by Bill Boldham

        “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

         Any born again child of God has been made a partaker of His divine nature. However weakly it may be demonstrated, it’s real and present in every one of His children. That divine nature possesses the desire to know and do God’s will. Don’t confuse this reality with what you have witnessed in the lives of many who profess to be His child; if that desire is not there, they are not His children, regardless of what they may say or do.

         By His divine power, through His precious promises, the children of God have been made partakers of Jesus Christ’s divine nature. 2 Peter 1:3-4 The overriding purpose of Christ, when He entered this world is given us clearly: “When He came into the world, [Christ] said, [To the Father]: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body (His earthly body) You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I (Christ) said, ‘Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book (The Scriptures) it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.” Hebrews 10:5-7

         In the passage from Romans that begins this column, the apostle Paul urges new Christians to offer their bodies as living sacrifices to God. The aim of his whole exhortation is that they would be found living and walking in the perfect will of God. In so doing, they would be found in sweet and pleasing fellowship with the living God.

         The world is full of men and women who stand before audiences on a weekly basis, presenting themselves as spokespersons for God, purporting to tell their listeners the way to please and serve God—most have huge followings. For hundreds of years, institutions, created by apostate men, have claimed to be Christ’s church, and the only way to God is to follow their teachings. If any man, woman, or institution, urges their adherents to walk in a way, contrary to the will of God, as found in the Scriptures, they are false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

         The will of God—how serious is it to be found in the will of God or out of the will of God? well, listen to God’s Son, as to the importance of NOT doing the will of God. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23 

         I say to you who are reading this, four words you do not want to hear on judgment day: “I NEVER knew you.”

         To those who purpose to do God’s will, Jesus says: “Who is My mother, and 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 12:50

         Paul makes the pathway to God’s will clear: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 Feed the new man a healthy portion of God’s word every day, do what He says and you will be found in the perfect will of God.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net