35 – Will
WILL
§ 35. Will1 is an attribute of God, inasmuch as He consciously prompts His own acts,2 and is intent upon the execution of His purposes, the accomplishment of His designs, the realization of His counsels, and the fulfillment of His ordinances.3 —Hidden will4 and revealed will;5 antecedent will6 and consequent will.7
1. Will
Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?
2. is an attribute of God, inasmuch as He consciously prompts His own acts,
Psalm 135:6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Romans 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?
Job 36:23 Who hath enjoined Him His way?
James 1:18 Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
3. and is intent upon the execution of His purposes, the accomplishment of His designs, the realization of His counsels, and the fulfillment of His ordinances.
Psalm 33:9–10 For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught: He maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
Isaiah 46:11 I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Isaiah 65:2 I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Romans 10:16–21 But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
4. Hidden will
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Law.
Romans 11:33–34 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord?
5. and revealed will;
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.
I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Psalm 147:19–20 He sheweth His Word unto Jacob, His statutes and His judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.
I Corinthians 2:9–10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Ephesians 3:4–11 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6. antecedent will
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
I Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded.
7. and consequent will.
Matthew 23:37–38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Proverbs 1:25–31 But ye have set at naught all My counsel, and would none of My reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity: I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Jeremiah 5:29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this?