[Editor’s Note: This is part of a MWF devotional series through the book of Romans.]
Romans 1:8–15
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. [9] For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you [10] always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. [11] For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—[12] that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. [13] I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. [14] I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. [15] So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
presumption, n.
1. The taking upon oneself of more than is warranted by one's ability, position, right, etc.; forward or overconfident conduct or opinion; arrogance, effrontery, pride; an act, instance, or state of presumption, arrogance, or overconfidence.1
“Presumption” as defined above is far too common in our world today. Rare is the day when some instance of presumption is not performed either by us or someone we know. But this doesn’t ever seem to be the case for Paul. “Presumption” appears to have died with Saul, the persecutor of the church, on that road to Damascus.
Evidence for this is seen in the way Paul prays: “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you” (vv. 9–10). The apostle knows that apart from God’s will, he’s not going to Rome.
We see this total submission to the will of God regularly with Paul. Consider a few examples that come to mind:
Acts 18:19–21: And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.
Romans 15:30–32: I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
1 Corinthians 16:7: For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
Of course, Paul is not unique among the biblical authors in this dependence on the will of God to order the future. When the author of Hebrews considers growing in spiritual maturity he concludes, “And this we will do if God permits” (Hebrews 6:3). And James takes aim at presumptuous saints when he cautions,
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13–15).
It’s texts like these that produce rich theological statements found in our best Confessions of Faith. For example, here’s how the 1689 London Baptist Confession summarizes the general decree of God:
From all eternity God decreed everything that occurs, without reference to anything outside himself. He did this by the perfectly wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably. Yet God did this in such a way that he is neither the author of sin nor has fellowship with any in their sin. This decree does not violate the will of the creature or take away the free working or contingency of second causes. On the contrary, these are established by God’s decree. In this decree God’s wisdom is displayed in directing all things, and his power and faithfulness are demonstrated in accomplishing his decree.2
This is a great way of saying, “by God’s will.”
Pastors must not be presumptuous. We know better. Indeed, we understand that God orders our days and, therefore, presumption is an offense to his sovereign providence. We will preach that next sermon, if the Lord wills. We will teach that next lesson, if God permits. Our church will grow—spiritually and numerically—God willing.
Our job is to be faithful and rest in his “directing all things.”
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
William Cowper (1774)
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Oxford English Dictionary
Article III, Section 1.