Articles
God's Will
Have you ever given thought to something I believe is key to everything we do as Christians, or for anyone wishing to know God and desire's salvation for their souls? Since we are unable to save our souls without Him and His plan, there is something we need to understand first -- HIS WILL AND HOW WE CAN LEARN AND OBEY THAT WILL!!
Jesus said, unless we OBEY GOD'S WILL we will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 7:21) "Not every one who says to Me, "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER, who is in heaven."
So, how do we know the Father's will? Are we able to understand the will of our Father? Are there several ways to understand HIS WILL? How important is it we do so?
Let's let His Word give us the answer. Since Jesus said" only those who do the Father's will can go to the kingdom of heaven", it stands to reason we can understand that will. Right?
Please go to the Roman letter from Paul: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may PROVE WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)
"So then do not be foolish, but UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS." (Ephesians 5:17)
"For this reason, also, since the day we heard of it we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL in all spiritual WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING." ( Colossians 1:9)
"For this IS THE WILL OF GOD, your SANCTIFICATION; that is that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in SANCTIFICATION and HONOR, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
"For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in SANCTIFICATION." (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
To be "sanctified" is to be set apart; for Christians it is to be set apart for God's use, or to serve Him. (John 17:17)
"SANCTIFY THEM IN THE TRUTH; THY WORD IS TRUTH" (John 17:17) As disciples of Christ, we are set apart to serve God through Him, that is His Son. "Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)
"Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds , as they observe them, GLORIFY GOD IN THE DAY OF VISITATION." (1 Peter 2:12)
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY." (1 Corinthians 6:19,20)
Every physical and spiritual blessing we have is given us through His Son, our Lord and Savior.
"For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (endure)." (Colossians 1:16,17)
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, be beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may ENTER BY THE GATES INTO THE CITY." (Revelation 22:13,14)
So, we can understand and listen to God and do HIS WILL. It's through Jesus and His Word, the Gospel, we are able to gain His approval; and reach the goal of heaven. (1 Peter 1:3-5) To be with Him and His Father eternally. The love of God is the greatest gift ever given!! What great blessings we have because of that love. He will keep that promise, and it's through HIS WILL, we know we will have that reward in the end.
Ross
