Moral Will of God (Reformed Baptist Perspective)

Definition:

The Moral Will of God refers to God's revealed desires and commands concerning human behavior, which reflect His holy character and standards for righteous living. It encompasses God's ethical directives given to humanity, primarily through Scripture, about how individuals should live in obedience to Him. It is distinct from God's sovereign will (His overarching plan and purpose in the world) and His dispositional will (His general attitude towards humanity), focusing specifically on what is morally right and pleasing to God.

Key Aspects of the Moral Will of God:

  1. Revealed in Scripture:
    The moral will of God is expressed in Scripture, where God provides clear commandments and instructions about how humans should live in relation to Him and others. These include commands about love, justice, mercy, and holiness.

    • Exodus 20:1-17 – The Ten Commandments, which provide a fundamental moral framework for how people should relate to God and one another.
    • Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus summarizes the moral will of God as loving God with all one's heart and loving one's neighbor as oneself.

  2. A Guide for Christian Living:
    The moral will of God serves as a guide for how Christians should live their daily lives, directing them to act in ways that reflect God’s holiness and righteousness. It includes both moral duties (like avoiding sin) and virtues (like love and kindness).

    • Romans 12:1-2 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” This passage emphasizes that the moral will of God involves not just outward actions but an inward transformation, leading to righteous living.

  3. Universal in Scope:
    The moral will of God applies to all people, regardless of whether they are believers or not, as it reflects universal principles of righteousness and justice. While Christians are empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey God’s will, God's moral commands are applicable to all of humanity.

    • 1 Timothy 2:3-4 – “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
      This passage highlights God's desire for all people to come to repentance and salvation, reflecting His moral will for humanity.

  4. Expressed through Christ:
    The moral will of God is fully revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ’s life and teachings embody the fulfillment of God's moral commands, and His obedience to the Father becomes the model for believers.

    • John 6:38 – “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
      Jesus' submission to the will of the Father serves as the perfect example of living according to God's moral will.

  5. Involves Obedience to God’s Commands:
    The moral will of God calls for obedience to His commandments, and disobedience to His moral will leads to sin. These commands are not optional but are binding on all who seek to live in accordance with God’s will.

    • 1 John 5:3 – “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”
      The Apostle John teaches that true love for God is demonstrated through obedience to His commands, which are part of His moral will.

  6. Progressive Sanctification:
    The moral will of God is integral to the process of sanctification, the ongoing transformation of believers into the likeness of Christ. As believers grow in their understanding of God’s moral will, they are progressively conformed to His image and enabled to live righteously.

    • 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”
      This verse reveals that part of God’s moral will for believers is their sanctification, which includes moral purity.

The Moral Will of God vs. God’s Sovereign Will:

While the moral will of God refers to His commands and what He desires for humanity’s ethical living, God's sovereign will pertains to His eternal plan for all of creation, including the events of history, life, and death, and the ultimate realization of His purposes. God's sovereign will cannot be thwarted, while humans have the responsibility to obey His moral will, which requires a choice of will.

  • Romans 9:19-21 – “One of you will say to me: ‘Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?’ But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? ‘Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” This distinction between God’s moral and sovereign wills highlights that while God’s sovereign will is unchangeable and certain, His moral will is what humans are called to obey.

Theological Implications:

  1. Human Responsibility:
    The moral will of God underscores the responsibility of every human to live according to God’s revealed commands. It involves both the obligation to obey and the freedom to choose to obey or disobey.

  2. The Call to Holiness:
    The moral will of God calls believers to a life of holiness, marked by repentance from sin and a pursuit of righteousness, as seen in the life of Jesus Christ.

  3. The Role of the Holy Spirit:
    For the believer, the Holy Spirit empowers obedience to the moral will of God, convicting of sin and guiding believers toward righteous living. Christians are not left to follow God’s moral will on their own, but are aided by the indwelling Spirit.

    • Galatians 5:16 – “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
      The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live in accordance with God’s moral will, enabling them to overcome sin.

Conclusion:

The Moral Will of God refers to God's revealed commandments and ethical standards, intended to guide human behavior and reflect His character. For Reformed Baptists, this will is made clear in Scripture and exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. Obedience to God's moral will is an essential aspect of Christian life, empowered by the Holy Spirit and meant to lead believers toward holiness and transformation. It stands distinct from God's sovereign will, which pertains to His broader purposes in creation.

Sources for Further Study:

  • Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology – Provides a comprehensive study on the will of God, including the moral will.
  • John Piper’s Desiring God – Discusses God’s will in the context of Christian living and obedience.
  • R.C. Sproul’s Chosen by God – Explores God’s will in the context of Reformed theology, with emphasis on obedience and sanctification.
  • J.I. Packer’s Knowing God – Explores the will of God from a personal, relational perspective.

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