The object of transformation is to know God’s will—“His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Let’’ take some of the mystery out of God’s will. The chart below shows that God’s will is made up of things decreed or not decreed. God’s decrees, like His decrees to create the earth and knit you together in your mother’s womb, are the sovereign decisions of God, which cannot be altered. Free will is not a factor.
What God does not decree, He either prescribes or does not prescribe. For example, God prescribes to love your neighbor and not commit adultery, but God does not prescribe which job to take or home to purchase. Both require the exercise of free will—obedience in the case of what’s prescribed, and making wise choices in the case of what’s not prescribed.
Choices that God does not prescribe may be beneficial or not beneficial. Paul wrote, “Everything is permissible for me’—but not everything is beneficial’” (1 Corinthians 6:12). If not beneficial, choices may be moral or sinful. And sinful choices may be intentional or unintentional.
What’s the point? Everyone wants to know God’s will for his or her life. We learn God’s will by being transformed. We are transformed by renewing our minds—our worldview—through understanding Scripture. Everything I just taught you about God’s will is in the Good Book.
