Loughbrickland Reformed Presbyterian Church

The Lord's Prayer

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6 v10).

The Will of God
This term is used in the Bible in two senses. Sometimes it is used of what God has determined will happen. "He doeth 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 v35). In that sense God's will is already done on earth as it is in heaven, since he "worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1 v11). We can call this God's will of purpose, in other words, God's plan of what will certainly happen.

However, the will of God can also be used in the sense of what God commands angels or men to do (John 7 v17, Romans 2 v18, Colossians 1v9). It is in that sense it is used in this petition. We can call this God's will of commandment.

In Heaven
There is no sin in Heaven. "Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word" (Psalm 103 v20). The angels in heaven never sinned. Redeemed men and women in heaven no longer sin.

On Earth
Here, the situation is very different. This world is full of sin and rebellion against God. Our own lives are a catalogue of sin that deserves the eternal judgement of God. How does this ever change? Through the advance of the Gospel as God changes the hearts of men and women so that they believe that Gospel and begin to love and obey God from the heart. This prayer shows that only God changes hearts, else why should Christians pray to him in this manner if it is in the power of man? The first effect of God giving a new heart to a sinner is that he trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ to take away his sin. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6 v29).

Has God changed you? Is your hope only in Christ for acceptance with God? "There is therefore now condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8 v1).

The Lord's Prayer

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