The Will of God

Posted byGMajellaPosted inParadigmTags:

Presuppositions

It is in the consistent, reliable, and trustworthy will of God that our wisdom must be based.

  • God is the source of all things seen and unseen, including the existence of evil
    (Genesis 1; 2; Psalm 33:6-9; 102:25-27; 104; 148; Isaiah 40:18-31; 42:5-9; 45:7 [4-13, 18]; 54:16-17; Amos 4:13; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-4; 11:3; Revelation 10:5-7)
  • God is proactive and purposeful in all that he does
    (Matthew 13:34-35; Ephesians 1:3-14; Hebrews 1; 1 Peter 1:18-21)
  • God is faithful and will fulfill in those called and chosen what he has already completed in Christ (Fourth Gospel 1:9-13)
  • The grace of God is greater-than the sin of humanity (Romans 5)
  • God’s mercy is fundamental to his application of vengeance (Romans 11:32)
  • God and his Christ are involved in a redemptive work for humanity.
    • A key method in God’s redemptive work involves the offering of reconciliation, redemption, and salvation to eternal life – all through belief in Yeshua as the Son of God.
    • Entering into belief in the Son of God we leave behind the state of being under God’s wrath, which exists to humble the proud and correct the deceived. (Fourth Gospel 3:36; Romans 1:18-32; 9:21-23; Isaiah 2:6-22)
    • All will have the opportunity to receive God’s righteous judgment and be led into the truth of Yeshua, the Christ, but some will not surrender to truth. (1 Corinthians 15:22-26; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-13; Fourth Gospel 12:44-50; Romans 2:12-16; 11:32; Revelation 20:14-15)
  • The fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden was a relational one, not a moral one. It was a necessary step in mankind’s character development and maturity into the children of God (his image-bearers)
    • God did not separate himself from humanity. All of biblical history attests to this.
    • Adam and Eve were put out of the garden to keep them from accessing the Tree of Life.
    • It is the Lamb of God who now provides access to the Tree of Life and immortality.
      (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7, 15-17; 3:22-24; Romans 6:20-22; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 Peter 2:4-12; Fourth Gospel 17:1-3)
  • God’s redemptive work on humanity’s behalf is to save them from the second death, not the first death
    • The death spoken of in God’s command to Adam – in dying you shall surely die does not refer to spiritual death, but the second death – which results in separation from God and from which there is no hope of resurrection.
      (Genesis 2:16-17; Fourth Gospel 3:14-21; 5:24; 6:40; Romans 5; 6; 1 Corinthians 15:19; Hebrews 9:25-28; Revelation 20:6, 14-15)
  • God is not calling the entire world to repentance at this time – the time of the Gentiles. (Luke 21:23-24)
    • It is only given to some to hear and believe (Matthew 13:10-13; Mark 4:10-12; 1 Corinthians 1:22-24; Ephesians 1:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10)
    • The elect of God are a subset called out of the world (Matthew 24:22,31; Romans 1:1-6; 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2)
    • Some are created as vessels of dishonor at this time (Romans 9:14-15, 20-24; Luke 23:35)
    • God’s elect are the first to be saved. Those who are the firstfruits are not the only ones who will be led to obedience in Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2:9-10; Ephesians 1:11-13; Romans 8:23,29; Hebrews 12:22-24; James 1:17-18; Revelation 20:4-6)
    • Israel’s descendants will receive the new covenant that leads to everlasting life after Christ sets up his earthly kingdom. (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 11:17-20; Joel 2:1, 28-32; Romans 11:11-15, 25-27)

Published by GMajella

Husband, father, and author on theological topics, with a focus on the underlying presuppositions which either cloud or enhance our view of reality. My focus is to challenge and guide fellow Christians into a deeper knowledge of God; his work, his will, and his overall purpose. My primary methods will be through books, blogs, and virtual or personal events.