Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 29
Why Is God’s Will Good, Acceptable and Perfect? (Romans 12:2b)
… that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2b)
That ye may prove – The word used here (dokimazein) is commonly applied to metals, to the operation of testing, or trying them by the severity of the fire, etc. Hence it also means to explore, investigate, and ascertain. This is its meaning here. The sense is, that such a renewed mind is essential to a successful inquiry after the will of God. Having a disposition to obey him, the mind will be prepared to understand his precepts.
Contrast the world’s value system and the will of God. Why is God’s will good? Can the believer explain? We may learn from Solomon. Why did Solomon describe the world’s value system as the “vanity of vanities”? Because his heart was not satisfied after he endeavoured to pursue the ways of the world. He was very disappointed at the end of his pursuit.
He realized that the heart is a big reservoir that only God can satisfy, that the world cannot fill. True riches and happiness come from God. Only the Maker can fill the longings of the soul. The thrust of the Book of Ecclesiastes is that the world cannot satisfy us. Even if we live the life of a king like Solomon having the best in the world, we will find it vanity and finally empty.
This is recorded in Ecclesiastes 2. Laughter, wine, pleasure, happiness, pursuing knowledge to be recognized, great work – building big houses and vineyard, building big pond and garden, having a lot of servants, cattle, lots of gold and silver that man look for, even that wisdom to outwit each other, it did not satisfy his heart!
God raised Solomon to try out all worldly indulgences and his conclusion is “no good”. Solomon in enjoying or trying out the world, kept his wisdom (discernment), while he indulged, finally affirming that it is no good.
Do you want to go through life and try out or do you want to learn from the Word of God and not regret it later? Do you think you can enjoy more than King Solomon and your conclusion is better than Solomon’s? Everyone who goes through life will come to that same conclusion.
No one has come closer! Not Xi nor Gates. Solomon was not only rich and famous but very respected. Alternatively, you can learn from the Word of God and avoid all this folly.
What is God’s will for every Christian that is good, acceptable (pleasing) and perfect (wholesome)? As we searched the Scriptures and especially in Romans 8 in proximity to our text in Romans 12:2, we shall find there in verses 28-30 the will of God for every Christian.
Romans 8:28-30 (KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The Lord sovereignly superintends over the lives of His people working out His good plan for each one of us.
For the believers in Christ, there is now no condemnation (v1-8), and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit giving us victory over the flesh (v9-13), assurance that we are the children of God (v14-16), though presently suffering for Christ’s sake there is a future glory with Christ (17-21), groaning (as a result of the constant battle between the flesh and the Spirit) awaiting the future redemption of the body (v22-25), meanwhile, the Holy Spirit guides us to do the will of God (v26-27) and God will make sure that we are eternally secured in Him and He will ensure that all things will work out for our good, He causes everything in the believers’ life to bring forth His blessing. Everything that we go through will work out for our good. And the believers are described as ones who love God because God has been very merciful and gracious to save them. All who do not love God do not belong to Him.
Our coming to faith in Christ, our salvation is part of God’s plan even before the universe was created. And being delivered from the judgment to come and eternally secured in Christ is God’s goodwill.
Romans 8:29 (KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Whom God chooses, and He calls to salvation, being justified by faith and finally being given a glorified body.
In the meantime, we are in that in-between time having been saved, we are led by God in progressive called sanctification where we are made more and more like Christ till we see Him face to face.
1 John 3:2-3 (KJV) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Psalm 17:15 (KJV) As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
This is the will of God as we put away sin and put on righteousness.
Romans 6:12-13 (KJV) Let not sin therefore reign
in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (KJV) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
The word “sanctification” is “ἁγιασμός” (hagiasmos), and has the following nuances (1) as the process of making holy dedicating, sanctifying; (a) as the operation of the Spirit making holy, causing to belong completely to God, sanctifying work (1 Peter 1.2); (b) as the careful moral behaviour that expresses one’s dedication to God, pure way of life, upright behaviour, holy living (1Thessalonians 4.3, 4, 7), opposite ἀκαθαρσία (uncleanness, impurity); (2) as the moral goal of the purifying process holiness, right behaviour (Romans 6.22) [Friberg Lexicon]
Romans 6:16-20 (KJV) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Solomon articulated well what God requires of us at the conclusion of living the life “under the sun”, without God in the equation, when he said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee