Two Sides of God's Will

Millard Erickson wrote, "We must distinguish between two different senses of God’s will, which we will refer to as God’s "wish" (will-1) and God’s "will" (will-2). The former is God’s general intention, the values with which He is pleased. The latter is God’s specific intention in a given situation, what He decides will actually occur."

Dr. Erickson spoke of two senses in which we understand God's will in the Bible. One way is God's will in the sense of a wish. The other sense is God's done. You could say that the Bible speaks of God's will of command and God's will of decree that shall be done.

God's will of command is what he wants us to do. It's God's revealed will for our lives. We have all disobeyed God's revealed will in one way or the other. That is sin, and we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). Understand the other sense of God's will is his decree. It shall be done. 

God's will of command is seen in Acts 17:30. God commands all people to repent. That side of God's will is his desire for all to repent. However, God's will of decree is seen in Acts 17:31. He has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness. It shall be done according to God's decree.

Saved Without Doubt

As a Christian, there may be times when you doubt your salvation. Such doubts are most often because we focus upon ourselves and not on Christ. Trusting in ourselves leaves room for all manner of doubt. Be saved and sure is focusing upon Christ alone. It's knowing who saved you. 

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Be saved and sure focused upon what Christ has done for you at the cross and through his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). You are saved by what Christ is doing in you and through you (Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 13:20-21). In Christ alone you are saved. Be saved without doubt, believing and trusting in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Focused on Christ alone is the way to be saved without doubt. Then, you can say, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). Be saved and sure by faith in Christ alone. He alone has the authority and power to save you and keep you. 

Focus on Christ alone to be saved without doubt. Focus on his work for you and in you. The grace of Christ initiates your salvation. What he begins, Christ is more than able to finish. "Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

God Is Not Partial

The apostle Peter learned through divine revelation that God is not partial. He was a Jew sent by God to preach to Gentiles. "Then Peter opened his mouth and said, 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality"(Acts 10:34).

God is not partial, because His love is for the world (John 3:16). The Greek word translated world is kosmos. It means the whole human family, all of mankind. God created the whole human family. He loves all mankind. That leaves none out. God demonstrated his love for us as sinners at the cross of Jesus (Romans 5:8). God's love is received, believing in his only begotten Son.

God is not partial, because His love, mercy, and grace is for all nations, races and ethnic groups. The Bible declares: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). There's abundant mercy in God for people of all nations (Revelation 5:9). 

God's love is for people of all nations. Jesus sent the apostles into all nations to preach the gospel and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The invitation of God the Father, through Jesus Christ, is offered to all people everywhere, with no partiality. "Whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).

We Walk with God

Believers can walk with God. He welcomes us to walk with him. We can walk with God daily. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). God is Spirit (John 4:24). He is your unseen companion everyday and everywhere.

We may say, "I don't feel worthy to walk with God." Neither do I. We don't feel worthy because we are not worthy. Yet, faith in Jesus Christ enables you to walk with God. He died for ally your sins upon the cross. He forgives your sins. In Christ alone, you become worthy to walk with God. Believers walk with God daily by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We walk with God through peace. We have missed God, when there is doubt and no peace. He sustains your faith and peace daily. Your walk with God is walking in the Spirit. "I say then: Walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16). Faith is a gift of the Spirit (1 Cor. 13:13). Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

We walk with God through love. The love of God is the constant companion of all who walk with God. Love will lead you each step of the way. Love walks with you on the right path. Love will walk with you through every valley. Love will keep you all along the way. "And walk in love as Christ has also loved us" (Ephesians 5:2). 

The Great White Throne

In Revelation 20:11-15, the apostle John saw a vision of the great white throne of God. This is the last judgment at the end of the millennium, or thousand year reign of Christ on this earth. The throne of God is described earlier in Revelation as surrounded by a rainbow, a sign of God's mercy (Rev. 4:3). Now, the rainbow is gone. White is symbolic of God's holiness. Those who are lost shall be judged without mercy.

God's great white throne is the end of this present age, making way for the eternal age. John's vision sees this earth passing away. He testified, "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" (Rev. 20:11). Believers shall see a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells (Rev. 21:1; 2 Peter 3:13).

God's great white throne is the last judgment. The dead are judged according to the open books. John had a vision of the books of works and the Book of Life. "And the dead were judged according to their works" (Rev. 20:12). The Book of Life has the names of all who are redeemed. Elsewhere, it is referred to as the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 13:8). Jesus is every believer's Passover Lamb. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:15). The lake of fire is the place of everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:41). It was prepared for the devil and all fallen angels. It is also the place for all who are lost. 

The Gospel for All

Christ is good news freely offered to all nations. The salvation of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all. Yes, all are sincerely invited to Christ. Most assuredly, the gift of eternal life in Christ is certain for all who repent and believe. Therefore, Christ must be preached to all nations and people without exception (Matthew 28:18-20).

The word gospel simply means good news. It's the good news of God about the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It's good news because Christ died on the cross to save believers from the judgment of sin. It's good news because God gives believers eternal life, through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is risen from the dead to give believers everlasting life.

If the Christ is offered to all, why are all not saved? Jesus answered the question. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). All people will simply not come to Christ, but many are certain to come to Him. All who do so will not be turned away (John 6:37).

Christ is freely offered to all nations and people. That certainly doesn't mean that anyone is saved without believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). It does mean that the death of Jesus Christ for our sins effectively saves all who believe. Christ risen from the dead saves all who call upon him (Romans 10:9-13). Therefore, Jesus Christ must be preached to all nations and people (Mark 16:15). 

Who God Will Bless

God will bless us in Christ "to the praise of the glory of His grace"(Ephesians 1:6). Grace means that every blessing comes to us as the gift of God in Christ. A gift cannot be bought nor earned. The blessings of God are received by grace through faith in Christ.

God will bless with "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, all the blessings of God are yours. Don't beg God to bless you. Don't  struggle nor strive to receive God's blessings. They are all yours by grace through faith in Christ.

God will bless believers in Christ. In the first chapter of Ephesians, several of those blessings are mentioned. Believers are blessed with God's love, grace, peace, truth, forgiveness, and wisdom, through the Holy Spirit. There are countless more blessings "not only in this age, but also in the age to come"(Ephesians 1:21). All these blessings are ours by God's grace through faith in Christ.

Let us thank God for all His blessings for us in Christ. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise is the expression of grateful hearts to God for all of His blessings in Christ. Worship is giving thanks and praise to God through our prayers and songs. Praise God, because we are blessed in Christ.