Renewing Your Mind Podcast Summary: "The Will of God"

Podcast Information

• Title: Renewing Your Mind
• Host/Author: Ligonier Ministries
• Episode: The Will of God
• Release Date: February 5, 2025
• Description: Renewing Your Mind is the daily podcast of Ligonier Ministries. R.C. Sproul launched this outreach to help Christians gain a deeper understanding of who God is as their minds are renewed according to His Word. Listen to today’s message to dig deeper into Scripture and apply its timeless truth to your life.

Introduction

In the February 5, 2025 episode of Renewing Your Mind, R.C. Sproul delves into the intricate subject of understanding God's will for an individual's life. The episode, titled "The Will of God," seeks to clarify the distinctions between different aspects of God's will and provide practical guidance for Christians seeking to align their lives with divine purpose.

Understanding the Will of God

Hidden vs. Revealed Will

Sproul begins by addressing a common question among believers: "How can I know the will of God for my life?" He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between God's hidden will and revealed will.

[00:03] Dr. Sproul: "The only way you're going to know the hidden will of God for you today is to wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow will make clear to you what the hidden will of God was for you today."

Drawing from Deuteronomy 29:29, Sproul explains:

[01:45] Dr. Sproul: "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law."

He introduces the Reformation concepts of Deus Absconditus (the hidden God) and Deus Revelatus (the revealed God), highlighting that while God's total knowledge is beyond human comprehension, His revealed will is accessible through Scripture.

Decretive vs. Preceptive Will

Sproul further distinguishes between two facets of God's revealed will:

1. Decretive Will: This is God's sovereign and absolute will that inevitably comes to pass. It's often referred to as the absolute or sovereign will of God. For instance, God's decree, "Let there be light," cannot be thwarted.

2. Preceptive Will: Contrary to the decretive will, the preceptive will encompasses God's commandments and moral directives, which humans can choose to follow or resist.

[09:30] Dr. Sproul: "The decretive will of God is that will of God by which God sovereignly brings to pass whatsoever he wills. [...] The preceptive will of God not only can be resisted by us, but is resisted all the time."

Application to Daily Life

Choosing Jobs and Marriages

Sproul provides practical applications of understanding God's will by focusing on the preceptive will:

• Selecting a Career: Instead of seeking divine signs or predictions, believers should evaluate job opportunities against God's principles and their personal gifts.

  [15:10] Dr. Sproul: "What you do is you study closely the preceptive will of God. [...] Matching your vocation with the job opportunity requires applying the law of God to the details of life."

• Choosing a Spouse: When faced with multiple suitable candidates, Sproul advises that the decision should ultimately align with personal convictions and biblical principles rather than attempting to discern a hidden divine mandate.

  [17:45] Dr. Sproul: "Which one do you want to marry? Because as long as they are all within the approval of the preceptive will of God, then you are free under God to do what you want."

Common Misunderstandings

Fortune Telling and Illicit Means

Sproul warns against attempting to uncover God's hidden will through forbidden practices such as fortune-telling, tarot cards, or Ouija boards. He underscores the biblical admonitions against seeking knowledge of the future through ungodly means.

[12:50] Dr. Sproul: "God is so severe in his warnings in Scripture against those who try to find out the future through illicit means. Ouija boards, fortune tellers, Tarot cards, and that sort of thing. Those things are considered off limits for us as Christians."

Limiting to God's Law vs. Desire to Know the Future

He distinguishes between seeking guidance through God's revealed will versus an obsessive desire to predict future events, emphasizing that true understanding comes from adhering to God's commandments rather than seeking hidden information.

[20:15] Dr. Sproul: "We want to know the will of God in terms of the future, when the emphasis in the Scripture is the will of God for us in terms of the present. And that has to do with his commands."

Scriptures Supporting the Distinction

Sproul emphasizes the biblical foundation for his teachings, particularly Deuteronomy 29:29, which clearly separates what is known (revealed) from what remains concealed (hidden).

[22:10] Dr. Sproul: "Secret things belong to the Lord our God. Now, I don't want to be flip when I say they're none of your business, but one thing we can say with certainty. They're none of your possession. They belong to God."

He reiterates that God's revelation is intended not just for believers' benefit but also for future generations, ensuring the continuity of divine knowledge and obedience.

[23:55] Dr. Sproul: "God has taken something of the secret plans and the secret desires of his mind, and he has removed the secrecy. He has taken the veil away. That's what revelation is."

Conclusion

In concluding his message, Sproul reiterates the paramount importance of focusing on God's preceptive will—His revealed commands and principles—as the primary means for understanding and living out His will. By immersing oneself in Scripture and applying its teachings, believers can navigate daily decisions with clarity and purpose, trusting that God's sovereign decretive will operates beyond human understanding.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [00:03] Dr. Sproul: "The only way you're going to know the hidden will of God for you today is to wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow will make clear to you what the hidden will of God was for you today."

• [01:45] Dr. Sproul: "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law."

• [09:30] Dr. Sproul: "The decretive will of God is that will of God by which God sovereignly brings to pass whatsoever he wills. [...] The preceptive will of God not only can be resisted by us, but is resisted all the time."

• [15:10] Dr. Sproul: "What you do is you study closely the preceptive will of God. [...] Matching your vocation with the job opportunity requires applying the law of God to the details of life."

• [17:45] Dr. Sproul: "Which one do you want to marry? Because as long as they are all within the approval of the preceptive will of God, then you are free under God to do what you want."

• [12:50] Dr. Sproul: "God is so severe in his warnings in Scripture against those who try to find out the future through illicit means. Ouija boards, fortune tellers, Tarot cards, and that sort of thing. Those things are considered off limits for us as Christians."

• [20:15] Dr. Sproul: "We want to know the will of God in terms of the future, when the emphasis in the Scripture is the will of God for us in terms of the present. And that has to do with his commands."

• [22:10] Dr. Sproul: "Secret things belong to the Lord our God. Now, I don't want to be flip when I say they're none of your business, but one thing we can say with certainty. They're none of your possession. They belong to God."

• [23:55] Dr. Sproul: "God has taken something of the secret plans and the secret desires of his mind, and he has removed the secrecy. He has taken the veil away. That's what revelation is."

Final Thoughts

R.C. Sproul's "The Will of God" episode offers a profound exploration of divine will, urging believers to anchor their lives in the revealed will through Scripture. By understanding and applying God's preceptive will, Christians can confidently navigate life's decisions, assured that they are living in alignment with His eternal purposes.

For those seeking deeper theological insights, Sproul promotes a comprehensive 60-message series on systematic theology, available through special DVD sets and accompanied by his book Everyone's a Theologian. Supporters are encouraged to donate at renewingyourmind.org to access these valuable resources.

Upcoming Episode

Join us tomorrow as R.C. Sproul examines the Providence of God, further elucidating how God accomplishes His will in the world. Don't miss this continuation of understanding and applying key theological truths to your daily life.