Here is what the sentence says: 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? The question “Who wrote the Bible?” has a double answer: God and man. We currently have 150 emails now about Romans 9, by far the most asked-about chapter in the Bible in the inbox. Those are usually the two reasons people give for saying, “No, you shouldn’t use Romans 9 to talk about individual election or predestination.”. You deserve hell, which was supposed to be your final destination, and it would have been if it were not for the intervening grace of God. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:2–3). Why didn't God choose everyone to be saved? We don’t believe he can. Have you ever noticed how God chooses the people hed send for an important mission? “Hello, Pastor John! He could have chosen more educated men, priests, or more influential men so as to help him spread the message of the Gospel more expediently. Filed under Predestination, Studies In Theology, Tagged as Arminian, bible, Calvinism, calvinist, god, john calvin, kuiper, louis berkhof, predestination, reformed, religion, savior, theology. However, God’s decision not to save all people has to do with his character or nature. We simply have no definitive answer as to why some are healed in this life and others are not. Those vessels of mercy are prepared beforehand by God for glory. God decided at a prior time to bring you to belief, to open your eyes, and to give you repentance. We’re on a mission to change that. The discussion of predestination–a subject of itself rather intricate–is made very perplexed, and therefore dangerous, by human curiosity, which no barriers can restrain from wandering into forbidden labyrinths, and soaring beyond its sphere, as if determined to leave none of the Divine secrets unscrutinized or unexplored. “Whoa, that’s a big claim. . But in this very moment, the vessels of mercy (I’m talking now to our listeners) are everyone and anyone who calls on the name of the Lord. 4. The Calvinist would say that God was guided by nothing but His own good pleasure, His sovereign, free will.” 1. He is drawing out the application — namely, with regard to Pharaoh. The rest of Romans 9:1–23 is Paul’s demonstration or vindication of the justice of God in the exercise of his sovereignty in having mercy on whom he will. Because He is God and we are NOT (I Tim. The first question that comes to mind upon hearing a statement like that is, “Why? (Romans 9:22–23), Aaron is asking, “Do the words what if at the beginning of verse 22 mean that God could act this way, but doesn’t act this way?” That’s what he’s just asking. But God’s Word does remind us of three important truths—truths we easily forget. She had faith in God and trusted Him to work things out even though she did not have all of the information. So what’s he saying? I’m not going to listen anymore to this foul garbage from my lying flesh and unrenewed emo tions. I think Romans 9 really addresses the eternal destinies of people, not just historical roles. But though the discussion of predestination may be compared to a dangerous ocean, yet, in traversing over it, the navigation is safe and serene, and I will also add pleasent, unless any one freely wishes to expose himself to danger. 2:8-10; II Tim. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is … He does no one — no human being ever anywhere — any wrong. God chooses everyone for something. On the other hand, if I chose God, does that mean that God isn’t really sovereign? God had chosen to create a being so like Him that the man could reason, reflect, intuit, and choose his own paths. Ephesians 1 goes on to say, “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (verses 5–6). How do you explain this conjunction and its implications?”. But we must come with submissive, teachable hearts. Know this: Before the world was made, before sin came in, God chose you in Christ to be with Him though all eternity. He is free to show mercy and grace to whomever he wills. It’s the lostness of individuals that creates the problem — it’s not imposed on this chapter. God works in response to faith. Verse 27, “God chose the foolish to shame the wise.” Verse 27, “God chose the weak to shame the strong.” I don't know. Presented here is the basic argument to “why God chose some and not others.” “The Arminian says that God was guided by his foreknowledge, that he chose some because he saw beforehand that they would believe the Gospel and rejected others because he knew that they would not do … We currently have 150 emails now about Romans 9, by far the most asked-about chapter in the Bible in the inbox. The presenting issue is precisely that some Jews — not the people as a whole — have fallen. It was the image of God that separated mankind from all other living creatures. He wants to use me. We need to remind ourselves every day that we didn’t choose Him, but Jesus chose us. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. He doesn’t get taken off guard. (Psalm 139:16) I would work on coming into rest in the simple everyday opportunities that I found to bless the others, and make that my focus, instead of striving so hard to seek my own will. I … The Bible reveals that mankind is responsible for their sins and gives them the freewill to choose what to do, but a hyper-Calvinism would say that God elects some to destruction, but doesn’t that strip humans of their freewill? Ultimate Systematic Theology Giveaway via @. c. An excellence or power granted by God. Is there injustice on God’s part?” That’s where I started in writing my book: “Is there injustice on God’s part?” And his answer is “by no means.”, The rest of it, verses 15–23, offers support for why there’s no injustice on God’s part. I don’t think Romans 9 is up for grabs though. He’s saying that individual Jews, kinsmen of Paul, are lost and perishing, and this creates for Paul not only a heart-wrenching personal agony, which he describes, but a massive theological problem: Have the promises of God failed? In Deuteronomy 7:7-9 Moses tells the children of Israel why God chose them: "The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. When you take Ephesians 1:3-4 together, Paul is saying: 2:10). 11:6). First, it reminds us that wealth is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing. Berkhof continues by explaining how election is unconditional. So if salvation is by grace, it is no longer the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace (Rom. I had to settle it for myself. That’s verse 23, and that’s the ultimate goal of the universe. 2:21, even these, as foreseen by God, could not furnish such a basis. Or did it have some other explanation? I feel like Romans 9 is a watershed of how you view God. They are elected to be children of God and heirs of eternal glory. “Fate is an impersonal, cold, hard, relentless force, but the God of the Calvinist is a personal being with love as his very essence, good in many ways even to the reprobate.” 1, “…not because of works but because of him who calls.” Rom. As for our brother Nabeel (or, another loved one you lost to sickness), God alone can tell us why he (or that loved one) was not healed. 1:8-9, Job 38:4). While reading John Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion in the chapter titled Eternal Election, or God’s Predestination of Some to Salvation, and of Others to Destruction, one can only come to the conclusion that Calvin was very cautious when speaking of predestination and election. The answer is no, that’s not a feasible interpretation. Let this, then, be our way of inquiry; to begin and end with the calling of God. Only God, who knows the heart, can properly assess a person’s life. And there is where WE have to … And there are several reasons, but let me just zero in on one. His deep desire is that we learn to trust Him in all things including matters of healing. ( Log Out /  Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16 NKJV). ( Log Out /  So God is free to have mercy on whom he’ll have mercy. Nobody deserves it, and God is not unjust to give it freely to whomever he will, and not to another. Part 3, What Do The Biblical Covenants Have to Do With The Extent Of The Atonement? God visits everyone in his good time and desires that we all be saved, provided we desire to be saved. Haven’t we been saved by grace (Eph. This is not hard to see. It’s not feasible to take the words that way. Instead, God chos… You are no different from them. But God prepared those good works for His plan (Eph. But, I'll give you a basic answer, Ok? He chose us out of His love and mercy, and for His glory. We see it in the text. As we see multitudes every where guilty of this arrogance and presumption, and among them some who are not censurable in other respects, it is proper to admonish them of the bound of their duty on this subject. We often highlight Abraham's faith that God would give him a child, but Abraham was not perfect in keeping the faith. We Choose God. But He did not. How those both work together, I cannot explain. This what if is not hypothetical — it’s actual. God does NOT choose his children to salvation because he saw them acknowledge a need of a savior (Rom. The short answer is, no, God did not choose us because of anything inherent in ourselves. 9:11. Why would God choose me? After looking at these definitions you may ask yourself, Why would God choose me? The point of what I’m saying is that it was a great struggle for me. I had been there about six years, so it was time. If you have your Bibles with you I'd invite you to turn with me to Romans 9 as we continue through this great chapter. 2. More briefly it may be said to be God’s eternal purpose to save some of the human race in and by Jesus Christ. It does deal with individuals, not just corporate peoples. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He did it. 3, And in a later chapter, Calvin further heeds his warnings…. More often than not, these chosen people seem to be the most unlikely ones for the job. I don't know. The gospel implies that you are not worthy of any blessing (Romans 3:10-12; Isaiah 64:6). God does what He does for His glory. When I was teaching Bible and Greek at Bethel College from 1974 to 1980, virtually every class brought up the problems of the sovereignty of God vis-à-vis the will of man. This is the very sentence that Aaron asked about. But whether I see another person healed or not, I will continue to pray for the sick and I will continue to proclaim that God is our Healer. This question is especially mysterious in our sinful world, where God can at times feel distant. Honestly, I do not know why God regenerated you, but not other people. Out of that nine months or so came the book The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:1–23. I would be occupied with finding the works God prepared for me each day and be awake to use those opportunities to learn to know Him better. Paul says, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Surely the Bible makes one or the other clear. Christ has not only saved us from the wrath of God, but transformed us and saved us from the sinful nature that destined us for that wrath. You know something, honey? The what if is asking, “What if he did it — can any legitimate reaction be raised?” And he answers no. He is not whimsical. Where do you stand? Join us every day online at http://www.tdjakes.org/watchnow When Paul refers five verses later, in verse 22, to God’s “desiring to show his wrath and make known his power, [enduring] with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,” that’s exactly what he has just done with Pharaoh in verse 17. Don’t get me wrong, our good works are important. Here’s what that says: “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills” (Romans 9:17–18). In conclusion, why does God chose some and not others? The Bible makes is clear that not only is God good, loving, merciful and kind [Ex 34:6-7a] but he is also just, righteous and holy. I have shared the struggle with those who read this chapter and scratch their heads and try to reorient their minds. This will help you believe that God chose you for a purpose. The study looks at how Jesus tells us time and time again that each of us has a specific purpose, and about the importance of each one of us in His plan. There are Israelites who are perishing, and Paul solves the problem theologically by saying, “God’s word to Israel has not fallen because not all Israel is Israel.”. The Old Testament focuses on Israel as God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6). “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” – John 15:16. Here’s one of them, a recent email from a listener named Aaron. Election does not in any way depend on the foreseen faith of good works of man, as the Arminians teach, but exclusively on the sovereign good pleasure of God, who is also the originator of faith and good works. 2:8)? “If God is as sovereign as you say, Piper, how can man be accountable for his sin?” And eventually in these discussions, I would go to Romans 9 as part of my answer. Paul’s overall point in this section is that God is just in having mercy on whom he will (Romans 9:14). A sinner: You’re not the first person to … Romans 9:14-18. ‌ — Psalm 115:16 . It was not because she was more numerous than other people in the world; she was the least (Deuteronomy 7:7). I have shared that. Is the language here being used as we would use it today? Since Mary loved and respected God, she quickly decided to accept God's plan for her life no matter how it might look to others. R.B. And the basic answer--and I hope you can understand this--the basic answer is: because He got more glory for his own name by doing it the way He did it. In this study we will look at Israel, God’s chosen people, and why he chose them. Here’s one of them, a recent email from a listener named Aaron. The Bible tells us that His choice of Israel had nothing to do with merit. 1. Only God can know whether to heal or not heal will best move the person forward toward His goal of building the mind of Christ in them. Those that are saved were predestined to salvation before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him (Eph. So, in the spring of 1979, I asked for a sabbatical. But he wants us to be willing to seek his calling for us. I was reading Romans 9 today and came across what is known to be a very hard-to-swallow passage and doctrine. I mean if Jews — and he’s not talking one or two, but most of them — have a veil over their face, then they’re not seeing Jesus as their Messiah. Grace it’s not just that little prayer you say and meal time to thank God for his blessing. ( Log Out /  This is the very sentence that Aaron asked about. Louis Berkhof explains “the biblical idea of election.”, That eternal act of God whereby He, in His sovereign good pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit in them, chooses a certain number of men to be the recipients of special grace and of eternal salvation.

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