Rom. 9:19-29

Overview

Paul has been explaining how God makes His sovereign choices about how He chooses to have relationship with men. As you read through these difficult passages you may think to yourself, God has tremendous authority over our lives. If God has sovereign control and authority over everyone, how can He find fault with anyone if they don’t do what He wants? How can any man resist God’s will, if God is the one making the choices of whether or not I receive mercy? These are very important questions that you must answer concerning the sovereignty of God.

Paul responses now to the next question that many have voiced when discussing the sovereignty of God. He wrote, “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?’ 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. 9:19-20). How did the apostle respond to this questioning of God’s righteousness? Paul first addresses the attitude that charges God in the first place. So, before we look at these specific truths, let’s consider exactly how we as finite human beings can keep ourselves from charging God.

How can you keep your attitude reverent, and not charge God with unrighteousness? Vs. 19-20

First, Paul encouraged everyone in Rome, Jew or Gentile, to check their attitude and make sure they did not overstep their place, and arrogantly charge God with unrighteousness. Never forget that you are a human being with limited insight and understanding on the reasons why God does what He does. You cannot see what God sees, because you cannot see the heart of men! But the Lord can see every man’s heart. Jesus said to the rebellious church of Thyatira, “I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works” (Rev. 2:23). So, you need to be very careful with your attitude! Don’t condemn the Lord over things you have no understanding of concerning His actions. In addition, human beings cannot see what is outside their limited view, but God sees everything. He knows what goes on in the dark behind closed doors, and therefore, can judge righteously. Jesus said, “Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:3). Why is He able to know what goes on in the dark? Because as King David said, “Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You” (Ps. 139:12). In other words, no one can get away with anything, because He sees it all.

Now, I would venture to say that everyone reading these words has questioned God at some point in life. You have probably said to God, “Why did You let this happen to me? Why didn’t You stop that hurtful experience, or not give me that thing I prayed for? You think to yourself, If I were God, I wouldn’t have let that occur in this person’s life. I would have done it this way. To think or speak in this manner is to question God’s righteousness, love, and wisdom. When contemplating these concepts of God’s sovereignty, Paul wanted his readers to resist trying to find fault with God. If there is ever fault to be found, it will always be with mankind, not with God! Paul asserted earlier in Romans, “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged’” (Rom. 3:3-4). God is judged by men every hour of every day. But God is not a man that He should lie, but men lie and deceive themselves quite often concerning their responsibilities and faults. Always remember, God will never be at fault. The problem will always be my fault or Satan’s fault, or both, because I’m a sinner and live in a fallen world that is controlled by sinners. Or, a question will come into my mind, because of my limited understanding, which keeps me from perceiving the big picture of what God is doing. Now consider for a moment how you can keep yourself from charging God with unrighteousness?

Control your thinking

Just for a moment, go back with me in our last study to verse 14, where Paul brought up the issue of our thinking. Paul asked, “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!” This particular phrase, “certainly not” literally means perish the thought. In effect, Paul was saying, “Don’t even let this thought come into your mind that there is unrighteousness with God.” If you want to keep yourself from questioning the Lord, you must keep a constant watch over your thought life. Before you contemplate these truths concerning the sovereignty of God check your attitude, and be sure you never think you are God’s equal. Why do I say this? Because our thoughts are always so self-oriented. We are high-minded and arrogant. This is why God has warned us all, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9).

If you struggle with controlling your thoughts, I want to suggest that you read a chapter in my book, Winning Your Personal Battles that is entitled, “Overcoming Your Thoughts and Feelings.” Understanding how your thoughts influence the way you feel, and how your thoughts influence the way you behave. This is such an important concept that many believers do not understand. I have spoken to many Christians who don’t believe that they can actually control their own thinking, but this is just not true. Paul explained how you got through his own prison experience when he was unjustly locked up for no legal reason. He taught us how he handled that time in his life when he wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9). When you choose to meditate and think on the things he listed, you will be motivated to behave as Paul did, and the God of peace will be with you. Therefore, refuse the thoughts that charge God with unrighteousness, because this is God’s command!

Rebuke your own arrogance

The second thing that keeps you from questioning God, is rebuking your own arrogance. Arrogance is what motivates us to question God in the first place. Think about this for a minute. Can a speck of dust know more than the Almighty God who created every grain of sand? Can you presume to ever know more than God Himself? You see things from a finite perspective. He works from His eternal perspective. You can only see what is right in front of you today. You cannot know the secrets of your heart or any other human heart. God spoke to His people through the Prophet Jeremiah and said of men’s hearts, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer. 17:9-10). You can’t know what is going on in someone’s mind, their thinking, or their motives or reasons for their choices, unless they tell you, and even those confessions may be half-truths. Nor do you know what that person will do, and choose to do in the future. But God does have this ability! So, when you see something take place in a person’s life, or in your life that you don’t understand, you must realize that you are not God, and you should not presume in arrogance to know what God should or should not have done. This is why Paul taught in Romans 9:20, “But indeed O man, who are you to reply against God?” The word reply literally means to dispute or to contradict God. This is a great question. Who are we to dispute with and contradict the Almighty God? Scripture makes it very clear in Romans 8:28, that God in his love is, “Working all things together for good for those who love God, and are the called according to His purpose.” He has been working in my past life to draw me to Himself. Right now, He is at work in my present circumstances, and He will continue to work for my good in the future. I don’t understand all of the reasons for the things that have happen to me or to anyone else. But I know His character is love, and that His love is working on my behalf to bring about eternal good for me. In Isaiah 29:16, God told His people who thought that they were smarter than Him, “Surely you have things turned around!” Oh, how true! So often we all get things so turned around in our heads. But God’s Word helps to turn things around so we can have the correct perspective of things.   

God is trying to work all things out for your good, even when you don’t think He is working at all, or is even working for your benefit. But again, we have things turned around in our minds, thinking that God is just like us. Isaiah warns again, “Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay” (Is. 29:16)? In other words, God is asking His people, “Do you think I’m just like you? This is an important question concerning your thinking about who God is, and what He does. How do you see God? Do you see Him as good, just, righteous, and loving? And do you recognize Him and His right as the Potter and yourself as the clay? Or, do you think God makes sudden and capricious decisions, because He is selfish like you? This is why men condemn God and His actions, because they think He is just like they are. This is why Paul was addressing this arrogance in the heart of men by asking, “Will the thing formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” But He is the Creator, and He knows exactly what He is doing with every life, and every nation, including Israel. This question from men, “Why have you made me like I am,” is in reality man’s way of blaming God for what is wrong in their lives. And God will always respond, “Why don’t you surrender to Me, and I will make you into the person I have always intended you to be.”

So, be careful! Check your heart and be sure you see God correctly, and do not charge Him as the world does. Don’t think that God is against you. He declares over and over again that He is for you (Ps. 62:8; Rom. 8:31). Never believe the lie that you are the result of a fortuitous concurrence of an accidental circumstance, and that God has nothing to do with who you are. You are not alive just by chance. If you believe that God is not working all things together for your good, then you have “things turned around,” in your head. People think that God has no clue what needs to happen in their lives. However, He knows everything about you before you ever figure it out one thing in your life. He has a plan He wants to fulfill in your life, but arrogance will keep that from ever happening. Humble your heart before Him, acknowledge your position as clay in His hands, and trust in Him with all your heart.

Fall back on what you know concerning God’s true character

The third thing that keeps you from questioning God is falling back on what you do know about Him. This is also a very important concept to keep your thinking correct. When I begin to question the Lord, I remind myself, “God is not against me, He is for me, He loves me, and He has proven His love for me.” The supreme proof that He cares about me is the cross of Jesus Christ. The Father did not spare His most prized possession, His Son. But He delivered Him up for us all. That’s all the proof that I need. The sacrifice of Christ is the clearest proof that God is not playing games with my life. He cares about me, and He cares about me so much that He has given me the most precious Person who is closest to His heart, His Son. Paul said earlier in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Yet, we still question the Lord. We think to ourselves, Lord, why aren’t you doing this that I’ve prayed for so long? Why aren’t you giving me that? I want this, and You need to give it to me. But He’s already given me His best. If He is not giving me something that I think He should, it must not be good for me, at least at this time in my life. God’s promise to His people is one we should remember! He told them, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11). If He has not given you something, then it must not be good for you, at least at this time in your life!

How can a sovereign God find fault with men? Vs. 19

Once you have a humble and correct attitude toward the Lord and His position as God, now we can address Paul’s first question in this passage. Paul states the fact of God’s sovereign decision making and then asked a very important question. He wrote, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will’” (Rom. 9:18-19)? So, if God sovereignly chooses whom He will show mercy to, and whom He will harden, then how can any man resist His sovereign will? How can God find fault with any man? The answer is simple. God will only find fault with a man because of man’s own individual choices and actions. I believe that the Scripture is very clear that all unregenerate men are responsible for their own choices. Jesus made this absolutely clear in John 5:40, where He reproved the Pharisees and held them accountable for their refusal to come and follow Him. He said to them, “You are not willing to come to Me that you might have life.” Notice that He said, “You” are not willing. Who was responsible for these religious leaders not coming to faith in Christ? Is God at fault, or is Jesus laying the responsibility squarely upon the Pharisees for their unwillingness to come? I think it is pretty clear that Jesus held them personally responsible for their unbelief and rebellion against Him. I don’t think He could have said this any more clearly. This is why Jesus commanded all men in Mark 1:15, “Repent and believe in the gospel.” If God commands men to repent, then they have the ability and responsibility to repent. To refuse to repent is a moral choice. To be repentant means to change your mind and reverse the direction of your life. God would not command men to repent, if they didn’t have the ability to do it. That would be absurd! However, in extreme Calvinism, you will hear people teach that men really don’t have any will or choice in the matter of their salvation. Calvinists believe God makes all the choices, and then He saves those he wants to and hardens the rest, whether they like it or not. Is that a biblical concept? Not according to Jesus in John 5:40. 

Do you remember what Paul taught at the beginning of this epistle in Romans 1:18? Why are the ungodly and the wicked deserving of God’s judgment? He taught that, “they suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” Note the word “they.” They are responsible for suppressing the truth of God. The Lord doesn’t claim responsibility for the way men live their lives. No! He places the responsibility right where it belongs, at the feet of rebellious mankind. They suppressed the truth in their hearts. They knew God, but they did not glorify Him as God. They then became futile in their thoughts because they professed themselves to be wise, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Rom. 1:21-22). Each of these declarations is a decision made by men to suppress the truth.

The apostle details the same willful rebellion of man when he warns us about what men would say about the flood in the last days. Peter taught, “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water” (2 Peter 3:3-6). Why were these people scoffers? He declared, because they, “willfully forget” what God did in destroying the world by the flood. Notice that God is holding men responsible to look at all the physical evidence concerning the flood, and make an informed decision. We must never forget that He will one day destroy the world again by fire, just as He has promised.

If you really don’t have a choice, what would that declare about God?

If you believe you don’t really have a choice, as extreme Calvinists believe, then this makes God out to be unloving, capricious, and a liar concerning man’s responsibility to repent and believe. It would reveal that He is completely selfish and arbitrary in His decisions. Why do I say this? Well, think about this for a moment. If God makes all the choices for you, and you have no choice at all in your salvation, or your life as a whole, then that would contradict that He was loving, fair, and just with all men. A person can’t claim that God is loving, and then in the next breath declare that He has lied to you in His Word, and that He didn’t mean all His promises of your free choice (Deut. 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Prov. 1:29). Think about what real love would do. Love would not force someone to believe who despises Him, neither would love exclude a person in an arbitrary manner who is open to the truth of the gospel. If someone treated you this way today, you would immediately declare that this person was not fair and did not love you. Would you think it loving and fair if your boss came into the office tomorrow, and chose to fire those who had worked hard for the company, and gave a pay raise to those who were lazy and didn’t even want to work for the company? No, of course not. Then why would anyone think that God would act in a similar manner?

In addition, think about my statement that Calvinism makes God a liar. This is a reasonable assumption, because if God really has not given us any choice in our salvation, then His Word is a lie. Why? Because God’s Word declares that anyone can be saved. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God either means whoever believes, or He does not. “Whoever” means that anyone who chooses to believe can be saved. He can’t say it any clearer than that. In Deuteronomy 30:19, the Lord said, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” God could not say choose life, if the people had no real choice. I believe the Bible is very clear. Unregenerate men have a choice, and they can exercise that choice, or they can suppress the truth in their own hearts and reject Him (2 Cor. 3:12-17; John 7:17; Matt. 22:3; 2 Chron. 30:8-9). Do a word search in the Bible for the word’s choice, choose, chose, chosen, willing, or unwilling. Let God’s Word convince you. Consequently then, whether you read the Old Testament or the New Testament, God has always made it clear that men have a choice, and they must exercise that choice if they are to be saved.

In addition, if any of you are interested in a great book on this subject of divine sovereignty and man’s free will, Dr. Norman Geisler has written a book entitled Chosen But Free. Geisler looks extensively into John Calvin’s views, and compares them with the modern Calvinistic teachings of today, and what Scripture teaches. It would be well worth reading as you research this topic. Remember, don’t just believe what you hear; you need to do your own study on this topic.

Can anyone resist God’s will? Vs. 19

In verses 19-24, Paul addressed a person’s assumed response to God sovereign choosing by voicing who can resist His will. He writes, “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?’ 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?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” [The Greek word for dishonor actually means disgrace.] Paul continues, “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He is called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” Remember, the main question and theme in this text is how can God find fault if men cannot resist His will? If men have no will of their own, then God would be unrighteous if He judged them for rejecting His will, because He made them rebellious.

Therefore, let’s answer Paul’s second question in verse 19, “For who has resisted His will?” This is a very important question to answer. Can anyone resist God’s will? The answer to this question is twofold, because it’s how you ask the question that is really important. First, can a man resist God’s sovereign will, and the plan He has promised to fulfill in this world? Absolutely not! There is no resisting His sovereign will that He has purposed for this world. He will do as He pleases (Ps. 115:3). Second, can a man individually resist God’s sovereign will in his own personal life? Yes! The Bible is very clear that you can. Let’s examine this question in detail. 

God’s sovereign will for the world vs. God’s personal will for you

Let’s answer this question from these two vantage points. First, let’s consider God’s perspective on His will. In Proverbs 19:20-21, Solomon declared, “Listen to the counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” So, are you willing to listen to the counsel of God’s Word and receive instruction? Solomon goes on to say, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel--that will stand.” Note that Solomon addressed both issues in this one verse. First, the plans in man’s heart, and then second, God’s counsel and His sovereign plan and will. These are the two issues you must consider. In Isaiah 14:26-27, God explains His plan to destroy the Assyrian army when they came into His land. Then God declared, “This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” The answer to God’s rhetorical question is, no one can turn His hand back in relationship to the nations of the world, and to the plan He has initiated. What He has said will come to pass. The question is, will anyone hear His plan, and yield to what He has said and obey Him? Will anyone submit to Him? Just as in the first coming of Christ, God promised that, “When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). King Herod tried to hinder this predication from coming to pass by killing all the male children in Bethlehem, yet to no avail. However, men could reject Jesus personally when they were confronted by Him, or the message of the gospel. That is man’s choice. Consequently, you will find these same two issues throughout the Scripture. If men cannot reject and resist God’s will in their personal lives, then what is the meaning of the word rebellion? If men can’t rebel, then that word is meaningless.

In Acts 7:51, Stephen said to the Pharisees, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” Stephen was acknowledging that men can and do resist the will of God, and resist the Holy Spirit in their personal lives. Scripture can’t teach this truth any more plainly than this. When extreme Calvinists say that God’s grace is irresistible, they are denying one of the clearest teachings of the Scripture. Stephen was telling these men that they had a problem. They were rebellious, stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in their hearts, and they were resisting God’s Spirit. In addition, Luke 7:30 declared, “But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves.” Again, it can’t be stated more clearly than this, men can reject the will of God for themselves!

Therefore, the answer to Paul’s question is simple. God’s will for the world, His ultimate plan that He will bring to pass, cannot ever be resisted or stopped by men. But you can surely reject the will of God for yourself. That is clearly the testimony of Scripture. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Jesus explained His sovereign desire for them that they might be brought under the shadow of His wings. But where does He place the responsibility for those who did not come? He placed that responsibility directly upon their unwillingness to choose to come to Him.

Always remember these two issues, God’s will and man’s will must always be balanced as you look at Scripture. God has a sovereign will, and man must respond to that. Notice this balance is clearly identified in 2 Peter 3:9 when God declared, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God’s will is that no person should perish. But then why will men die in their sin? Because they refuse to repent. This is God’s primary condition; repent and believe (Mark 1:15).

Even when you read one of the last promises in the Bible, you hear God’s open invitation for anyone to come and receive. God says, “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). But to drink of that water of life there is always a condition of repentance and faith. You must repent, and believe, and come. These are your personal responsibilities. Please don’t confuse God’s sovereign will for the world, and the conditional response required by men. Both are taught in Scripture. I personally don’t believe God sends anyone to hell against their will. A person must resist Him every step of the way to get there. In addition, I don’t believe God is going to send anyone to heaven against their will. I think one of the great theologians said it best when he said, “There are only two types of people, those who declare to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God will say after they have lived a life of rebellion, ‘Thy will be done.’” These are the only two types of people on this earth. Which one are you? Do you say to God regularly, “Lord, Your will be done in my life; I surrender to You; I bow my knee to obey You?” Or, is He going to say to you, “I understand that you didn’t want anything to do with Me, or to be loved by Me, or to receive My love, then I will not force you into heaven?” You will be in one of those two camps. My hope and prayer is that you will surrender to Him!

Trusting that the Potter knows what He is doing Vs. 21

In Romans 9:21, Paul used an awesome illustration of the potter and the clay to explain God’s sovereign will to do what is right in our lives. This illustration of the potter and the clay is used many times throughout the Scripture. It is used several times in the Old Testament and several times in the New Testament. This illustration reveals the basic moral principle of God’s sovereign working with mankind in the attempt to shape us after His will. He is the Potter, and I am the clay. Paul asked the question, “Does not the potter have the power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” So, what do you think to yourself when you read such a question? You either think, Yes, the potter has that right to do anything He wishes with the clay, or that doesn’t sound fair to me? What if I’m the vessel He makes to dishonor? This is a normal thing to think, but there is a more important question to ask yourself. The more essential question should be, how does the potter make the determination of which piece of clay He can work with, and which lump of clay He will reject and set aside? The answer is simple, the piece of clay which is most responsive to the potter’s hand is the one He will use. I know this to be the truth for several reasons.

First, over the years whenever I have taught on this illustration of the potter and the clay, those within our church who are potters, have come up to me at the end of the teaching and said, “Everything that the Bible teaches about the Potter is absolutely true.” They have told me that because of impurities or the lack of impurities in the clay, some pieces of clay are more responsive to their touch, and others are not.

Second, I am absolutely sure this is correct because of what the Scripture teaches about the Potter’s work. In Jeremiah 18:1-10 you will find a lengthy passage where God describes Himself as the Potter and His people as the clay. Jeremiah declares, “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.’ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; [What did he do with the vessel marred in his hand?] so he made it again [Notice that he reshaped it again.] into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.’” What does God mean by this illustration? If the clay does not respond to His hand in the way He desires, He only has two choices. He can either reshape the clay, which is where the Potter will take and crumple the clay back down again, add more water to it, work with it, and try to make it into the vessel that He intends. Or, the Potter’s other option is, if the clay is hard, has lumps or stones in it, He will take that clay, and He will set it aside. He knows that this clay would only result in a vessel of disgrace, because it will crack or easily break. Therefore, He sets it aside. This is His right as the Potter.

Now, is that not the right decision made by the potter? Is that just and fair? Of course it is, because the potter has control over the clay. The clay either responds to his hand, or it does not. He desires to make this problem clay into a vessel of honor, but he cannot because of its unwillingness to respond to his hand. In the illustration this unresponsiveness of the clay corresponds to the people who would not obey His voice. The potter desired to make a vessel of honor; that was his desire, or he would not have the clay on the wheel, nor would he try to reshape it a second time. This is always the potter’s intent. But, notice the word “if” in this text in Jeremiah. Several times God used this word. “If that nation against whom I have spoken evil turns from it’s evil.” God is applying this illustration to the nation Israel, and in general to the people of the nation. The obvious point God is making is, if the people will not repent and turn from their evil, and they continue to be unresponsive to the hand of the Potter, they will become marred in His hand, and thus become vessels of disgrace. But, if the people turn in repentance, they will be vessels of mercy and honor, because they are responsive to the Potter’s hand. Note that God gave both options to the people, which is only fair. For those who think they can live in a constant state of sin and God will accept them on judgment day, they will be sadly mistaken. That is not a biblical concept. This is why the Bible teaches over and over again, that I must repent of my sins and turn from my evil ways, if I want to have a relationship with the Lord. Then I can be reshaped by the Potter’s hand into a vessel of honor. Yield to Him so He can shape you into that vessel of honor.

In 2 Timothy 2:19-21, Paul used this same image of a potter and the vessel in another context, but with the same point God was attempting to make through Jeremiah. He declared, “Nevertheless a solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” According to Paul, what caused a man or woman to become a vessel of honor? There is only one thing. When a person who names the name of Christ departs from their personal iniquity, which is what he means by, “if anyone cleanses himself from the latter.” This word cleanse means to purge out or to remove any known sin from your life, which allows you to be “sanctified and useful for the Master.” Note also the word, “if” again in this passage which reveals that it is your choice to repent of your iniquity. In other words, Paul again makes it abundantly clear that every true believer must respond to the Potter’s hand, and allow Him to change and conform them into His image. This is what prepares, “you for every good work” that the Father has planned for you.

Why does wrath come upon men?

Returning to Romans 9:22-23, Paul explained, “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, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.” Paul now explained two essential truths concerning why God brings wrath on some, and bestows mercy on others.

First, you must understand why wrath comes upon mankind. Is it because God loves and looks forward to punishing people? No! It is because men leave Him no choice in the matter. Men resist His every attempt to show mercy. This fact is really important to remember when dealing with this subject of the sovereignty of God, and His choosing of what to do with men. Paul has already addressed this question several times in this epistle. In Romans 1:18, Paul taught that the wrath of God comes upon men who knew the truth that God exists, but they suppressed “the truth in unrighteousness.” Then in Romans 2:5, Paul declared that if you suppress the truth, you do so because of your, “hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath in the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” It is clear then that no one is going to experience wrath against their will, or because they didn’t know the truth. Wrath comes because men know the truth, and reject it because of the hardness of their hearts. If you are fighting against God, if you are unrepentant, you cannot expect mercy, you can only expect to become a vessel of wrath. If you want to become a vessel of mercy, then humble yourself, repent of your sins; believe and follow Christ. If you do, He will make you into a vessel of mercy and honor. Anyone can be made into a vessel of honor, because that is what the Bible declares. Remember, 2 Timothy 2:21, “If anyone cleanses himself.” God would not say, “anyone” if He didn’t mean it. If you or anyone turns to Him, and He will make you a vessel of mercy! 

The question Paul is posing here in verse 22 is one that you must answer. Does God have the right and the prerogative as the Potter to decide what is to be done with a marred vessel that is not responsive to His touch? Of course He does. Why? First, because He is the Potter! He has the total right to do with the clay as He sees fit. Second, because His decisions are always going to be based in love. In His love He will never force someone to do what they hate. Third, because the Potter sees how the clay is responding to His hand, and knows that it will be marred when it is subjected to the fire of the kiln. If the clay fails to respond to His transforming hand, He has every right to discard the clay. In addition, He has every right because the Potter has at least tried to mold the clay to His will, and the clay has not cooperated. Does God then have the right to show both His wrath and His mercy to whom He chooses, knowing all that He knows? Yes, He does! He has not made this decision arbitrarily and without attempting to first work with the clay in His hands. This is what Paul meant when he declared that God reveals the glory of His power even by His endurance and long-suffering with the vessels of wrath. 

The longsuffering of the Potter

When you realize what the Potter must endure with the clay that is not responsive to His hand, it gives us real understanding of God’s love and patience. But then some I have talked to declare to me, “all I see is God’s judgment toward those who have rebelled against Him, and especially His judgment on His own people. Where is His love shown?” Pharaoh is one of the best examples of God’s longsuffering that I have just discussed. To display God’s longsuffering is why the story of Pharaoh is in the Bible. Pharaoh is a witness of God’s long-suffering even toward a vessel of wrath. This is why God sent Moses over and over again to him before each plague came upon Egypt. No one could ever say, “God, You didn’t really give Pharaoh a chance.” No, God gave Pharaoh ten chances to turn in repentance and respond to God’s authority and command. It’s pretty clear that God long-suffered toward Pharaoh every step of the way. This is also the reason why today the ungodly who worship other gods are allowed to continue to exist in our world. It is the endurance and long-suffering of God’s love toward a lost. I personally am very thankful for God having patience and long-suffering with this world, because I was delivered out of it. Every sinner saved is the reason He allows this world to go on. As the Apostle Peter said, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, don’t let anyone ever tell you that God is not fair, because He is extremely fair to allow the ungodly to continue breathing. Why? Because He has hope that some will come to faith in Him. 

However, many times people read verse 22-23 and question this idea of God’s love where Paul wrote, “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, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory” (Rom. 9:22-23). They say, “how can God say that the vessels of wrath were prepared for destruction? That doesn’t seem fair.” How can it be fair that God prepared these people for hell? That sounds like these vessels of wrath really didn’t have a choice. It appears that God made them just so He could destroy them!” How does a believer respond to this objection? The answer to this objection is simple. The Greek word for “prepared,” according to Vines New Testament Word Dictionary, and Greek scholars AT Robertson, and Norman Vincent both declare this word would be better translated “fitted.” Note that nowhere in this text does it say that God made them or fitted them beforehand for destruction. Again, this is a declaration that if the Potter can’t mold the clay, because it was hardened and became unresponsive to His hand, then the Potter has done His best, and must now discard this clay as unusable. In other words, rebellious people have fitted themselves for their own destruction. Remember that Paul said earlier in this epistle concerning those who twisted God’s Word to justify their own sin that, “their condemnation is just” (Rom. 3:8).

There is also an interesting side note here in the context. The word “prepared” in verse 23, is a completely different Greek word than is used in verse 22. In verse 23 the words are correctly translated in the NKJV to, “prepare beforehand.” Notice that only in verse 23 is the word beforehand used. Paul made it absolutely clear that through God’s foreknowledge, “He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.” So, the only one that is prepared beforehand for glory, are the vessels of mercy. Nowhere in Scripture is it taught what extreme Calvinists call Double Election. Double Election teaches that God chooses beforehand who is going to heaven, and He also chooses beforehand those who are going to hell. This idea is not taught anywhere in Scripture! These two verses make this teaching of the Calvinism weak and indefensible. The clear and simple teaching of Scripture reveals that, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Thankfully, God wants whoever will believe in Him!

God’s call of the Gentiles Vs. 24-29

In verses 24-29, Paul acknowledged that God has not only called the Jews to Himself, but also the Gentiles. Paul first states the fact that God, “Called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” (Rom. 9:24). This is a very important concept that God loved the Gentiles just as much as He did the Jews. These are verses you should show to orthodox Jews, that reveal God’s eternal purpose to love and save Gentiles. There are many examples of God loving and accepting the Gentiles throughout the Old and New Testaments. God called Abram to Himself, who was formally an idolater (Joshua 24:2). There was a Gentile widow of Sidon who provided for Elijah, and God blessed her home with provisions (1 Kings 17:9). God healed Naaman the Syrian as a testimony of His mercy, and because of the obedience of faith of Naaman (2 Kings 5). Jesus also healed the Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter because He said this woman had great faith (Mark 7:24-30). These examples show that God has always cared about Gentiles, and is proof that He would help anyone who trusted in Him.

From verses 25-29, Paul quotes numerous verses from the Old Testament to prove his point that God has always intended to call and save the Gentiles. In verses 25-26 he quotes from Hosea the Prophet, “I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. 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” (Rom. 9:25-26). The message here is so powerful! God declared that He was going to call a people who were not His people, referring to the Gentiles. He would then call them His people. He would also call them beloved, which means to be dearly loved by Him. For the Gentiles who were not His people, He would now call them His loved ones. What incredible promises were made to the Gentiles! As Christians we are the Father’s loved ones, and now partakers of all the promises made to Abraham (Eph. 3:6; Gal. 3:14)!

In verses 27-28, Paul quotes, “Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth’” (Rom. 9:27-28). In these verses, Paul showed that from the prophecies of Isaiah only a small number of the Jews will ultimately be saved, because God would only save a remnant. He would stop short of fulfilling His promises to the Jews in righteousness. Why would God only save a small number of Jews even though they were as numerous as the sand of the sea? How can God stop short of fulfilling His promised purpose for them? God will stop short because of their unbelief, and the Jewish people’s desire to obtain God’s blessings by their own good works. In verse 32, Paul states plainly the answer to this question of why God stopped short of all His promises to them. He declared, “Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law” (Rom. 9:32). We will cover this truth in our next study.

The last truth Paul quotes is in verse 29, when he declared, “As Isaiah said before: ‘Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah” (Rom. 9:29). Prophetically God told the Jewish people through Isaiah that none of them would be saved unless God in His grace had left some of their descendants. He told them that unless He bestowed grace upon them, they would have been utterly destroyed like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. What an image is this! I have stood on the ruins of Sodom and seen the ruins of Gomorrah just a short distance away in the Jordan Valley. There is nothing left but ash, the foundations of broken-down stone and mud-brick structures, and a few blown apart skeletal remains of the people of these cities. When God says things like this, He means it. He rained fire and molten rock from the sky on these cities, and if He wants to obliterate a nation or a people, He can do it any time He chooses. These statements by God make it very clear that His grace is absolutely necessary for anyone to be saved, including you and me. Don’t ever think that there is any other way for you to be saved today, unless He bestows His glorious matchless grace upon you. Salvation is all of grace! “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Remember, not your good works, but His awesome grace is the only thing that can save and transform your life. Cry out for His grace and receive it by faith!