Living According to God's Character and Will Typologically

Living according to God's character and will involves a life of holiness, obedience, and devotion, reflecting divine attributes and purposes ^{[3, 4, 9]}. This way of life is often described as "walking worthy of the Lord" ^{[2, 15]}.

A foundational aspect of living according to God's character is holiness, which is commanded in scripture and exemplified by God himself ^[3]. Passages like Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:15-16 state, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" ^[3]. Christ also desires holiness for his people, and his own character serves as a standard for it ^{[3, 8]}. This pursuit of holiness is not merely an external act but involves being "new created in" holiness ^[3].

Obedience to God's will is another key component. This includes obeying his voice, his law, and Christ's commands ^[9]. The prophet Samuel emphasized that "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22) ^[9]. Christ himself is presented as the ultimate example of obedience to God the Father, as seen in passages like John 4:34 and Philippians 2:5-8 ^{[8, 9]}. The right way to live is in conformity to God's will ^[10]. This means living "not after the desires of men but according to the will of God" ^{[6, 11]}. Those who live godly in Christ Jesus are described as living according to God's will revealed in his word and for his glory ^[12].

Devotion to God is a characteristic of saints, grounded in God's mercies, goodness, call, and the death of Christ ^[4]. This devotion should be unreserved and involve one's spirit, body, members, and substance ^[4]. It also includes glorifying God, which is commanded and due to him for his holiness, mercy, faithfulness, and wondrous works ^[7]. Glorifying God is accomplished by relying on his promises, praising him, and doing all things to his glory ^[7].

The New Testament further elaborates on this, urging believers to "walk worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10 LEB) ^[2]. This walk involves believing God, fearing God, loving God, and following God, as well as believing in, loving, and following the example of Christ ^[1]. Those who suffer for righteousness' sake are said to suffer "according to the will of God" ^{[13, 5]}. When a person's ways please the Lord, he can even make their enemies be at peace with them ^[14].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
Colossians “Colossians 1:10 (LEB) — so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, ⌞to please him in all respects⌟, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God,”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Devotedness to God — A characteristic of saints -- Job 23:12. Christ, an example of -- Joh 4:34; 17:4. Grounded upon The mercies of God. -- Ro 12:1. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The call of God. -- 1Th 2:12. The death of Christ. -- 2Co 5:15. Our creation. -- Ps 86:9. Our preservation. -- Isa 46:4. Our redemption. -- 1Co 6:19,20. Should be With our spirit. -- 1Co 6:20; 1Pe 4:6. With our bodies. -- Ro 12:1; 1Co 6:20. With our members. -- Ro 6:12,13; 1Pe 4:2. With our substance. -- Ex 22:29; Pr 3:9. Unreserved. -- Mt 6:24; Lu 14:33. Abounding. -- 1Th 4:1. Persever”
I Peter “I Peter 4:19 (Geneva1599) — Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their soules to him in well doing, as vnto a faithfull Creator.”
I Peter “I Peter 4:2 (DRC) — That now he may live the rest of his time in the flesh, not after the desires of men but according to the will of God.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, Character Of — Altogether lovely -- Song 5:16. Holy -- Lu 1:35; Ac 4:27; Re 3:7. Righteous -- Isa 53:11; Heb 1:9. Good -- Mt 19:16. Faithful -- Isa 11:5; 1Th 5:24. True -- Joh 1:14; 7:18; 1Jo 5:20. Just -- Zec 9:9; Joh 5:30; Ac 22:14. Guileless -- Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22. Sinless -- Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21. Spotless -- 1Pe 1:19. Innocent -- Mt 27:4. Harmless -- Heb 7:26. Resisting temptation -- Mt 4:1-10. Obedient to God the Father -- Ps 40:8; Joh 4:34; 15:10. Zealous -- Lu 2:49; Joh 2:17; 8:29. Meek -- Isa 53:7; Zec 9:9; Mt 11:29. Lowly in heart -- Mt 11:29. Merciful ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 21:32: 21:32 The right way to live is in conformity to God’s will (3:15; 5:20; see also Prov 8:20; 12:28).”
1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 4:2: That he no longer should live - in the flesh - Governed by the base principle of giving up his faith to save his life; to the lusts of men - according to the will of his idolatrous persecutors; but to the will of God; which will of God is, that he should retain the truth, and live according to its dictates, though he should suffer for it.”
2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:11: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus,.... All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and that will live so, are desirous of living after this manner; in whom God has wrought in them both ”
1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 4:19: Suffer according to the will of God - A man suffers according to the will of God who suffers for righteousness' sake; and who, being reviled, reviles not again. Commit the keeping of their souls - Place their lives confidently in his hand, who, being their Creator, will also be their preserver, and keep that safely which is committed to his trust. God is here represented as faithful, because he will always fulfill his promises, and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. But they had no reason to hope that he would care for their lives and souls unles”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 16:7: When a man's ways please the Lord,.... As they do when a man walks according to the rule of his word; when he walks as he has Christ for an example; when he walks after the Spirit, and not after the flesh; when he walks by faith, and does all he does in faith; without which it is impossible to please God, Heb 11:6; and when all his ways and actions are directed to the glory of God; he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him; as Abimelech with Isaac, Esau with Jacob; and the enemies of the church and people of God with then, in the latter day, Rev 3:9.”
Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:10: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord,.... The Vulgate Latin version reads, "of God"; to which the Ethiopic version agrees; but rather the Lord Jesus Christ seems to be designed: and to "walk worthy" of him, is to walk by faith in him; to walk after his Spirit, and according to his word, and in his ordinances; to have the conversation as becomes his Gospel, and worthy of that calling wherewith the saints are called by grace to the obtaining of his kingdom and glory. The apostle prays that their knowledge might issue in practice; for knowledge, without practice, is”

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