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Friday, September 11, 2015

The Patience of God and the Glory of God

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:

1
Romans 9:1-2
2
Romans 9:3-5
3
Romans 9:6–9
4
Romans 9:6–13
5
Romans 9:13
6
Romans 9:14-16
7
Romans 9:17-19
8
Romans 9:20a
9
Romans 9:20-21
10


11


12







[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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