Romans Nine Part 4
We have seen that Father made a covenant with the Hebrew people and predetermined the plan of redemption. In this section we will discover that since He is God it is His prerogative to do such a thing.
Romans 9:14–21 (AV) “14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”
We would know nothing about God had He not revealed it. He is not like us. He is God He is entirely other. In Isaiah 55:6–9 (AV) we read, “6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. We cannot hope to comprehend God. If we could, He would be no God at all.
In Exodus 33:19, God told Moses “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” Paul points that out in Romans 9:16 (AV), which we just read, “16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
What we have, every gift, every opportunity, our very life, is a gift from God. So it is with His plan to redeem us from the domain of darkness and transfer us to His Kingdom. Ephesians 2:8-9 (AV) makes this clear in saying, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Scripture stresses that belief is the fundamental, and only, requirement. Galatians 3:8 (AV) tells us, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” This promise to Abraham is the covenant of love that He made with all of Abraham’s descendants. Keep in mind that, as we saw earlier in this study, it is through Isaac that Abraham’s lineage is reckoned. (see Romans 9:7-9) Therefore we see that “the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Galatians 3:22)
Now we will jump down to verse 19 of our text in Romans 9. There we read, “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”
This statement in verse 20 “who art thou that repliest against God?” may sound to our ears like God is saying “Who are you to question me?” This is not the kind of thing we would expect from a holy, benevolent, and loving God. Since we know that He is holy, benevolent, and loving, we need to pause and consider such statements. The Greek here is ἀνταποκρίνομαι (antapokrinomai) <Strong’s G470>. The meaning is to speak against argumentatively. Basically, Paul is asking who are you to talk back to God and be obstinate and argumentative. Questioning God is always okay. Being belligerent and prideful and arguing with Him is just silly. It accomplishes nothing and ultimately, like all sin, rejection of God leads to death. How could it be otherwise?
2 Timothy 2:20-21 tell us, “20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
As we know, we cannot cleanse ourselves of sin, which is imperfection, by anything we do. This happens by trusting that He has graciously and freely given us His righteousness as a gift. It cannot be earned, and those who persist in trying to earn it, those who reject Christ, are ultimately destined for an ignoble purpose. We do not get to judge God with regard to the way He has chosen to deal with us.
Continuing now with Romans 9:21–24 (AV), “21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”
Here Paul makes the point that those who believe on Jesus and put their trust in Him alone as their source of life and godliness are the vessels of mercy, whether Jewish or not. Moreover, Father is not choosing individuals or even people groups to be saved or destroyed. He displays His love, expressing it in Jesus Christ, and leaves the deciding to us. It is not His will that any should perish, but He does not force Himself upon anyone. He cannot and will not allow sin to go unpunished. That would be unjust. Therefore, He provides a way for people to escape the bondage in which sin holds them and makes possible their rebirth as His children.
We will look at this is a bit more detail in the next segment.
