The Two Wills of God. God’s Decretive Will versus God’s Prescriptive Will.
1) The Decretive Will of God
This is sometimes described as the sovereign efficacious will, by which God brings to pass whatever He pleases by His divine decree. An example of this may be seen in God’s work of creation. When God said, “Let there be light,” He issued a divine imperative. He exercised His sovereign efficacious will. It was impossible for the light not to appear.
And likewise when God wills to harden the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction and God wills to have mercy on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory, it is going to happen regardless of the resistance or the “will”of man.
“For it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Romans 9:16
(2) The Preceptive Will of God
The preceptive will of God relates to the revealed commandments of God’s published law. When the Bible says things like: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
These are the precepts of God concerning how we ought to live as his redeemed people. But because we still have the nature of the sinful flesh that wars against the Spirit, man can and often does disobey the commandments of God.
For the Preceptive Will of God to be accomplished, there must be cooperation on the part of men, and it is not guaranteed to happen.
But with the Decretive Will of God, everything God decrees will happen because it does not depend in any way on fallen man’s cooperation or assistance.
God's will of decree is what God is absolutely going to do in spite of all the opposition of men.
"All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son WILL reveal him". Matthew 11:27
"the Son quickenth WHOM HE WILL" John 5:21
"OF HIS OWN WILL begat he us with the word of truth". James 1:18
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL." Ephesians 1:5
"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL." Ephesians 1:11.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, but of God." John1:12-13.
"And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and HE DOETH ACCORDING TO HIS WILL in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" Daniel 4:25
15 For he saith to Moses, I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I WILL HAVE MERCY, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH, NOR OF HIM THAT RUNNETH, BUT OF GOD THAT SHEWETH MERCY.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and WHOM HE WILL HE HARDENETH.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? FOR WHO HATH RESISTED HIS WILL?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 HATH NOT THE POTTER POWER OVER THE CLAY, OF THE SAME LUMP TO MAKE ONE VESSEL UNTO HONOUR, AND ANOTHER UNTO DISHONOUR?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering THE VESSELS OF WRATH FITTED TO DESTRUCTION:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on THE VESSELS OF MERCY, WHICH HE HAD AFORE PREPARED UNTO GLORY,
24 EVEN US, WHOM HE HATH CALLED, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?" Romans 9:15-24.
ALL of grace, believing the Book - the King James Holy Bible.
Will Kinney