Perfect or Permissive Will?
"Perfect"
Sovereign, decretive, secret, hidden...
What God wills... will happen.
Whatever happens... is what he willed.
Deuteronomy 29.29
Isaiah 46.9-10
Acts 4.27-28
"Permissive"
Will of disposition, desire, precepts, commandments...
The way he wants us to live...
How things ought to be...
What pleases him...
We have been given the ability to disregard his commands, but not the right to disregard them.
1 Thessalonians 4.3
Colossians 1.9-10
1 Thessalonians 5.16-18
Searching for the "Perfect"?
"It may be stated as follows: God's plan for your life is like an itinerary drawn up for you by a travel agent. As long as you are in the right place at the right time to board each plane or train or bus or boat, all is well. But miss one of these preplanned connections, and the itinerary is ruined. A revised plan can only ever be second-best compared with the original.
The assumption is that God lacks either the will or the wisdom to get you back on track. A substandard spiritual life is all that is now open to you. You may not be on the scrap heap, but you are on the shelf, having forfeited much of your usefulness. Your mistake sentences you to live and serve God as a second-rate Christian.
Many Christians run scared, fearing such disaster every time a major decision has to be made. Others trudge along with heavy hearts, believing that this fate is already upon them because of some imprudence long ago. The fruit that so fearful a fancy bears is bitter.
The kernel of truth in the above scenario is that bad decisions have sad consequences from which we cannot expect to be shielded. But beyond that, the fear expresses nothing more than unbelief regarding the goodness, wisdom, and power of God. God can and does restore the years that the locusts have eaten (see Joel 2:25). Scripture shows us a number of saints making great and grievous mistakes about the will of God for them Jacob fooling his father, Moses murdering the Egyptian, David numbering the people, Peter boycotting Gentile believers-yet none became incurably second class. On the contrary, they were each forgiven and restored. This is how all true saints live." - J.I. Packer
"As Bible commentator Bruce Waltke has pointed out, Abel had faith and he died; Enoch had faith and he did not die; Noah had faith and everyone else died! So just having faith doesn’t guarantee your life—or the lives of those around you—will be all candy canes and lollipops. Life isn’t always fun, and we shouldn’t expect it to be." - Kevin DeYoung
“Lord, tell me what to do so nothing bad will happen to me and I won’t have to face danger or the unknown.” - Kevin DeYoung
Paul's "Perfect" Speech Patterns?
Acts 15.28
1 Corinthians 16.5-7, 12
2 Corinthians 1.15-18
(James 4.13-15)
1 Corinthians 16.12-13
Guidance Revisited
Character. Wisdom. Courage.
Matthew 6.25-34
"Is it the best I can envisage for the glory of God and the good of souls? God enables us to discern this by prayerfully using our minds-thinking how Scripture applies, comparing alternatives, weighing advice, taking account of our heart's desire, estimating our capabilities. Some call this common sense. The Bible calls it wisdom. It is one of God's most precious gifts." – J.I. Packer
"...the way of wisdom involves searching the Scriptures, getting wise counsel, praying, and finally making a decision…" - Kevin DeYoung
"The classic Bible presentation of the guided life and of the reality of the guidance that produces it is Psalm 23, the beloved shepherd psalm… He provides rest ("beside still waters"), refreshment ("he restores my soul"), protection ("through the valley of the shadow of death"), enrichment ("thou preparest a table"), and enjoyment ("goodness and mercy shall follow me").
Guidance is one facet of that total covenant care whereby the King of Love draws me into the destiny of deliverance and delight that he planned for me before the world was made.
Look more closely at verse 3: "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." "Paths of righteousness" are behavior patterns that please God because they correspond to his commandments and match his moral nature. Perceptive and prudent vocational decisions are certainly included, but the basic idea is that our holy God calls us to be holy. This is the essence of biblical guidance. "For his name's sake" refers to the furthering of his glory (i.e., our responsive praise for his revealed praiseworthiness) through his demonstration of covenant faithfulness. The Lord is my Shepherd; he is pledged to watch over me, order my travels, stay with me, and bring me safely home. He will not fail in his commitment. Finally, "he leads me" means that by his providential instruction he gives me wisdom to see the right thing-the best, the most fruitful, the purest and noblest, the most Christlike and God-honoring thing-to do in each situation, and he motivates me to that end." – J.I. Packer
Questions for Caregroup
Did the sermon challenge your views on God's will for your life? If so, how? Why?
Did the sermon bring any clarity and/or comfort to any debilitating regrets concerning your past? If so, what did that look like? Why?
Did the sermon challenge or change your perspective on making decisions for your future? If so, what will you do differently? Why?
Recommended Resources
God's Plans for You
J.I. Packer
Crossway Books
Just Do Something
Kevin DeYoung
Moody Publishers
Trusting God
Jerry Bridges
NavPress
