One can hardly forget a battlecry. During the Crusades those who “took the cross” to fight in the holy wars would declare “Deus lo Vult” which translates “God Wills It!” It seems presumptuous by our Protestant standards, leaving most of us to settle with the lest ponpus statement, “Deo Volente” (if: God Be Willing). The parodies and memes that abound with a crusader shouting “God Wills It!” has become a staple for mocking those who get a touch of ‘holy zeal.’
Setting aside the memes of gallant crusaders, the question remains, can we know God’s Will at all? Is there any evidence we can decipher the Divine? Or are we completely in the blind? Scripture has some answers. It tells us we can know God’s Will in one prism for sure: salvation.
Jesus was interrupted during a teachng. He was told His mother and family had arrived, to which He said:
Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:48-50)
What is the Will of the Father? Christ does not leave us in the dark but tells us:
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:35-40)
Our Lord and God Jesus Christ tells us the Will of the Father is to believe in the Son and receive eternal life! The Apostle Paul confirms this is God’s Will, to extend His grace to us:
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father [Jesus and Father are One John 10:30. John 14:9-10, John 17:20-22, Jesus is God see Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1, John 1:1-3, Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and Son see John 20:20-22, John 14:26, John 15:26].” (Galatians 1:4)
The Will of God is the Gospel, that Jesus Christ the Son of God was slain on the cross for our sins and that His blood washes us of all stains and seals us for eternal life!:
“Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--” (Revelation 1:5)
“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5, 7)
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest place by the blood of Jesus..” (Hebrews 10:19)
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebres 9:14 KJV)
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12 KJV)
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9 KJV)
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28 KJV)
God’s Will is not unfathomable! It is contained in the Evangelion (Gospel, Good News) of Jesus Christ the Lord! When we share the gospel, we share God’s Will! The crusaders were wrong, it is not the sword, but the cross that is God’s Will; it is not the bloodshed of infidels that is Jesus’ will, but His (Jesus) own blood shed for infidels so that they may become fidels and put their faith in Him and have eternal life!
Become part of God’s Will! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and confess Him as your Lord, Savior and Son of God and you shall be saved! You will then know God’s Will and be able fo decide it by sharing the gospel and being transformed:
“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.” (Romans 12:2).
Amen.
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