Will of God
The will of God is what God purposes, desires, and commands. In Scripture, the term can refer both to God's sovereign plan and to His moral will for human obedience.
At a Glance
The will of God is what God purposes, desires, and commands. In Scripture, the term can refer both to God's sovereign plan and to His moral will for human obedience.
Description
The will of God refers to what God purposes, approves, and commands. In the Bible, this language is used in more than one sense. It can describe God's sovereign will—His eternal purpose and providential rule by which He accomplishes His plan in history—and it can also describe His revealed moral will—what He commands human beings to believe and do. Scripture clearly teaches both truths without confusion: God unfailingly carries out His purposes, yet people are responsible to obey His commands and are guilty when they resist them. When believers ask about "God's will," they may mean His moral instruction, His saving purpose, or His wise guidance in particular circumstances. The safest summary is that Christians know God's will chiefly through Scripture and are called to obey it, while seeking wisdom, prayerfully depending on the Lord, and avoiding speculative claims where God has not spoken plainly.