How can we ensure our knowledge of God's will aligns with Romans 2:18? Understanding Romans 2:18 “ ‘You know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law.’ ” Paul speaks to people who had God’s written law in their hands. The verse reminds us that right knowledge comes from Scripture itself, not from speculation or cultural opinion. Our task is to keep that knowledge pure so it matches God’s own revealed will. The Foundation: God’s Law Reveals His Will • The Lord has already spoken clearly. Psalm 119:105 calls His Word “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Because “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17), every line is accurate, reliable, and sufficient. • Romans 7:12 says, “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.” What God commands is always an exact expression of who He is. Steps to Align Our Knowledge with His Will • Immerse in Scripture daily – Regular reading, careful study, and faithful memorization keep us “instructed by the law.” • Invite the Spirit’s teaching – “The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and … teaches you about all things” (1 John 2:27). • Test every idea against the Word – The Bereans were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). • Submit your mind to transformation – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you can discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). • Obey what you already know – Jesus promised, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know” (John 7:17). Truth becomes clearer on the path of obedience (James 1:22-25). • Seek godly counsel – “Listen to counsel and accept discipline” (Proverbs 19:20); God gifts teachers “for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). • Pray for spiritual wisdom – Paul asked “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9-10). Guarding Against False Confidence • Knowledge apart from humility breeds hypocrisy (Romans 2:21-24). • “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Keep a servant’s heart. • Evaluate motives often; Hebrews 4:12 says the Word “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Living Out What We Know • Let truth shape practice—mercy, integrity, purity, generosity. • Shine gospel light in daily life so others “may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). • Keep short accounts with God through confession and repentance when you step off the path (1 John 1:9). Encouragement for the Journey Our Lord has not hidden His will; He set it plainly in His Word and empowers us by His Spirit. Stay rooted in Scripture, keep a teachable spirit, and walk in obedient faith. Then, like those addressed in Romans 2:18, you will truly “know His will and approve of what is superior.” |
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