Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

God’s will reveals three aspects of His will. First, His will of purpose—His sovereign, ultimate plan for the universe. “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand” (Isaiah 14:24; cf. Ephesians 1:9-11).

It has been within God’s purpose to allow sin to affect the world for a time. But that situation will end precisely according to His plan and foreknowledge. Within God’s will of purpose is His will of desire.

This will is more specific but not always fulfilled in this present age. For example, Jessu desired His people, the Jews, to be saved. However, only a relative few believed in His message.

Jesus prayed,  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together … and you would not have it!” (Luke 13:34) Like the Jews, most Gentiles are also unwilling to come to Christ for salvation (John 5:40; cf. 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

Third is God’s will of command, which is His desire that believers obey Him fully, as only they of all people can, with the help of the Spirit (see Romans 6:16-18). Pride is the great enemy set against all of God’s will.

But for us to obey His will, we must forsake self-will and “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptab;e and perfect” (Romans 12:2; see also v.1).[1]

John MacArthur

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End notes:

[1] John MacArthur, Daily Readings From the Life of Christ [Chicago: Moody, 2008], May 24.

See also:

DON’T BE FOOLED BY DELUDED DECEIVERS

KAY WARREN PREACHES SUNDAY SERVICES AT SADDLEBACK CHURCH

DON’T CONFORM TO THE WORLD OR TO FOSTER-WILLARDISM