SPECIAL TOPIC: THE WILL (thelēma) OF GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE WILL (thelēma) OF GOD

The "will" of God involves several categories.

JOHN'S GOSPEL

• Jesus came to do the Father's will (cf. John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38)

• to raise up on the last day all whom the Father gave the Son (cf. John 6:39)

• that all believe in the Son (cf. John 6:29,40)

• answered prayer related to doing God's will (cf. John 9:31 and 1 John 5:14)

THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS

• doing God's will is crucial (cf. Matt. 7:21)

• doing God's will makes one brother and sister with Jesus (cf. Matt. 12:50; Mark 3:35)

• it is not God's will for any to perish (cf. Matt. 18:14; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)

• Calvary was the Father's will for Jesus (cf. Matt. 26:42; Luke 22:42)

PAUL'S LETTERS

• the maturity and service of all believers (cf. Rom. 12:1-2)

• believers delivered from this evil age (cf. Gal. 1:4)

• God's will was His redemptive plan (cf. Eph. 1:5,9,11)

• believers experiencing and living the Spirit-filled life (cf. Eph. 5:17-18)

• believers filled with the knowledge of God (cf. Col. 1:9)

• believers made perfect and complete (cf. Col. 4:12)

• believers sanctified (cf. 1 Thess. 4:3)

• believers giving thanks in all things (cf. 1 Thess. 5:18)

PETER'S LETTERS

• believers doing right (i.e., submitting to civil authorities) and, thereby silencing foolish men, thus providing an opportunity for evangelism (cf. 1 Pet. 2:15)

• believers suffering (cf. 1 Pet. 3:17; 4:19)

• believers not living self-centered lives (cf. 1 Pet. 4:2)

JOHN'S LETTERS

• believers abiding forever (cf. 1 John 2:17)

• believers key to answered prayer (cf. 1 John 5:14)