There is no inconsistency or contrariety between the decretive and preceptive will of God. It is very consistent to suppose that God may hate the thing itself, and yet will that it should come to pass.
Yea, I do not fear to assert that the thing itself may be contrary to God's will, and yet that it may be agreeable to His will that it should come to pass, because His will, in the one case, has not the same object with His will in the other case.
To suppose God to have contrary wills towards the same object, is a contradiction; but it is not so, to suppose Him to have contrary wills about different objects. The thing itself, and that the thing should come to pass, are different, as is evident; because it is possible that the one may be good and the other may be evil. The thing itself may be evil, and yet it may be a good thing that it should come to pass. It may be a good thing that an evil thing should come to pass; and oftentimes it most certainly and undeniably is so, and proves so.
- Jonathan Edwards, Decrees and Election
"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" - Romans 9:22-24 (NIV)
it is significant that the objects of God's wrath are prepared - but not by Him in advance - for destruction, while the objects of God's mercy are prepared - by Him in advance - for glory. to this end, the objects of God's wrath are only part of God's decretive will, while the objects of God's mercy are part of God's decretive and preceptive will.
the question is not whether we resist God's decretive will. it is logically impossible to resist God's decretive will. the question is whether we resist God's preceptive will to be saved, Spirit-filled, sanctified, submissive and suffering.
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