The Power Of The Will

POWER OF THE WILL

When the saints of God commit sin it is attributed to the sinful nature of the flesh. They give the flesh a mind of its own which is motivated by its evil nature. But again how do we explain Adam’s sin? He did not have two natures and neither do we. Why is it so hard for the saints to admit that they simply exercise their will against God? Every creature was given that ability; even the angels. They too are able to decide whether or not to serve God.

We have often pointed out the fact that Jesus could be and was tested because He had the ability to sin. Otherwise the testing would be fraudulent and deceptive. But where does the ability to sin come from? Did Jesus have a dual nature? Did Jesus have two minds wherein if He decided to disobey it would be the other mind that did so?

Adam was also created without sin. He was given a conscience that understood right from wrong, obedience and disobedience, life and death. There was no sin dwelling in him neither was there a Law of Sin and Death working in his members. Thus he was not created with a sinful nature. Nevertheless, he sinned against God. Where did his propensity to sin come from? Did he have another mind other than the one he was created with? How silly does this sound? Adam’s proclivity for sin was found in his free will; the ability to choose.

Likewise, the same is true of the second Adam, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He too had the ability to choose good or evil. This ability is not another mind. It is the God-given right for the man Jesus to choose to obey the Father. Now consider that Jesus was and is the first begotten Son of the Living God. There is no question as to whether He was born of the Spirit of God. But if He is the first begotten of many brethren, then we would have to be of the same spiritual make-up as He. He was a man born with the Spirit of God within. His prayer was, Father make them one as we are one. The Father answered that prayer and now as He is, so are we in this world today. We are partakers of the divine nature and created the righteousness of God. Because He overcame the temptations of this world, that mind of Christ is more than a conqueror in us.

It is the magnificent prudence of the Father that we try so hard to understand. We are born of the Spirit by which we become one with the Father and the Son. Jesus explained this oneness.

St. John 17:21-23

21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The only thing Jesus gave us was the Holy Ghost to dwell within. He brings to us relationship by which we can cry Abba Father and He brings the character and influence that enables us to manifest the righteousness of the word. The slate is clean. We have been sanctified wholly, body, soul and spirit. We are truly the sons of God. But we are sons of God with free will. This free will is the only way we could be tried, tested and proven worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (James 1:12). Peter implied that there would be seasons in which we would undergo manifold temptations: That the trial of our faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (I Peter 1:6-7).

1 Peter 1:9

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Hebrews 10:39

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The soul is who we are. Some might argue that it is the spirit that defines us. But the soul and spirit can only be separated by the Word of God. In most places in the scriptures they are used interchangeably. The soul is the spirit of the mind of the flesh. It is the sum of our memories of pleasure, pain, joy and sorrow. It is the source of love or hate. It is also the source of the human will.

St. John 1:13

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The will is defined as intent, be disposed, minded, determination, purpose, decree; volition, inclination: desire and choice. In layman’s terms, the will is the desire of the soul. David yielded this in describing emotion for the Father.

Psalm 42:1-2

1. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: . . .

It is the soul that hungers, thirsts and longs for God. This desire for God is known to us as the will. It is true the will can be good, as the following verses will show.

Ephesians 6:7

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Philippians 1:15

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

But on the other hand the will can be corrupt and evil.

1 Peter 4:3

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Colossians 2:20-23

20. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21.(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22. Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

The will is the desire, intent and choice of the soul or heart.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Through the function of the brain, the flesh has the ability to think, but it is the soul that initiates and gives life to our thoughts. It is the heart or soul that genders intent or will, as the following services describe.

Ephesians 6:5-7

5. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6. Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Even with the influence of the Holy Ghost, the soul can reject righteousness and prefer that which God has forbidden. The Holy Ghost has provided us with the mind of God, but the desire of the soul, (will) can exercise its authority over the will of the Holy Ghost. It was Paul who admonished the church when he said, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Ephesians 4:30-31).

These things are clearly not the will of God, but they are often performed by the sons of God at the expense of the lamenting of the Holy Spirit. No, it is not that we have dual nature; it is simply the fact that we have a will that can be exercised against God and godliness. The Father allowed this to be so. It is for our testing and proving. Salvation is the opportunity to obtain the prize of the high calling that is in the return of Christ Jesus.

Circumstances, situations and relationships all provide a trying of our faith. Needs and necessities, reproach and persecutions can become fiery trials that challenge our resolve. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will …doeth well (I Corinthians 7:37).