The USA’s National Academy of Sciences supports the view that science and religion are independent. We do not know whether Thomas Huxley foresaw the decline of religion in England, but there is no doubt that he would have welcomed this unintended consequence of his educational policy. Therefore, say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, that you may not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. The Book of Psalms refers to God delivering judgement among the gods and causes them to fall for their sins, as God declares that “Gods you may be, sons you all of the Most High, yet you shall die as men die; princes fall, every one of them, and so shall you.”.

Frollo’s “Hellfire” is one of the darkest songs in Disney history! We need to know them and decide which one is being used here in Romans 12:2. In fact, knowing the difference between these two meanings of “the will of God” is crucial to understanding one of the biggest and most perplexing things in all the Bible, namely, that God is sovereign over all things and yet disapproves of many things. But even before next week when I try to answer these two questions all of us here need to align ourselves more fully with God’s goal. What a world apart is Isaiah 48:9-11, and even more so Ezekiel 36:21-32. Parts of this text are very familiar promises of the New Covenant, but oh, how we need to read what comes before and after these promises, lest we lose the biblical perspective of our salvation. And surely I don’t have to tell you in detail that this perspective of God-centeredness has been lost in our day, even in the churches. Even persecution did not dampen their enthusiasm. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.

Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” So our focus today is on the meaning of the term “will of God” and how we discern it. First consider passages that describe “the will of God” as his sovereign control of all that comes to pass. There are two clear and very different meanings for the term “will of God” in the Bible. Broadly, Roman Catholicism differs from other Christian churches and denominations in its beliefs about the sacraments, the roles of the Bible and tradition, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the papacy. Legal challenges to these practices began in the state courts when a substantial number of Roman Catholics arrived in the United States. On Friday, November 8, 2024, Dr. M. Rifqi Muna, Chair of the Academic Senate at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), joined by Prof. Dian Masyita and other UIII delegates, attended the Plenary Session of the Academic Senate of State Universities with Legal Entities (PTN-BH) at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). If you can’t find it, that may mean you should change jobs.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. The aim of Romans 12:1-2 is that all of life would become “spiritual worship.” Verse 1: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The aim of all human life in God’s eyes is that Christ would be made to look as valuable as he is. I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “Let it be known to you. The Faculty of Islamic Sciences is located in Sarajevo, the Serbian Orthodox Seminary in Foča in the RS, and two Catholic theology faculties (one run by the Franciscans and one run by the diocese) in Sarajevo. Or to put it most paradoxically: God wills some events in one sense that he does not will in another sense. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.