, even one time.

4
Genesis 215-17

• Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the
  garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord
  God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of
  the garden you may freely eat but of the tree of
  the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,
  for in the day that you eat of it you shall
  surely die."

5
1 John 21

• My little children, these things I write to you,
  so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we
  have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
  the righteous.

6
THE IDEAL WILL OF GOD

• A. This is what God desires man to be and/or do
  as the ideal.
• B. For example, God desires that no human being
  ever sin, even one time.
• C. God desires that all men believe in, love and
  obey Him always.
• D. This is why man was created.

7
Genesis 127-31

• So God created man in His own image in the image
  of God He created him male and female He created
  them. Then God blessed them, and God said to
  them, "Be fruitful and multiply fill the earth
  and subdue it have dominion over the fish of the
  sea, over the birds of the air, and over every
  living thing that moves on the earth." And God
  said, "See, I have given you every herb that
  yields seed which is on the face of all the
  earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed to
  you it shall be for food.

8
Genesis 127-31

• Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird
  of the air, and to everything that creeps on the
  earth, in which there is life, I have given every
  green herb for food" and it was so. Then God saw
  everything that He had made, and indeed it was
  very good. So the evening and the morning were
  the sixth day.

9
Ecclesiastes 727-29

• "Here is what I have found," says the Preacher, "
  ... Truly, this only I have found That God made
  man upright, But they have sought out many
  schemes."

10
Ecclesiastes 1213

• Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter
  Fear God, and keep his commandments for this is
  the whole duty of man. (KJV)
• Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter
  Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is
  man's all. (NKJ)
• The end of the matter all has been heard. Fear
  God and keep his commandments, for this is the
  whole duty of man. (ESV)

11
THE IDEAL WILL OF GOD

• E. To deny that this is the ideal will of God is
  to impugn the holiness of God.
• F. Man canand doesdefeat the ideal will of God.

12
Romans 319-22

• Now we know that whatever the law says, it says
  to those who are under the law, that every mouth
  may be stopped, and all the world may become
  guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the
  law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for
  by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the
  righteousness of God apart from the law is
  revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the
  Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through
  faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who
  believe. For there is no difference

13
Romans 323-26

• for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
  of God, being justified freely by His grace
  through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His
  blood, through faith, to demonstrate His
  righteousness, because in His forbearance God had
  passed over the sins that were previously
  committed, to demonstrate at the present time His
  righteousness, that He might be just and the
  justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

14
THE INCIDENTAL WILL OF GOD

• A. This is what God permits, as incidental to His
  "ideal" will.
• B. God permits man to exercise free choice. That
  is, He expresses His desire, and allows man to
  choose whether or not to comply.
• C. God permits men to sin, though He neither
  causes nor approves of sin.

15
Genesis 215-17

• Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the
  garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord
  God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of
  the garden you may freely eat but of the tree of
  the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,
  for in the day that you eat of it you shall
  surely die."

16
Genesis 65-6

• Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was
  great in the earth, and that every intent of the
  thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
  And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on
  the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

17
THE INCIDENTAL WILL OF GOD

• A. This is what God permits, as incidental to His
  "ideal" will.
• B. God permits man to exercise free choice. That
  is, He expresses His desire, and allows man to
  choose whether or not to comply.
• C. God permits men to sin, though He neither
  causes nor approves of sin.
• D. God wills the circumstances to exist that make
  sin possible but He is not responsible for the
  sin that occurs.

18
THE INCIDENTAL WILL OF GOD

• Man is free to sin or not to sin, as he chooses
  to deny this is to deny the free moral agency of
  man.
• To deny the free moral agency of man is to imply
  that God shows partiality, in punishing some and
  rewarding others.

19
Romans 211

• For there is no partiality with God.

20
Acts 1034-35

• Then Peter opened his mouth and said "In truth I
  perceive that God shows no partiality. But in
  every nation whoever fears Him and works
  righteousness is accepted by Him."

21
THE INCIDENTAL WILL OF GOD

• Man is free to sin or not to sin, as he chooses
  to deny this is to deny the free moral agency of
  man.
• To deny the free moral agency of man is to imply
  that God shows partiality, in punishing some and
  rewarding others.
• If Gods ideal will is realistic, then man can
  choose not to sin.
• If man cannot choose not to sin, then Gods ideal
  will is unrealistic.

22
THE INCIDENTAL WILL OF GOD

• God also allows but does not necessarily cause
  physical, psychological and emotional suffering.
• God permits such for man's benefit.

23
Psalm 11971

• It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
  That I may learn Your statutes.

24
Romans 51-5

• Therefore, having been justified by faith, we
  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
  Christ, through whom also we have access by faith
  into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in
  hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but
  we also glory in tribulations, knowing that
  tribulation produces perseverance and
  perseverance, character and character, hope. Now
  hope does not disappoint, because the love of God
  has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy
  Spirit who was given to us.

25
2 Corinthians 127-10

• And lest I should be exalted above measure by the
  abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the
  flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to
  buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord
  three times that it might depart from me. And He
  said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for
  My strength is made perfect in weakness."

26
2 Corinthians 127-10

• Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
  infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
  upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in
  infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in
  persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.
  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

27
James 12-4

• My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
  various trials, knowing that the testing of your
  faith produces patience. But let patience have
  its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
  complete, lacking nothing.

28
1 Peter 16-7

• In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a
  little while, if need be, you have been grieved
  by various trials, that the genuineness of your
  faith, being much more precious than gold that
  perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be
  found to praise, honor, and glory at the
  revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen
  you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet
  believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and
  full of glory, receiving the end of your
  faith--the salvation of your souls.

29
THE INCIDENTAL WILL OF GOD

• God also allows but does not necessarily cause
  physical, psychological and emotional suffering.
• God permits such for man's benefit.
• Man cannot defeat the incidental will of God, for
  whatever occurs is allowed by God to occur.

30
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL WILL OF GOD

• A. This is what God desires of man, given the
  circumstance of man having sinned.
• B. Man having sinned, God desires repentance.

31
2 Peter 39

• The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as
  some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward
  us, not willing that any should perish but that
  all should come to repentance.

32
Acts 1730-31

• "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked,
  but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
  because He has appointed a day on which He will
  judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom
  He has ordained. He has given assurance of this
  to all by raising Him from the dead."

33
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL WILL OF GOD

• A. This is what God desires of man, given the
  circumstance of man having sinned.
• B. Man having sinned, God desires repentance.
• C. Even though sinners deserve death (spiritual
  death eternal separation from God), it is Gods
  desire that man, while living on earth, wouldin
  loving faith and obedienceaccept Gods merciful
  offer of salvation through the gift of His Son.

34
Romans 623

• But now having been set free from sin, and having
  become slaves of God, you have your fruit to
  holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the
  wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
  eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

35
John 316

• "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
  begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
  not perish but have everlasting life."

36
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL WILL OF GOD

• A. This is what God desires of man, given the
  circumstance of man having sinned.
• B. Man having sinned, God desires repentance.
• C. Even though sinners deserve death (spiritual
  death eternal separation from God), it is Gods
  desire that man, while living on earth, wouldin
  loving faith and obedienceaccept Gods merciful
  offer of salvation through the gift of His Son.
• D. Man canand doesdefeat the circumstantial
  will of God.

37
Acts 2425

• Now as he reasoned about righteousness,
  self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was
  afraid and answered, "Go away for now when I
  have a convenient time I will call for you."

38
Acts 2627-28

• King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know
  that you do believe." Then Agrippa said to Paul,
  "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

39
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL WILL OF GOD

• 1. If Gods grace is irresistible, then all will
  be saved.

40
1 Timothy 23-4

• For this is good and acceptable in the sight of
  God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved
  and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

41
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL WILL OF GOD

• 1. If Gods grace is irresistible, then all will
  be saved.
• 2. Some will not be saved.

42
Matthew 713-14

• "Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate
  and broad is the way that leads to destruction,
  and there are many who go in by it. Because
  narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which
  leads to life, and there are few who find it."

43
1 Corinthians 118

• For the message of the cross is foolishness to
  those who are perishing, but to us who are being
  saved it is the power of God.

44
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL WILL OF GOD

• 1. If Gods grace is irresistible, then all will
  be saved.
• 2. Some will not be saved.
• 3. If God is not willing to save all, He shows
  partiality.
• 4. God does not show partiality.

45
Romans 211

• For there is no partiality with God.

46
Acts 1034-35

• Then Peter opened his mouth and said "In truth I
  perceive that God shows no partiality. But in
  every nation whoever fears Him and works
  righteousness is accepted by Him."

47
THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL WILL OF GOD

• 1. If Gods grace is irresistible, then all will
  be saved.
• 2. Some will not be saved.
• 3. If God is not willing to save all, He shows
  partiality.
• 4. God does not show partiality.
• 5. Therefore, God is willing to save all, but
  some will not be saved.

48
THE ULTIMATE WILL OF GOD

• This is what God purposes to do ultimately and
  eternally.
• It is Gods purpose to eternally bless the
  righteous and to eternally punish the wicked.

49
Matthew 2534, 41, 46

• "Then the King will say to those on His right
  hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit
  the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
  of the world'"
• "Then He will also say to those on the left hand,
  'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting
  fire prepared for the devil and his angels'"
• "And these will go away into everlasting
  punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

50
Revelation 2010-15

• The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the
  lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and
  the false prophet are. And they will be tormented
  day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a
  great white throne and Him who sat on it, from
  whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.
  And there was found no place for them. And I saw
  the dead, small and great, standing before God,
  and books were opened. And another book was
  opened, which is the Book of Life.

51
Revelation 2010-15

• And the dead were judged according to their
  works, by the things which were written in the
  books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it,
  and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who
  were in them. And they were judged, each one
  according to his works. Then Death and Hades were
  cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
  death. And anyone not found written in the Book
  of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

52
Romans 1122

• Therefore consider the goodness and severity of
  God on those who fell, severity but toward you,
  goodness, if you continue in His goodness.
  Otherwise you also will be cut off.

53
2 Thessalonians 16-9

• ...since it is a righteous thing with God to
  repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and
  to give you who are troubled rest with us when
  the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His
  mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance
  on those who do not know God, and on those who do
  not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  These shall be punished with everlasting
  destruction from the presence of the Lord and
  from the glory of His power....

54
John 528-29

• "Do not marvel at this for the hour is coming in
  which all who are in the graves will hear His
  voice and come forth--those who have done good,
  to the resurrection of life, and those who have
  done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

55
THE ULTIMATE WILL OF GOD

• This is what God purposes to do ultimately and
  eternally.
• It is Gods purpose to eternally bless the
  righteous and to eternally punish the wicked.
• Thus, we will all be judged on how we exercised
  our free will.

56
2 Corinthians 510

• For we must all appear before the judgment seat
  of Christ, that each one may receive the things
  done in the body, according to what he has done,
  whether good or bad.

57
THE ULTIMATE WILL OF GOD

• This is what God purposes to do ultimately and
  eternally.
• It is Gods purpose to eternally bless the
  righteous and to eternally punish the wicked.
• Thus, we will all be judged on how we exercised
  our free will.
• Man cannot defeat the ultimate will of God!
• Man can choose his actions, but he cannot choose
  the consequences of his actions. God has
  predetermined the consequences.

58
CONCLUSIONS

• Thus, whatever happens in this life is the
  incidental will of God, in that He permits but
  does not necessarily desire it to occur.
• And only that which will happen in eternity is
  the ultimate will of God.
• Some aspects of His will can be defeated, but His
  ultimate will cannot.