GOD’S WILL: DECREE OR COMMAND?

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the Purpose of Him who works ALL THINGS according to the counsel of HIS WILL – Ephesians 1:11

God’s Will can again be viewed from two perspectives: His Sovereign Will or ‘Will of Decree’ and His ‘Will of Command’. The Sovereign Lord says: “…My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure…Indeed I have spoken it; I will bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Isa.46:10-11). “He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have you done?” (Dan.4:35b). Irrespective of what anyone feels, says, does or fails to do, God’s Counsel shall stand. His Sovereign Will cannot be broken or thwarted.

In a sense, the Will of God is His Decree, His sovereign control and governance of all that comes to pass. Peter described this as: “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done” (4: 28). For example, God’s Will was for Jesus to die. This was His plan and decree. There was no changing it, and Jesus bowed and said, “Here’s My request, but You do what is best to do – Your Will” (Mt.26:39). That’s the sovereign will of God. Notice: Herod, Pilate, the soldiers, and the Jewish leaders, all sinned in fulfilling God’s Will that His Son be crucified (Isa.53:10). Yet, His Counsel stood.

God’s universal providence touches even the tiniest details of nature and human decisions. Not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from our heavenly Father’s Will (Mt.10:29). Proverbs 16 begins and ends on this same note: “The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD” (Pro.16:1); “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Pro.16:33). So does Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Whatever may come, God’s always in charge and in control!

In another sense, God’s ‘Will of Command’ is what He commands us to do, which we can disobey and fail to do. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Mt.7:21). Your sanctification or sexual purity is the will of God (1The.4:3). So is a lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude (1The.5:18). “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the Will of God abides forever” (1Jh.2:17). God’s will of decree always comes to pass whether we believe in it or not. His will of command can be broken. Will you choose to do His Will and obey His commands? If so, you will enter the kingdom of heaven and abide forever!