Bible Studies

Thy Will Be Done, An Indepth Study Into Gods Will for Us

by Michael Edwards 
05/01/18
Free to Share

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

I have often heard believers, including myself, painfully pray the words thy will be done when everything is going wrong, as though the overwhelming problems we are facing at that moment are God’s will for our life. This comes from the teaching that disease, tragedy, and death are all part of God’s will for us.  Written out before time to teach us something or glorify God, as some claim. So, is this what we find when we examine God’s will in scripture? No. Is God’s will the only thing we see being done on earth as some insist for God to be sovereign? No, not even close.

This study of the following 50 plus verses clearly reveal God's ultimate will for us and three and possibly four free wills in conflict on earth.

a)    These verses communicate clearly that God’s ultimate will is “Love.” God’s love casts a shadow in His strong desire that all come to salvation. That none perish. The Fathers will is personified in Jesus nature, heart and example, where the Fathers will is very apparent.

b)    These verses also indisputably reveal that man has his own free will and can choose to not do God’s will, even after being born-again. Christians most likely have two wills as seen in these verses. One of our dead fallen flesh and one of our born-again Spirit.

c)    They also reveal that Satan has a will too, that he is trying to propagate through the fallen flesh of man.

There would be no battle if only God’s will were being done on earth as some claim. 

This study reviews what God’s ultimate will is for us, by reviewing scripture that uses the word “will” when scripture refers to God’s “will.” These verses clearly reveal God’s ultimate will. In the end, His ultimate will is what really matters and what every believer should have in mind when they pray the words – thy will be done. It would be better to be more specific and pray as Jesus instructed – thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In heaven, there is no suffering, pain or death. This is God’s ultimate will for you believer, the Kingdom of God’s ways, and God’s will as it is done in heaven, done on earth along with the salvation of the believer. God wants us to be a part of the Kingdom of God. These truths and more are revealed in these verses.

God’s will is not disease, suffering, pain, and death. Our problems started when Adam and Eve forfeited mankind’s dominion in this world to Satan. They continue because we live in a fallen world with a fallen flesh and a real enemy who wants to kill, steal and destroy. To place the blame on God for the evil in this world and call these good as some do, is to call evil good, and God who is good, evil – Isaiah 5:20.

God’s ultimate will is overwhelmingly for our greater good. He stopped at nothing to see His ultimate will to save us accomplished. When presented with the truth that the only way to save us was for Jesus to suffer and die, our Father did not say that is too much. Nothing would stop him from saving us. But is it God’s will that Jesus and His children suffer and die? No, absolutely not. We see God’s will done in heaven and not yet on earth. Suffering and death is a price that comes in a battle between good and evil wills. In this fallen world there is a real enemy that has his own will too as the following verses reveal. We are in a real battle in a fallen world, but God will never leave us or forsake us. Victory is ours in Christ. We need to keep our eyes on the big picture. When we die here, we have an even greater victory. Those who trust in Christ cannot lose.

God’s ultimate will that the Kingdom of God and its ways come to earth and for our salvation is motivated because God so loved the world – John 3:16. In this world, you will suffer. If you have chosen to do God’s will, you will face additional trials and suffer for doing so because you are opposing Satan’s will, the ruler of this earth – John 14:30, and your own fallen will that still dwells in our flesh.

Death is God’s enemy, not God’s will for us. But it is the best thing that can happen to a believer, and God knows how to use it to protect us.

From a purely human perspective, most see death as the worst thing that can happen. But we need to understand that death for a believer is the best thing that can happen. When we die, our redemption will be complete as we receive a new glorified body free from a Sin nature.

Death is not God’s will; it is God’s enemy that is destroyed - 1 Cor 15:26. We never die and the New Testament never even states a believer dies. It says we fall asleep.

As we walk on this fallen earth, believers are to by faith see their flesh as already crucified and dead with Christ on the cross as God sees it right now. This is so we can complete our mission as ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, not doing dead works in the flesh, but doing works that are alive in the Spirit. We are to walk by the Spirit and not by the letter or the flesh. We have a born-again Spirit in Christ that is righteous, sanctified, holy and perfected right now by the blood of Christ. But in our flesh still dwells the same inherited Sin nature we received from Adam that will never be redeemed and must die. This is why we still struggle with sin in this life like Paul in Romans 7. But God sees our perfected Spirit in Christ, and He sees our flesh as already dead and He tells us to do the same. He is not counting the sins of our fallen flesh against us. We are under grace and not law, so Sin no longer has dominion over us – Rom 6:14 - and where there is no law, there is no transgression, no sin – Rom 4:15.

Our full redemption is guaranteed as soon as we believe the gospel but cannot be complete until we physically die. At that point, we receive a new glorified body, and our redemption will be complete. We will finally be free from the inherited Sin nature we have in this flesh that causes us so much pain, the body of death as Paul calls it. This is great news! We will have a glorified body that is perfect sync with our perfected Spirit. God’s will is that we be free. But to believers with limited faith, from a human perspective, we may see suffering and death as the end and some believers call death God’s will for us. But that is not really His will for us and you can see His love for us in that our death here is the glorious doorway to His will for us, the completion of our redemption. God uses all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose - Rom 8:28. When God does use His enemy death for the righteous, all who believe the gospel, it is to spare them from more evil in this world – Isaiah 57:1, and complete their redemption.

His will for us is the promised land where the homes are built, the vineyards are planted, and the wells are dug. We need to keep our eyes on the bigger picture. This life is a dot on a piece of paper, and our eternal life with Christ where His will is done is a line that goes on forever.

In this world, God is stuck with believers to spread the good news who still have an inherited Sin nature in their flesh that can draw them away at times. If a believer chooses to pay more attention to the will of their fallen nature after being born again, while they are saved because they believe the gospel, they can expect God’s opposition when it affects His ultimate will for us and others. God keeps His promise and is faithful even when we are unfaithful. But His will is the big picture, the ultimate good for humanity and it is a done deal in our Father’s eyes.

Reviewing the Verses.

I have added the context of each verse below in my explanation without adding too many additional verses. Have your Bible handy so you can go deeper and review the context yourself. God’s will in these verses is overwhelmingly for you Christian. You are greatly loved.

Note: The Greek word used for “WILL” in the first verse below and all verses we are reviewing is Strong’s 2307 - θέλημα (theléma) — and it occurs 63 times in the New Testament according to Strong’s. But some of the verses are listed more than once in that count due to the word θέλημα, (theléma) being in the verse more than once. Some verses say the same thing too, likeMatt 12:50 and Mark 3:35, and I have combined those when I noticed them. Therefore, there is not a list of 63 below. The verses were listed in no special order, just as they appeared on the Strong’s list on Biblehub.com.

You will learn that the same Greek word translated “will” used for God’s will, is also used for mankind and Satan’s will. I have emboldened the heading on verses of specific interest.

1) God’s will is not being done on earth yet. We are to pray for God’s perfect will that is without sin, pain, suffering, and death be done on earth as it is in Heaven. This tells us something very important. What we see here in our fallen world is not yet God’s will. Wars, murder, rape, child abuse, genocide, disease, death and any other horrible thing you can think of is not God’s will. Therefore, God has not scripted everything, including the original sin, the fall and all the terrible things we see today. God sovereignly chose to give man dominion on earth, and we gave it away to Satan. Jesus came to correct the problem we created.

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Matt 6:9-10 NAS, Luke 11:2

2) It is possible for mankind to not do the will of the Father. Those who do not do the will of the Father, will not enter Heaven. These are people who refuse to believe the gospel, God’s will for them. It goes on further in verse 23, and Jesus says depart from me I never knew you. The Bible teaches that God only knows those who love him - 1 Cor 8:3.. So those who must depart are those who do not love God. Only those who believe the gospel, believe that God loves them and in turn love God.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but He who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven [will enter]. Matt 7:21 NAS

3) God knows those who love him - 1 Cor 8:3. Those who love Jesus are His brothers and sisters.

"For whoever does the will of My Father who is in Heaven, He is My brother and sister and mother." Matt 12:50 NAS, Mark 3:35

4) This next verse is very clear. It is NOT the will of God that anyone perish. In the Old Testament God even states that He takes no pleasure even in the death of the wicked – Eze 33:11. Therefore, God did not create some to be saved and some who would not be able to believe the gospel as some theologies claim.

"So it is not [the] will of your Father who is in Heaven that one of these little ones perish. Matt 18:14 NAS

5) God’s will is that we believe the gospel and be saved, but the Pharisee’s freely refused to believe. They trusted their own will and therefore did not do God’s will and believe Jesus was the Messiah. This verse is Jesus talking to the Pharisee’s and he tells them the prostitutes and tax collectors have done God’s will by believing the gospel and will be in the Kingdom of God before they will. The only thing the prostitutes did was believe the gospel and they were saved just like God promised. It is interesting that Jesus does not say the Pharisee’s will not get into the Kingdom of God, they just get there later. This may be a reference to all of Israel being saved.

"Which of the two did the will of His father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. Matt 21:31 NAS

6) The Father’s ultimate will is to bring the Kingdom of God to earth and to save us, not crucify Jesus. This verse is Jesus asking the Father a second time if there was another way to save us. He then says your will be done. Jesus was committed to His Father ultimate will, bring the Kingdom to earth and save us. Jesus did have a choice to do the Father’s will and He tells us He chose to lay down His life and take it back up again. John 10:17-18

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." Matt 26:42 NAS, Luke 22:42

7) This is in a parable from Jesus and shows us that man can do other than God’s will. It is about being ready for Jesus return. In context, Jesus talks about someone who God has placed in charge while He was gone, referring to the Pharisee’s. If the person left in charge is found to have gotten drunk and beaten the slaves instead of caring for them, that person will be cut to pieces and assigned a place with the unbelievers. God’s will is that we believe the gospel that the Pharisee’s refused to believe. It was also for the Pharisee’s to care for the flock and not beat the flock as they did. They are the ones who will be punished in this verse.

"And that slave who knew His master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with His will, will receive many lashes, Luke 7:47 NAS

8) This next verse is very interesting in that it clearly tells us that those who crucified Jesus had their own will as we also read in other verses. We see it was mankind and Satan’s will that crucified Jesus. God can use all things for our good, even the evil in this fallen world.

And He released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but He delivered Jesus to their will. Luke 23:25 NAS

9) Another verse that talks about the will of man and the will of God as being separate. The verse is talking about those who were His own, the Jews, did not do God’s will and receive Jesus. But the Gentiles who received Jesus and believed in His name, He gave the right to be children of God by the will of God.

who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:13 NAS

10) Jesus work was to do the Fathers will to save the world God so loved – John 3:16 and to bring the Kingdom of God and its ways to earth. The Kingdom of God is filled with love, grace and truth. All of the things we see embodied in Jesus.

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. John 4:34 NAS

11) Jesus only does the Fathers will. We know exactly what the Father's heart for us looks like in seeing Jesus. It also tells us that Jesus has his own will apart from the Father. He did not seek His own will, only the Fathers. Interesting, Jesus could have sought His own will had He chosen too.

"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 5:30 NAS

12) Jesus clearly tells us that Gods will is for us to believe the gospel and be saved. God’s will does not include death; it is eternal life. The death we see Here is not God’s will it is Satans. Death is an enemy of God according to scripture and has been defeated by Jesus. Jesus again mentions that He has His own will apart from the Father, but only does the Fathers.

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; He who comes to Me will not hunger, and He who believes in Me will never thirst. "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. "For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:35-40 NAS

13) Jesus came to bring the Fathers will to earth, which means it was not here. Jesus only taught what the Father taught; the Fathers will. Jesus also points out our free will  to do or reject God’s will when He says ‘if anyone is willing to do His wiil.”

So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me."If anyone is willing to do His will, He will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or [whether] I speak from Myself. John 7:16-17 NAS

14) God’s will is to heal us. This verse is from a man who was blind that Jesus healed. He is talking to the Pharisee’s. The person He is referring to as being God-fearing and doing God’s will is Jesus. This is why the man says God healed him through Jesus. Because Jesus seeks Gods will to be done and in doing God’s will He was able to heal him. God does heal all of us from our inherited fallen Sin nature that leads to death.

"We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He Hears him. John 9:31 NAS

15) God installed David as King because He knew that David would do all of His will. Think about the big Heart of David and how He acted and treated people other than his failures with Bathsheba, which God knew would happen before he installed him as King. David’s sins prove to us that even a man who will do all of God’s will as God stated, can veer off into his own will and get caught up in sin.  Could a man after God’s heart be talking about the heart of God’s will? I think so. God’s heart is to save us and if you are aligned with His will, there is nothing He will not do through you to accomplish it. David was treated very nicely by God too, as a king.

 "After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.' Acts 13:22 NAS

16) Many have died for the gospel, but their death was not God’s will. Paul’s friends in the following verse reluctantly agree with Paul that God’s will be done when Paul accepts the prophecy that His trip to Jerusalem will end in His suffering and death. God’s will here is not Paul’s death, it is the preaching of the good news in Jerusalem. Death for Paul and every believer is simply the doorway to God’s will for them, the completion of their redemption and a glorious future with Christ.

And since He would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!" Acts 21:14 NAS

17) Here Paul is told that God has appointed him to know God’s will and to see Jesus and hear him. This means that Paul’s teachings clearly reveal God’s will in the New Covenant. The New Covenant of grace and truth that Jesus shed His blood for and replaced the Old Covenant of law – Luke 22:20. In verse 16, Paul is told not to delay, to get up and wash away his sins, calling on Jesus name. It is very interesting that God would use Paul, an unbeliever, a sinner steeped in the law and a man who had put Christians to death. Yet, God washes away Paul’s sins. This tells us God will select a person, unbeliever, even the worst sinner, etc., who can get His ultimate will done, stopping at nothing. Maybe there was not a believer alive at the time who had the fortitude to do like Paul, so God dramatically persuaded an unbeliever. Is that what many unbelievers say, if God would appear to me in a miraculous fashion, I would believe.

"And He said, The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. Acts 22:14 NAS

18) If God’s ultimate will to spread the Gospel led Paul to see his friends in Christ on his mission, he would be very happy.

Always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. Rom 1:10 NAS

19) Another example of man not doing God’s will but doing His own will even when they should have known God’s will. In this verse, Paul is rebuking the Jews for preaching the law as God’s will but not keeping the law. This was part of Paul’s attempt to get the Jews to see the ultimate will of God personified in Jesus and repent (change their mind) and believe the gospel.

 and know [His] will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, Rom 2:18 NAS

20) Another interesting verse about proving that God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect. Here Paul is telling believers to be transformed by the renewal of their minds to the truth so they can prove what the will of God is to the world. This tells us that an unrenewed mind does not understand the will of God. Further, in this chapter, Paul lists several things that will prove to the world that God’s will is love. Love your enemy, don’t pay back evil with evil, love your brother, etc. These are all part of the shadow that God’s perfect love casts. God’s love and will for us became flesh in Jesus. Study Jesus and you can see God’s will.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:2 NAS

21) Same as 18 above. Paul is involved in doing God’s ultimate will spreading the gospel, and if in that work he can see them he would enjoy it and be refreshed. But Paul knows His mission, and it comes first.

so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find [refreshing] rest in your company. Rom 15:32 NAS

22) There is no doubt that God can and does directly enlist people to do His ultimate will. God called Paul as part of His will in a forceful intimidating manner by appearing to him and blinding him. I am sure it was the only way to get Paul to believe the gospel. He certainly was not going to believe the Christians he was arresting, throwing into prison and putting to death. God must really love mankind to save Paul.

Paul, called [as] an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 1 Cor 1:1 NAS

23) Another verse telling us mankind has their own will, and we can have authority over it or let it have authority over us.

But He who stands firm in His Heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over His own will, and has decided this in His own Heart, to keep His own virgin [daughter], He will do well. 1 Cor 7:37 NAS

24) This verse tells us it was not Apollos will to come at that time. Note that Paul does not say it was not God’s will for Apollos to not come. Man has His own free will. Here the NAS translates the word used for will, as desire, but most translations use the word “will.”

But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all [his] desire(will) to come now, but He will come when He has opportunity. 1 Cor 16:12 NAS

25) God called Paul as part of God’s ultimate will to spread the gospel and save the lost.  He was not called by God to be beaten and die. Those just went along with preaching the gospel to a world where fallen man has His own will too.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: 2 Cor 1 NAS

26) Paul is talking to the Corinthians about using their free will for liberal giving, love, and grace like the believers in Macedonia. He is encouraging the Corinthians to act out of love too, to demonstrate the proof of their love. This letter was delivered by Titus to the Corinthians.

 and [this], not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 2 Cor 8:5

27) God’s ultimate will is made flesh in Jesus to rescue us from this present evil age.

who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, Gal 1:4 NAS

28) Same as 25. Common introduction from Paul.

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and [who are] faithful in Christ Jesus: Eph 1:1 NAS

29) His will was for those who love him to be adopted as sons. The Bible teaches that those who God knows are those who love him – 1 Cor 8:3. Those who God does not know are those who do not love him. We love Him because He first loved us. We love Him when we believe the gospel, seeing His love for us in Jesus death and resurrection. Those who do not believe the gospel, how much He loves them, do not love Him in return, the lost. Those who love Him, He has predestined for adoption as sons through Jesus.

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, Eph 1:5 NAS

30) Paul says God made the mystery of His will known to Paul. Paul would stop at nothing in preaching the good news, the gospel. He did everything he could to save all he could. He stated he would even trade positions with the Jews to get them saved. Paul clearly understood and personified God’s will and would stop at nothing, even his own suffering and death, to do God’s will. But he always had a choice. He was constrained by the love of Christ.

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him Eph 1:9 NAS

31) God works all things to accomplish His ultimate will. All things mean all things. He can and does use sin, death, tragedy, rebellion, hard hearts, our will, Satan’s will and all things in this fallen world to accomplish His purpose. God knows our hearts and used the will and hard hearts of fallen man along with suffering and death to work out His ultimate will to save us at the crucifixion.

also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Eph 1:11 NAS

32) This verse is telling us the flesh has its own will apart from God’s will. This sounds like a clear reference to man’s own free will. The NAS uses “desire” a second time for our Greek word instead of will. 

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires (will) of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Eph 2:3 NAS

33) Paul encourages believers to understand and live the ultimate will of God as opposed to their own will. In Eph 5, Paul is telling “believers” they should not act like the world, to not be foolish but to be wise. To be imitators of God as His beloved children. To walk in love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us. God’s love and ultimate will are clear in Jesus.

So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5;17 NAS

34) We do not do God’s will to impress others, but from the Heart as a slave of Christ, bound, infused and led and constrained by His love.

Not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the Heart. Eph 6:6 NAS

35) Standard greeting.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, Col 1:1 NAS

36)  Paul prays that the Colossians will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. This is so they will know what God’s will is at all times and in all situations.

For this reason also, since the day we heard [of it], we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Col 1:9 NAS

37) A believer can be out of sync with, not centered in God’s will. More prayer that the Colossians would stand in the center of God’s will, being of great value to God’s plan. As believers, we are often only partially aligned with God’s will and of limited value in its accomplishment.

Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you His greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in His prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. Col 4:12

38) Again, this shows us even a believer is not bound in some uncontrollable manner by God to do His will. It is always a choice. This verse cannot be teaching progressive sanctification (to be set apart) as some might claim. The Bible is very clear that believers are already sanctified when we are born again and set apart by the blood of Jesus. This is Paul encouraging us to abstain from all appearance of evil. To decide to walk out what has already been accomplished in the Spirit. This is God’s will, but even as believers, we can still stubbornly obey our old will and not listen like the Corinthian saints often did not.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; [that is], that you abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Thess 4:3

39) In Thess 5, Paul is encouraging believers to live and walk out the will of God in their lives as opposed to still living for their selfish will in this world. As believers, we have a choice to be led by our old flesh that we are supposed to see as dead, or by the Spirit doing the will of God. Either way, a person is still saved because they believe the gospel and have received God’s free gift of righteousness and abundance of grace – Rom 5:17. Being in the center of God’s will, doing living works, is how one builds treasure in heaven that will not be burned up - 1 Cor 3:15.

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:18 NAS

40) Another common introduction from Paul. Can God call certain people directly for His will? Absolutely. Does this prove everything is God’s will? No. It could prove just the opposite. Paul was doing his own will and killing Christians before God called him to do His will.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim 1:1 NAS

41) Very informative verse. False teachers are held captive to do Satan’s will.   This could be all of fallen mankind, or since man has their own will, more than likely this is referring to those who are actively opposing Christ, false teachers, those who scatter instead of gathering, which would be Satan’s will. On the part of the person, this is most often done in total ignorance of the truth, a pawn of Satan and their fallen flesh. Blind to the truth like Paul was before his conversion.

and they may come to their senses [and escape] from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Tim 2:26 NAS

42) Jesus is telling the Father He came to do His will. The word “will’ is used three times in these verses referring to God’s will. Jesus came to do His will. The Fathers will is for Jesus to take away the first (Old Covenant of Law of Moses) and establish the second (New Covenant of Grace and Truth) with His shed blood. By God’s will we have been sanctified through Jesus one offering for all. Christians are exclusively under the New Covenant and not a mixture of the two. Study the New Covenant in Hebrews and the other studies I have written.

"THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'" Heb 10:7 NAS

After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND [sacrifices] FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE [in them]" (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:8-10 NAS

43) Jesus equips us to do the Fathers will instead of our will. Apart from Jesus, we cannot do God’s will. The works of our flesh are dead works. Only works done in Christ, in the Spirit are alive. As a branch, we must abide in the vine, Jesus, if we are to do the Father’s will.

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, [even] Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] the glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb 13:20-21 NAS

44) Here we are told to submit ourselves to doing God’s will instead of our own will. This is done to silence the ignorance of foolish men, meaning unbelievers. It is clear we have freedom and have a choice even after we come to Christ, to do His will or our own. God never forces us to do His will even after we are saved. Even Paul had a choice. Many will arrive in heaven and all of their dead works, of their will, will be burned up, but they will make it – 1 Cor 3:15 - because God always keeps His promise – John 3:16.

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. [Act] as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but [use it] as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.  1 Peter 2:13-17 NAS

45) Here we are encouraged to do the right things again even when we are reviled for our faith. In doing this, we may suffer so our flesh finds it easier to freely choose to shut up when it comes to the gospel. But it is better to suffer for doing what is right than doing what is wrong. This again indicates we still have a choice after being born again. God does not will that we suffer as we know. He calls us to help save others, in which there will be suffering. But believers can choose to sit on the sidelines and still be saved.

But sanctify (set apart) Christ as Lord in your Hearts, always [being] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Peter 3:15-17 NAS

46) As believers, we are again encouraged to live the rest of our lives for the will of God, not the lusts of men. Lusts of men would be the same as the will of men. We still have a choice even when we are born again. In another verse – 1 Cor 6:12 - Paul tells us that everything is permissible for us but not everything is beneficial. We have complete freedom in Christ.

so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2 NAS

47) This is not telling us it is God’s will for us to suffer. It is saying like many other verses that if we are doing God’s will here, we will suffer. This is a fallen world, and there is a real enemy. Even the Son of God suffered at the hands of fallen men and their will, why would we expect anything else.

Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. 1 Peter 4:19 NAS

48) Another verse indicating man has their own will apart from God.

for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:21 NAS

49) Those who do the will of the Father live forever. Thus, believing the gospel is doing the will of the Father. Likewise sharing the gospel and praying that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven is God’s will. This goes back to love and His ultimate will again. That none perish, and all come to a saving knowledge of Christ. In this will that God will not give up, all is a done deal; there will be suffering for those who live in the center of His will in this life because of this fallen world and our real enemy. There will be suffering just because we live in this fallen world too.

The world is passing away, and [also] its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17 NAS

50) The following tells us we can ask for things that are not in God’s will as believers. When you pray, know that God’s will for believers is what we see done in Heaven, so His will is that believers be blessed. Here on this earth, His ultimate will is that things be done the same here as they are done in heaven. But from what we have read in these verses, in this world presently there is also man’s will and Satan’s will being done. Therefore, our prayers may not be answered, unless they are in alignment with God’s ultimate will here on earth. In the end, God’s will prevails, and His will that is done in heaven, will be done on a renewed earth.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He Hears us. And if we know that He Hears us [in] whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:13-15 NAS

51) By God’s will, everything that is created exists.

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Rev 4:11 NAS

What about the Old Testament? A brief review.

God’s will for mankind has always been the same. He is for us and loves us greatly, as much as He loves Jesus – John 17:23. But in the Old Testament, we see the time before our Savior appeared and God’s ultimate will to bring Him. Even in Noah’s flood, we see God’s overwhelming love and commitment to save us. Noah and his family were the only believers left on earth. God used the flood to protect a remnant to bring the Messiah through. If no believers existed, Jesus could not come. We also see in 1 Peter 3:18-20 that after the cross and before His resurrection, Jesus preached the gospel to those who died in the flood in Noah’s time. The only reason the gospel is preached is so the hearers will believe and many from Noah’s time did believe and came out from prison when Jesus arose according to scripture.

Satan was at work in Noah’s day to wipe out all believers to stop the Messiah from coming. But after Jesus birth, Satan had to change his plan. He was at work when he had Herod kill all the baby boys after Jesus birth, in an attempt to kill the Messiah. These are the challenges of this fallen world and Satan’s kingdom, God had to deal with to bring Jesus and save us.

We also clearly see God’s love for the world in the law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. Another way in which God protects man while He works out His ultimate will in a fallen world to save us. God’s law protects us from each other’s fallen nature and leads us to safety in Christ – Gal 3:22-25. The Spirit of all of God’s laws is love. The Spirit of a law is the purpose for which it is written. We know love is the Spirit of God’s laws for certain because love is the only thing that fulfills all of God’s laws – Rom 13:8-10 and Gal 5:14. As believers, we are called and qualified to minister the Spirit of the law, love, and not the letter of the law that brings condemnation and death – 2 Cor 3:6.

Conclusion

These verses are clear that there are three and maybe four wills at odds here in this fallen world. Satan will never align his will with God, but we have a choice to align our will with God or continue to promote the will of our dead flesh or Satan. No matter what we do, God is faithful and will keep His promises to all who believe the gospel. What he has promised is a done deal. We are greatly loved and blessed in Christ. God is always with us and protects us as much as possible during the battle or removes us to protect us from further evil. Read Jesus specific prayer for the protection of believers in John 17.

Suffering, disease and death are not God’s will for us.  We are in a battle in a fallen world with a real enemy. We see God’s will done in heaven and not yet on earth. We are to continue to pray that His will be done here as it is done in heaven, where there is no suffering or death. As we walk out our faith here, we keep our eyes on the big picture that is already a done deal from our Father’s viewpoint.

Jesus shed His blood so that God's will for us in the New Covenant/Will would take effect. A Will does not take effect until the person dies. When Jesus died, God's will for us was forever placed into effect by Jesus blood. The word Covenant also means Will, like in the last Will and Testament of Jesus. 

Therefore he (Jesus) is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. For where a Will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Hebrews 9:15-17 ESV

This is God's will for us being done. 

14For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

      16“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
            AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
            I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
            AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”
            He then says,

      17“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
            I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

18Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Hebrews 10:14-18 NAS

Some additional studies that apply:

God Does Not Pay the Wage of Death, Mr. Sin Does

God is More Concerned with The Death of Man than Mankind's Sins

Death is an Unintended Consequence of Gods Law

Can God Be Sovereign and Not Control Every Detail?

My Sheep Hear My Voice, and I Know Them,

Who is Jesus Talking to with Depart from Me I Never Knew You?

Who Are the Ones God Foreknew to be Conformed to His Sons Image?

Jesus Specific Prayer for Your Life, Christian

How is the Flesh Crucified?

Your Flesh is Dead Christian, Not in School

Christians are Blessed Because God is Not Imputing our Sins

Christians Have Diplomatic Immunity

Why Did Jesus Preach the Good News to the Dead?

Do You Know the Spirit of All of God's Laws?

I Am Holy, I Am Sanctified, I Am Perfected, Sanctified or Not?

Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross. 

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20