When reading scripture how do we discern whether something is God's revealed or His decreed will?

Thanks,

Adam

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Adam Schaefers
Mariners Reformed Baptist Church (Attending regularly, but not yet a member...)
Coos Bay, OR

www.YoAdam.com

I'm not sure I understand the question, but here's a crack at it.

1) His revealed will is that which takes the form of command/duty/promise.
2) His decreed will is whatsoever comes to pass.

One way to put the distinction as I have is to speak of God's decrees as being given by the narrative, and the revealed will by the prescriptive passages of Scripture.

Am I getting at what you're asking about?

Now I generally don't like splitting up God's "will" in this way, simply because God gets whatever he actually wills (where will is used as an active verb) - everything that comes to pass God has actively decreed. The fact that man does not obey God's revealed commandments (which some for various reasons want to call "will" also - something I can't quite understand) does not mean that God didn't get what he planned to happen... it simply means that God's revealed commandments were broken - something which also was an act by man decreed by God.

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://inprincipiodeus.solideogloria.com
http://puritanwisdom.blogspot.com

"As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low."
John Flavel in Keeping the Heart



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We are told of the decree, but the decree itself is not revealed to us. Whatsoever comes to pass is according to the decree.

In other words, I don't think you have to make that distinction. If you are being told God's will, it is being revealed.

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Clark Brooking
Pastor
Living Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Clarksville, MD