Romans 9:14-26
Objections of men
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Intro
√ In this section of scripture Paul addresses 3 questions that are commonly raised by those who want to place obstacles between them and faith in Christ.
Question 1 (vs. 14-18)
Rom. 9:14 What
shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
Rom. 9:15 For He
says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will
have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Rom. 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him
who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
Rom. 9:17 For the
Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I
may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
Rom. 9:18 Therefore
He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
√ The first question is found in vs. 14…
“Is God unfair?”
The context of the question is found in our previous study regarding God’s choice. That is, was God unfair in choosing…
Isaac over Ishmael?
Jacob over Esau?
Paul’s response is also found in vs. 14…
“Certainly not!” or “No way!”
Rather, God’s sovereign choosing is based upon His Grace – not Man’s merit (note vs. 15 & 16).
Rom. 9:15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Rom. 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
Paul’s first argument against this wrong thinking is that God has the prerogative to chose who He shows mercy.
Remember – all humans are guilty – it’s a wonder that God shows mercy to any of us!
Ex. I as the baker (creator) of chocolate chip cookies have the prerogative to give the beater and spoon to whomever I chose!
√ Paul’s second point, or argument is the Pharaoh of the Exodus
Note vs. 17
Rom. 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
Taken by itself would seem to indicate that Pharaoh had no choice but to resist God.
Yet, when we read the account in Exodus we find…
Plagues 1-7 it was Pharaoh who hardened his heart.
Plagues 8-10 it was God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
Ex. 10:1
“Now the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him,”
The understanding is that God chose this man to be Pharaoh because God knew his heart.
That he would resist God’s will concerning Israel.
Then, after Pharaoh repeatedly resisted God, then God confirmed his choice by hardening (setting) his heart.
√ Why?
That God might show the World there is one 1 God! As He systematically destroyed all of the gods of Egypt the most powerful nation in the world at that time.
Ex. We see the same progression in Romans chapter 1 where Mankind willfully turns from God…
…then God gives them over to their own sin.
Ap. Beware lest through unbelief your heart becomes hardened.
Heb. 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
Heb. 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb. 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
Heb. 3:15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Ex. Charles Templeton – “Farewell to God”
Keep yourself from sin – sin hardens the heart so that you can no longer hear from God.
Question 2 (vs. 19-24)
Rom. 9:19 You will
say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”
Rom. 9:20 But
indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to
him who formed it, “Why have you made
me like this?”
Rom. 9:21 Does not
the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for
honor and another for dishonor?
Rom. 9:22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
Rom. 9:23 and that
He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had
prepared beforehand for glory,
Rom. 9:24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews
only, but also of the Gentiles?
√ Question 2
“Why then does God hold me responsible if I can’t resist His will?!”
or…
“Why does God blame me if He makes all the choices!?”
People who misunderstand the Biblical doctrine of God’s sovereignty still ask the same questions today.
Paul’s response is found in vs. 20…
“But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God?”
Better understood to be…
“No – don’t talk like that!”
In other words – that kind of question reveals wrong thinking on the part of the person asking it.
Why is it wrong thinking?
Because it excludes Man’s freedom to chose.
It doesn’t acknowledge that people can chose within the framework of God’s will.
The Bible provides for both a sovereign God, and human beings with free moral agency.
Ex. The 60’s and the hippies
Wanted to be free of “the man” and live without any rules at all. Found our from experience that real freedom can and does operate best within the framework of rules that protect the freedom of the individual within the needs of the community.
√ Next, Paul uses a common Biblical image:
The Potter and the clay.
The Potter = God
The Clay = Humanity
The image is rich because it bears out the Truth so well in terms of our human expression:
God had created all people from the same “clay” – literally the dust of the earth.
Yet, as the Creator He is free to fashion us for whatever purpose He thinks best.
Note vs. 21
Rom. 9:21 Does not
the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Some vessels are made for…
Honor
Dishonor
Ex. From the same lump of clay the potter can make a vase for flowers, or a pot for trash!
Both serve a useful purpose, but it is the potter who chooses that purpose whether noble or common.
√ Vessels of wrath
Rom. 9:22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
Rom. 9:23 and that
He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had
prepared beforehand for glory,
Tough verse! Best understood in light of the full counsel of God’s Word – like I Timothy 2:3-4.
1Tim. 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1Tim. 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So, what, or who is a vessel of wrath?
Those who reject the Truth of God and remain in sin (Romans 1:18). God prepares those people for destruction (eternal punishment).
Vessels of mercy?
Those who receive God’s Truth and enter into salvation through Christ and inherit eternal life.
Ap. My encouragement to you is not to get hung up on the theological arguments, rather, make sure that you chose to be a vessel of mercy!
√ Us!
Rom. 9:24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Unto this point Paul has spoken of Old Testament examples, and used objective illustrations to make his point.
Now, he gets specific and personal…
“Us”!
His point is that God’s sovereign choice was manifested not only in times past (Isaac and Jacob)…
…but also in Paul’s day and ours!
He backs it up by providing a couple of proof texts from Hosea.
Rom. 9:25 As He
says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And
her beloved, who was not beloved.”
Rom. 9:26 “And it
shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall
be called sons of the living God.”
Ap. God has chosen to bestow His love on you!
Ever wonder if anyone would chose you?
What an awesome revelation that God has chosen you to be the object of His love!
Have you received His love?
Are you living in the fullness of His love?
It’s easy to tell if you are – just look in the mirror!
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