A Study of the Will of God

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The words of Jesus are still true today. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. A study of the will of God is just ahead on the International Gospel Hour.

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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.

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Well, thank you to our J-Web for his kind words and greetings, and hello everyone. Thank you for joining us today for our study from the International Gospel Hour. And today I invite your attention to the discussion of the subject, the will of God. As mentioned moments ago from Matthew 7, 21, and we’ll continue into verse 23, Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and in thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many wonderful works, or mighty works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. From this reading of God’s word we are impressed with the necessity of doing the will of God. To call on the name of the Lord will mean nothing unless we obey the will of God. For Jesus said, Not everyone that says, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Our entering the kingdom of heaven will depend on our obedience to the will of God of heaven. In Romans 10, 13, the Apostle Paul quoted the prophet when he said, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. In verse 14 he said, In the record, the prophet revealed the fact that man is saved by calling on the name of the Lord. but he cannot call on the name of the Lord unless he believes, and he cannot believe unless he has heard. Heard what, we may ask? Well, evidently, the will of God, because Jesus said, Not everyone that calleth Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he that does the will of God. Let’s ask a question. What is a will? Well, a will of human origin is a legal instrument through which certain benefits may be received by named persons or institutions after the death of the testator. Anyone of proper age is competent to make a will except persons of unsound mind, infants, and idiots. The testator of a will has something to bequeath to another. The benefits of a will may be received upon certain terms and conditions stipulated in the will. A written will must be signed and witnessed, and the will must be probated after the death of the testator. A last will always annuls any former wills and must be executed after the death of the testator. The testator’s name must be given and conditions of benefit plainly expressed. The testator of a will is the master of his own will. No other person has the right to dictate or force conditions or benefits of a will upon a testator. The courts of our land admit that a testator may revoke his will before his death, or a will may be set aside when it has been proven that the testator was not in his right mind when making the will. Also, our courts admit revocation of a will when the properties or benefits were disposed of during the lifetime of the testator. There are many impressive characteristics of a will or testament, and one of the first things with which we are impressed about a will is the fact that the person making the will has something worth bequeathing to another, and he has heirs to inherit the benefits of the will. Concerning the will of God, surely that is true. God has something to offer man for his inheritance, the most valuable possession ever to be contemplated. All the riches and values of the world combined are incomparable with the eternal or to the internal inheritance that fades not away, which may be enjoyed through the will of God. God offers through His will the salvation of man’s soul. In Matthew 16, 28, Jesus said, For what shall a man be profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Truly the will of God offers man the greatest benefit known or ever contemplated, the gift of eternal life. Paul, the inspired apostle, declared, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6.23 Peter spoke of the benefits of God’s will as an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, if you will, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1, verse 4. Another thing we observe about a will is the fact that the person who makes a will certainly does have tender thoughts and regards toward those who are to be benefited by the will. It is hardly true that a testator would make an enemy the beneficiary of his will. Those whose names are included in a will are highly respected or loved by the testator of the will. Ladies and gentlemen, God has a will. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to do his Father’s will. As he said unto them in John 4, 34, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. Surely the omnipotence and omniscience of the divine persons of God the Father and Christ the Son are unquestionable. The divine beings are qualified in every detail to make a will. Christ, the testator of God’s will, loves all men and has made provisions for all men, with certain qualifications to be included as beneficiaries of God’s will. God’s love for man, His tender affections and concern for man’s welfare are beyond question. John made a universal proclamation of God’s love when he said, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3.16 God’s love was so great for man that he gave his only Son to die on the cross that man might be saved by the will of God. God loves all men of earth and made it possible for all men of earth to be benefited by His will, if man is willing to receive the benefits of God’s will. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should be saved, 2 Peter 3, 9. Jesus, God’s Son, declared, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do the things which I command you, John 15, 13, and 14. let’s note this about a will that it should be properly signed and witnessed. Without doubt, Jesus Christ is the testator of the will of God, having given His own blood as His signature of the blessed will of God. His apostles were chosen as His witnesses, as revealed in Luke 24, 46-49, when Jesus said, Jesus said, As the chosen witnesses of the Lord, the apostles were to break the seal and administer the will of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, but not until after Christ’s death. Jesus commanded his witnesses to tarry in the city until you be clothed with power from on high. Verse 49. Also, when we read Acts 1, 1-8, we see the same affirmed. The last will and testament of our Lord was probated in the high court of heaven and executed more than 2,000 years ago. Acts 1, verse 8. Acts 2, 32-38. and we shall see the divine probation unfolded in the Scriptures. Now, a will certainly states the names of those who are to be benefited by the Testament. The will of God definitely states the names of those who are to inherit the benefits of the will. In John 8, 31, Jesus said, “…if you abide in my word, then are you truly my disciples.” Furthermore, he declared, You are my friends if you do the things which I command you. John 15, 14. Those named by the Lord who will qualify to receive the benefits of God’s will are they who obey the commands of the Lord, that is, comply with the conditions and requirements. We can understand what Jesus meant when He said, Not every one that says, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. To do the will of God is to comply with its terms, conditions, and qualifications. The Lord of heaven does not show any partiality in the matter. He shows no special favors to the exclusion of others. In Mark 3, 33-35, Jesus indicated who are his dearest friends. He said, Who is my mother and my brethren? And looking around on them that sat about him, he said, Behold, my mother and brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of God, The same is my brother and sister and mother. One’s obedience to the will of God is the important thing. There are no special favors for anybody’s mother and brethren. God is no respecter of persons, Acts 10, 34 and 35. There were no special favors from the viewpoint of God’s will with reference to its conditions for blessings of mankind, even for the mother of Jesus. Yet, my friends, unfortunately, there are people today who prefer to follow their parents in religion, even if they are wrong. We must obey the will of God if we expect to enjoy the blessings of God’s will. Now remember, my mother and your mother did not make this will. This is the will of God. We must obey His will. Hear the language of our Lord, friends. Are you listening? He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10, 37 and 38. It is the last will and testament that is valid. A will is not valid until after the death of the testator who made it. Let’s see Hebrews 9, 15-18. And for this cause he, Christ, is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the internal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is a force where there hath been death, for it does never avail while he that made it lives. It must not be forgotten that inspiration declared that a testament is a force after men are dead. Furthermore, it was declared, He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10, 9 and 10. My friends, Jesus the Christ is the testator of the New Testament, which is the last will and testament of God. There is none other. After the death of Jesus, the last will and testament of God was executed and administered and will continue to be administered until the end of time. The fact that we do have the New Testament since the death of Jesus is indicative of the fact that we do not have the Old Testament as our guide in serving God to qualify for the benefits of God’s will. When Jesus died on the cross, the old law, the old will and testament was set aside. It was abrogated by reason of the death of Christ, the testator of the New Testament. In Colossians 2.14, Paul wrote, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. The Old Testament, as a law and testament to be obeyed, was nailed to the cross when Jesus died on the cross. The Bible declares He takes away the first that He may establish the second, Hebrews 10, 9. The blessings and benefits of salvation are to be received by terms of the second, the New Testament, and not the first, the Old Testament. These spiritual blessings have been received through the offering of the body of Christ once for all, after His death, for all mankind, Hebrews 10, 9 and 10. If we expect to be saved by the will of God, we must therefore obey the will of God revealed in the New Testament, and not to go back to shadows and types of the Old Testament. Let’s continue some thoughts in this regard. With the change of the priesthood, Christ, having become the priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, which was a disannulling of the commandment going before, Hebrews 7, 17 and 18, there was the necessity of the change of the law. The old law was removed and a new law was instituted. It was unmistakably affirmed in Hebrews 7, 12, For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. Is it not strange that those who contend or have an observance of the old law do not attempt to maintain the Jewish priesthood order as was practiced under the old law? Now remember, the Bible says for the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. My friends, the testator of a will always has full power to make any conditions in the will he may desire. No one has any right to dictate the terms and conditions of the will to the testator. This is true of the will of God. Since Jesus was the testator of the last will and testament of God, no man nor group of men has the right to stipulate any condition or alter any condition in the will of God. If you should write your will, certainly you are aware of the fact that you alone shall state the benefits of that will and the conditions upon which the benefits are to be received. Any undue influence or force will not be tolerated by the courts of our land. Christ had every right to include any and every condition He desired in the will of God. Who am I that I should tell the Lord Jesus that any condition stated in His will is non-essential? Who is the man who has the right to tell Christ, the testator of God’s will, I am your counselor and I want to advise you that I don’t think it is essential to observe all the conditions of your will? Ladies and gentlemen, radio audience, hear me please. Are you listening? Do you not know that many preachers and religious teachers are assuming the roles of dictators to the Lord Jesus Christ by attempting to counsel Christ that certain conditions of salvation revealed in the will of God are not essential? It is too bad that Jesus did not have some of the modern preachers and teachers of this world to advise him what should have been included and what should have been included in the Lord’s will, what should and what should not have been. Poor mortal men, worms and dust of the earth, who would seek to counsel God concerning His will. Now one may ask, Do men attempt to alter or modify the will of God, the very will that offers to mankind an eternal inheritance? Well, often, friends, it is true. For example, one section of the will of God reads, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be condemned. Mark 16, 15 and 16. Now in contrast, some would-be wise counselor advises the Lord that he should have stated in this part of the will, he that believes is saved and may be baptized later. What a tragic mistake. Such a mistake disqualifies one to receive the internal inheritance promised in the will of God. To alter or pervert God’s will is a most serious offense. The inspired apostle declared in Galatians 1 in verse 8 says, But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Someone says, If the will of God includes, among other things, baptism as being essential to salvation, why did not Christ tell the thief on the cross that baptism was essential to salvation? Friends, this question is evidence of a lack of understanding of the will of God. Now, it must be understood that one’s believing or not believing the thief will be saved with or without baptism will not affect the destiny of his soul. I would say that the thief will be saved. For Jesus declared in Luke 23, 43, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And paradise is that part of the Hadean world where the saved go after death to await the resurrection day. Christ went into paradise after his death, and he promised the thief that he would be in his place of abode that day too. The saved in paradise will receive the crown of life in the morning of the resurrection. and we can logically expect the thief to be among the number. But why is that thief so popular today? Surely we can assume that this particular thief, the thief on the cross, will not be the only thief to be saved on the day of judgment. The answer has already been suggested. Somebody decided the thief on the cross was not baptized, therefore no one today needs to be baptized to be saved, Even though Christ did command he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16, 16. If the thief on the cross will be saved and he was not baptized, why can’t anyone today be saved like the thief on the cross without baptism? Well, let us consider the matter. In the first place, folks, no one could successfully prove the thief was not baptized. I mean, it is evident that he at least knew something about the Lord’s kingdom, for he requested, Remember me when you come into your kingdom. Also, is it probable that he lived in the country where many hundreds were baptized by the authority of John the Baptizer, Matthew 3, 5 and 6? Well, who could prove that the thief was not among that number? But, beloved, it makes no difference whether the thief on the cross was or was not baptized as far as the salvation of man’s soul today is concerned. It must be remembered the thief died the same day our Lord died. Both Jesus and the thief were still living when Jesus said, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. This promise was made. before the death of Christ on the cross, and that makes the difference. The promise was made before the new law, the law of grace and truth, the gospel of Christ, was effective. The old law, the Old Testament covenant, was enforced during the personal ministry of Christ. He kept the old law and fulfilled the old law, but removed the old covenant in His death on the cross. Hear the Apostle. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself Of the two, one new man, so making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. Ephesians 2, 14-16 Man is subject to the law under which he lives. For example, someone may declare, I have decided that I am not going to pay any federal tax income or federal income tax rather because I have learned that Abraham Lincoln did not pay the income tax we pay. If Abraham Lincoln did not pay the income tax I pay, why should I pay it? Friends, I would not advise you to do that. I mean, it is true that Lincoln didn’t pay the same income tax we pay today for the very good reason that the federal income tax, like we have, did not become a law until some 50 years after the death of Lincoln. So today, many are heard to say, I am not going to be baptized. Baptism is not essential to salvation because the thief on the cross was not baptized, yet he was saved. What about the thief on the cross? The thief on the cross was not baptized, therefore I am not going to be baptized. Well, ladies and gentlemen, hear me please. Are you listening? You cannot afford to disobey the gospel of Christ revealed in the last will and testament of our Lord. The thief on the cross lived and died some 50 days before the last will and testament of Christ, which requires baptism for the remission of sins in the name of Christ Jesus. and when it became effective. It was after our Lord’s death and resurrection, for He declared in Luke 24, 47, and 48, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these things. Before the death of Jesus on the cross, He could say to that woman in Luke 6, 48, Thy sins be forgiven. Or He could say to the thief on the cross, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. and this would in no way invalidate the terms of His will which would be effective after His death. However, after His death and the execution of His will, salvation could not be offered or obtained except by terms of His last will and testament. And no man on earth has the right to offer salvation for less or more than the terms stipulated by the divine testator in His last will and testament, the gospel of Christ, revealed in the New Testament. this will having become effective after the death of him who made it. So there can be no doubt about the consequences of disobeying the will of God. For again Jesus declared, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. In that day, the judgment day, many souls will be lost for eternity. Surely it would be well for every soul to consider a most important question submitted by the testator of God’s will. Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Friends, there is no doubt from our study of the will of God that we need to do the things Jesus says, simply obey His word and His will. We encourage our friends, you, our listeners, to take something from our broadcast to aid you in your walk for God, or to help you change directions within your walk. Another way is our numerous Bible study offers, one that is by mail. Friends, we’d love for you to try this. It’s free, and our J-Web has the details.

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Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available at Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

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And friends, with that we will continue our studies at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.

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God be with you till we meet again.

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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.