ROMANS 9:14-23 “TWO OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION ANSWERED"

 

Previously, in Romans 9 we have seen,

(i)                9:1-5 Paul’s anguished heart for his own people, who had rejected Christ as God’s Messiah.(ii)                    9:6-13 Has God’s word to the Jews then failed? No! 

• Not all that are descended from Israel belong to Israel; 
• not all are true children of Abraham simply because they are his physical offspring. Abraham’s spiritual offspring did not propagate through Ishmael but through the son of the covenant - Isaac. 
• This gets even more profound in the next example, illustrating that a distinction is even made between Isaac’s twin boys: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (9:13 cf.  Mal.1:2,3 à Gen. 25:23). Jacob is chosen to be the son of the covenant. He is not chosen on merit. They had done neither good nor bad. The choice is based on God’s purpose of election (9:11).

The doctrine of divine election is easy to understand. It is clearly taught in God’s Word, but it is not easy to accept. It raises objections. Paul knows that this doctrine will provoke some. Therefore, in Romans 9:14- 23 Paul anticipates and answers these objections. 

Before we continue it may be helpful to understand why you may have an objection to this biblical doctrine.

(i)                       You have not yet understood the message of the Bible.  And perhaps you ignore/gloss over/ do not think about or doubt what the Bible plainly says. 

(ii)                     You are strongly influenced by the Zeitgeist (spirit of our age) which makes God subservient to human reason.  You have fallen into a trap that makes you the judge of God and His Word. And you want to make Him say what you want to hear.  In so doing you must redefine or twist the meaning of the doctrines of the Bible to conform them to an “acceptable” level.  Many plain Bible doctrines have been redefined by so called liberal theologians. They say, “the Bible is not the Word of God- the Bible contains the Word of God”. 

In so doing they subtly  separate God from the Bible. 

God’s literal creation of all things becomes impersonal evolution.  

God’s creation of male and female becomes fluid; 

Gender becomes suspicious. 

Male headship is written off as patriarchal and toxic; 

The doctrine of marriage between one man and one woman becomes fluid and can include same sex unions etc.  

But the Bible is clear on these issues and strongly challenges modern society in these and many more areas.   

And so too,  the doctrine of God’s election of a people for Himself has come under intense fire in the church. It has been described as unfair, unloving and even demonic. Dare you call demonic what God has clearly said?  Few doctrines in the Bible have been more assaulted that this one. The integrity of God  has been  severely tested in  the assault of this plain doctrine.

 ROMANS 9:14-23: THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION CHALLENGED AND DEFENDED

1.        FIRST OBJECTION: Romans 9:14-18 - Is it fair for God to choose some and not others?  

If Paul had said, "the reason that Jacob was saved is because he chose God, and the reason that Esau was not saved is because he rejected God” then you could not accuse God of being unfair.  

But this is not what Paul said in 9:11,12.  Read this text again in your Bible!

Jacob was not chosen on merit. 

Esau was not rejected because he had done anything bad.  

This is why the question is asked: “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? “…to which Paul responds, “By no means!” (lit. may it not be! How can you even think like that?).  You may think it’s unfair. 

But stand back and listen! The problem with not listening thoroughly, and worse still – rejecting it because it does not ‘feel right’ is that you may miss out on a huge lesson on learning good theology – by learning who God is.  When you react in kneejerk fashion and say, “unfair!” or “God is not just”, or “God is arbitrary or unloving”, you are accusing the God of perfection, holiness and perfect justice. You accuse Him of things that you have not yet understood. Few doctrines test more clearly whether we are judging God. 

So, listen! Let Paul finish his sentence: “For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.  So, then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (9:15 & 16). Paul doesn’t respond to the charge of  “It’s not fair. God is unjust!”. He says nothing about God’s justice. He only speaks about God’s mercy.  Why does he do that?   

Because  the salvation of anyone is not about fairness; it is about mercy! 

If God were fair, He would have thrown the lot of us on to the cosmic rubbish dump. That’s fair. But God’s salvation is not about getting what you think you deserve. Salvation is about mercy. If you wanted justice, you would get eternal hell!  If we think that our salvation is based on something that we have done or deserved,  we  have missed the point. Instead, God gives us mercy. Mercy is grace given to an undeserving sinner. 

Consider 9:16 again. Many people think that salvation begins with man’s free will- a free act of choosing God. That is not what the Bible says here: "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy”. Salvation does not begin with us but with God - Our salvation begins with God’s mercy! John says the same thing in John 1:11-13.  Our salvation is all of God; it is rooted in His mercy.

Now consider this:  Do you still wish to accuse God of being unfair, because He chooses (elects) some to a salvation that they don’t deserve, whilst He gives to others precisely what they do deserve?  Remember again, if God were just, all of us would only deserve eternal hell.  But no! He has mercy on whomever he wills to have mercy.  

If then you want to accuse God, then accuse Him of being too kind, too generous, but don’t accuse Him of injustice!

Paul is not done yet. He takes his argument further: “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 (9:17-18). This is a quote from Exodus 9:16 (7^th plague). Here Paul is still responding to an objection about God’s justice. But again, he says nothing about justice!  He only speaks about God’s purpose. God is after all God and as God He has a purpose with Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you.”  The Egyptian Pharaoh thought of himself as a god and master of Israel’s people. He was in fact an arrogant, sinful man, who mocked the God of Israel whenever Moses came into his presence. But Pharaoh in truth had no power. Quite on the contrary, and unbeknown to him he became a tool in the hands of Almighty God, to demonstrate His power…"that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth."  Fathom this!   God’s sovereign, powerful deliverance of Israel from Egypt from a man who thought he had god-like powers.  But in the end God got the glory – just like on the cross!

And then notice again the emphasis: "So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” It is God’s prerogative to do with His created beings whatever He will, and Paul does not try to downplay this fact. He does not have to defend God. This is God’s prerogative.  That’s the way it is.  God’s mercy. God’s hardening – God’s purpose.  Let the earth be silent!

We are not done yet.

SECOND OBJECTION:  Romans 9:19-23 - How can God condemn if we can’t resist His will?

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” (9:19) At the heart of this question is the assumption that because God chooses some and rejects others, we have been robbed of free will. We therefore cannot be held responsible –This thought is at the heart of the rejection of the doctrine of election.

Now humbly listen once again to Paul’s response to this objection: “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 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—

If ever there was reality therapy in Paul’s argument, here it is. Now he is bringing out the big gun, by which he silences all our  arguments!  He reminds us of   a few important realities.

(i)                      We are mere creatures! He reminds me that I  am a created being. I am not God Almighty. My thoughts and abilities are very limited, and therefore I must be very careful about my deductions, conclusions and presuppositions.  How can I possibly understand God’s infinite mind?  

So, Paul reminds us, “who are you, O man, to answer back to God?  Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? (9:20-21). 

He reminds us that there is a distinction between the Creator and the creature. 

He reminds us that  God, as Creator, has the right to determine what He will do with His creation (9:20,21). In support Paul uses an Old Testament illustration (e.g.  Isa. 29:16; Jer. 18) of a potter and the way he uses clay. God is the potter. Human beings are clay. The sovereignty of the Potter is indisputable. The clay does not tell the potter what he must do. In the same way it is not given to you and I to tell God what to do.  Clay doesn’t talk back to the potter. God cannot be managed by us.  He will manage us! 

(ii)                    No created being has a right to call into question God’s mercy or God’s purposes. 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.(9:22-23).

You cannot put God’s mercy on trial. 

Consider the  severity of God’s mercy :  The tragedy is that  even though God sent His Son, nobody  wanted to receive Him  (see John 1:11)  (that’s the meaning of  “ God…has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction”) -  

EXCEPT FOR HIS MERCY – those to whom it was given to receive Him (See John 1:12,13). These were the sheep who could hear the Shepherd’s voice – John 10.    

God’s mercy is indisputable. It’s not up for discussion. Get a grip on the mercy of God! God has endured us stubborn clay- pots with so much patience. God is merciful to wicked clay-pots everyday!  How patient and long suffering God is with sinners.  Paul is drawing your attention to the graciousness of God with the wicked. 

• Marvel that God is merciful against the background of our collective stubbornness. 
• Marvel that you have not also become a vessel of wrath. 
• Marvel that   you, contrary to your hardness of heart,   have experienced the riches of His glory in becoming a vessel of mercy.  
• I marvel that I am a VESSEL OF MERCY?  It remains a mystery to know why God chose me and not another.  Why did He do this?  This we know : He did this in order to show his mercy to His chosen ones. 

You may not be able to take that in right now. But on the day of the revelation of the children of God it will all be very clear! Right now, all we can do is to believe it, because God’s Word says it.   

The doctrine of election is not a doctrine to be argued about or against. If you are a Christian then this is a doctrine to be enjoyed. It is a doctrine that will lead you to profounder worship. It is a doctrine  that teaches you that you are truly loved with an everlasting love.

If you are not a Christian, let this doctrine be your  wake-up call. Fall on your knees. Repent, and flee to Jesus, NOW.  Don’t say – you are not elected.  I answer, ALL who come to Christ  with a broken contrite heart will be received by Him,  unless of course, you refuse  to  enter at the narrow gate, through Christ the Saviour … unless you receive the gospel like a child ...,  then you will finally understand that  you  are a reprobate, left in the stubbornness of your  will, left to bear the eternal wrath of God.