"What is the difference between God's sovereign will and God's revealed will?
21 de July de 2024
Response
Human will is quite simple: when we desire something to occur, we "will" it to happen; when we take action, we demonstrate our "will" in the situation. God's will is more intricate. Theologians identify three distinct aspects of God's will in the Bible: His sovereign (decretive) will, His revealed (preceptive) will, and His dispositional will.
God's sovereign or decretive will is also known as His "hidden" will. It is "sovereign" because it reveals God as the Supreme ruler of the universe who ordains all events. It is "decretive" as it involves God's decrees. It is "hidden" because we often remain unaware of this aspect of God's will until His decrees come to pass. Nothing occurs outside of God's sovereign will.
For instance, it was God's sovereign will for Joseph to be taken to Egypt, endure imprisonment in Pharaoh's dungeon, interpret the king's dreams, ultimately rescue his people from famine, and receive honor from all ( Genesis 37-50). Initially, Joseph and his brothers were unaware of God's will in these circumstances, but at each stage, God's plan became clearer.
When Ephesians 1:11 portrays God as the one "who works all things according to the counsel of His will," it refers to God's sovereign or decretive will. God Himself affirms the certainty of His sovereign will in Isaiah 46:10: "My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."
Due to God's sovereignty, His will cannot be thwarted The sovereign or decretive will of God can be categorized into His efficacious will and His permissive will. This distinction is necessary because God does not directly cause everything to occur. Some of His decrees are efficacious (directly contributing to the fulfillment of God's desire), while others are permissive (allowing for an indirect fulfillment of God's desire).
Pt. 2
EXCERPT
"What is the difference between God's sovereign will and God's revealed will?
21 de July de 2024
Response
Human will is quite simple: when we desire something to occur, we "will" it to happen; when we take action, we demonstrate our "will" in the situation. God's will is more intricate. Theologians identify three distinct aspects of God's will in the Bible: His sovereign (decretive) will, His revealed (preceptive) will, and His dispositional will.
God's sovereign or decretive will is also known as His "hidden" will. It is "sovereign" because it reveals God as the Supreme ruler of the universe who ordains all events. It is "decretive" as it involves God's decrees. It is "hidden" because we often remain unaware of this aspect of God's will until His decrees come to pass. Nothing occurs outside of God's sovereign will.
For instance, it was God's sovereign will for Joseph to be taken to Egypt, endure imprisonment in Pharaoh's dungeon, interpret the king's dreams, ultimately rescue his people from famine, and receive honor from all ( Genesis 37-50). Initially, Joseph and his brothers were unaware of God's will in these circumstances, but at each stage, God's plan became clearer.
When Ephesians 1:11 portrays God as the one "who works all things according to the counsel of His will," it refers to God's sovereign or decretive will. God Himself affirms the certainty of His sovereign will in Isaiah 46:10: "My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."
Due to God's sovereignty, His will cannot be thwarted The sovereign or decretive will of God can be categorized into His efficacious will and His permissive will. This distinction is necessary because God does not directly cause everything to occur. Some of His decrees are efficacious (directly contributing to the fulfillment of God's desire), while others are permissive (allowing for an indirect fulfillment of God's desire).
See Pt.3
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