Often when I am in discussions about
election, Calvinism, etc., there is an immediate reaction that seeks to protect
and preserve human autonomy, free-will, human choices. The point that Paul is
making in this chapter is that the place we must start in God's
free-will. We start there because God is
not constrained or coerced by anyone or anything. He does what He pleases
(Psalm 115:3). We must come to this topic with this foundation: God is free.
As we proceed on in chapter 9, we hit some of
the weightiest and most difficult words in the Bible. Here they are: “What if God, desiring to show his wrath
and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared
for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of
mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—” (Romans 9:22–23, ESV)
Here's the problem: man is born in sin and
by nature rebellious; God chooses to pass over some and choose some for eternal
life; How can God judge those who did not choose, or did not awaken to their
need?
Now, Paul is answering the question he asked
in verse 19 (“You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can
resist his will?”” (Romans 9:19, ESV). His answer is clear but not easy to swallow.
It is: Because He has a purpose for all that He has done. If this is the way God works there can be no
one "answer back to Him." Why?
Because He's God. If this is the
way God works there is no legitimate impeachment of His justice or integrity
There are people in the world that are, by
definition, "vessels of wrath."
It is important to note that God did not make them that way. He is "enduring" such. He did not create them to be so. "We must notice that the expression
fitted to destruction is in the Greek middle voice, and should be interpreted
that man fits himself for destruction." [1] (Note: the verb regarding
those whom God "fitted for glory" is different. It is active.
It is an act of God.). So sinful
man has, in a sense, determined his own destiny. God is mercy has determined the destiny of
the elect.
But sinful man alone is not
independent. The righteousness of God
insists that He "show His wrath and His power" toward such as those
who rejected Him. "God endured them with much long-suffering—exercised
a great deal of patience towards them, let them alone to fill up the measure of
sin, to grow till they were ripe for ruin, and so they became fitted for destruction, fitted by their
own sin and self-hardening." [2] Why does God endure the
wicked? Earlier Paul had noted why in
earlier chapters. In Romans 2:3–4 (ESV) we read:
3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things
and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience,
not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
But Paul gives another reason, why God is
patient in this chapter. God puts up
with sinners in order that he "make known his glory to 'the objects of his
mercy,' those whom he has chosen to be his people. God is at work in history to
create a people for himself." [3] "God created a world in
which both his wrath and his mercy would be displayed. Indeed, his mercy shines
against the backdrop of his just wrath, showing thereby that the salvation of
any person is due to the marvelous grace and love of God."[4]
So sinful man was ordained by God to live
and continue on this planet, because God purposed to glorify Himself through
His display of justice on the sinners and mercy or grace to the repentant. We were all "vessels prepared for
destruction" and God in His mercy has called some out, for the purpose of
saving some and glorifying Himself.
Those whom God passes over are those who have chosen to reject God. And as Dr. Moo says, "We never will
fully understand the ways of God in moving history along to its intended goal,
but always we can trust God to act in complete integrity as he does so."[5] Because God is free we
cannot find fault with Him. The ungodly
are fitted/prepared for destruction by their sins. The saved – or the elect – are prepared for
glory by mercy.
Paul is giving an explanation here why God
is righteous in leaving some in their willing, wayward sinfulness and calling,
or choosing, some to eternal life. God
does all things for His glory and God is free to do what He wants. " The happiness bestowed upon
the saved remnant is the fruit, not of their merit, but of God’s mercy. The
spring of all the joy and glory of heaven is that mercy of God which endures
for ever. Vessels of honour must to eternity own themselves vessels of mercy."
[6]
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Previous Blogs on this topic:
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1
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Romans 9:1-2
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2
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Romans 9:3-5
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3
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Romans 9:6–9
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4
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Romans 9:6–13
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5
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Romans 9:13
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6
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Romans 9:14-16
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7
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Romans 9:17-19
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8
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Romans 9:20a
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9
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Romans 9:20-21
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10
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11
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12
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[1] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2248).
Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew
Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume
(p. 2218). Peabody: Hendrickson.
[3] Moo, D. J. (2002). Encountering
the book of Romans : a theological survey (p. 153). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Academic.
[4] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The
ESV Study Bible (p. 2173). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[5] Moo, D. J. (2002). Encountering
the book of Romans : a theological survey (p. 153). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Academic.
[6] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew
Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume
(p. 2218). Peabody: Hendrickson.
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