Doctrine

If the Lord Wills – The Will of God

Pastor Tan Thai · Oct 18, 2020

Psalm 145:3Isaiah 55:8-9Matthew 10:29-30Isaiah 37:26Psalm 139:16Isaiah 46:10-11Acts 2:23Acts 4:27-281 Corinthians 12:181 Corinthians 15:38Colossians 1:19Acts 17:26Galatians 3:8Galatians 4:4-5Romans 8:28Ephesians 1:4Ephesians 1:5Romans 11:36Isaiah 14:26-27Genesis 3:15Ephesians 3:4-6Romans 2:181 Thessalonians 4:3-5John 13:34-35Galatians 5:19-222 Corinthians 6:14Hebrews 13:41 Corinthians 6:18James 4:13-17Isaiah 65:11Genesis 30:11

This opening sermon in the 'If the Lord Wills' series presents God's eternal plan and distinguishes three aspects of His will: sovereign will, moral will, and personal will. It emphasizes that nothing occurs outside God's sovereignty, and that the concept of 'luck' has no biblical foundation.

This opening sermon in the 'If the Lord Wills' series aims to help the congregation understand what Scripture teaches about God's will, so that they may make wiser decisions in alignment with His Word. The pastor clarifies that the series does not promise that believers will never make mistakes, but that they will increasingly live in a way that pleases God.

The first section presents God's eternal plan as comprehensive and certain to be fulfilled. Scripture confirms that nothing—great or small—occurs outside of God's plan and purpose, from the destiny of nations (Acts 17:26) and the atoning death of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:23), to the number of hairs on a person's head (Matthew 10:29-30) and the number of their days (Psalm 139:16). This plan originates solely from God's sovereign freedom and is unaffected by human imperfection.

The second section distinguishes three aspects of God's will. The sovereign will is His eternal plan, described as the 'hidden will' because He does not fully disclose it to humanity; its clearest expression is the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, initiated in Genesis 3:15 and progressively revealed through redemptive history. The moral will is the standard God has given through law, commandments, and New Testament teaching, enabling people to distinguish right from wrong and to live holy lives before Him (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Galatians 5:19-22). The personal will refers to the concept of a specific divine plan for each individual decision, which the pastor notes will be examined in detail in subsequent sermons.

The third section argues that the concept of 'luck' has no biblical foundation. Although many modern Vietnamese Bible translations use the word 'luck,' the pastor points out that Scripture consistently presents God as the sovereign ruler over every detail of creation, including a sparrow's death in a remote place. What humans call 'luck' or 'misfortune' is only a shortsighted view in a brief moment of time, while only God knows the final outcome.

The sermon closes with James 4:13-17, warning that when people make decisions entirely independent of God—without acknowledging their brief life on earth or His lordship—they sin against Him. Believers are called to live with the attitude of 'If the Lord wills,' recognizing His sovereignty and moral will in every decision of life.