#1641 Romans 9 Part 4 Why Does He Still Find Fault

 

19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? Will the thing molded say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this”? 21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 And what if God, wanting to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath having been prepared for destruction, 23 and in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea,

“I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’

And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”

26 “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’

There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute His word on the land, thoroughly and quickly.” 29 And just as Isaiah foretold,

“Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a seed,

We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah.” Romans 9: 19-29 LSB

romans 9: 19-29

V. 19 Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will? - The argument is, "if God is sovereign in salvation, if no one comes that He does not call and gift with faith to believe, then why does He still hold sinners accountable?" The other part of this question, and I hate to even speak it now, is in the hearts and minds of those in rebellion, not truly seeking to know God, an accusation, "does this not make God the Author of sin?" This falls apart in that God made man a moral being and good, but gave him instruction as to evil. He could avoid death, which is the wages of sin, by not eating the fruit of one tree in the garden. This is the first and last time man knew true "free will", because after he chased and nurtured the thought of autonomy in his mind, this is where sin started, when man questioned God and this is when he fell and all Adam's seed with him. This is when human will became the bondservant of sin, and we died to righteousness. Once we do realize that there is a God, and that we do sin, then we still would like to push the responsibility back on Him rather than repenting of our sin. For some they say, "the devil made me do it' and others here would seem to say, 'God made me do it." God would say that both are wrong. 

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. 13When tempted, no one should say, “ God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.… James 1: 12-14

34But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” 36At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me.… Daniel 4: 34-36

Vs. 20-21 Who are you O man, who answers back to God - There are a lot of cage shakers out there who believe they have come to a perfect understanding of the doctrines of election. There are many on both sides of the argument that refuse to acknowledge what Paul is bluntly stating here, that there are aspects of this that are above our pay grade. Every hair of human autonomy wants to stand up on the neck of every man at this, but here it is, you are not God, He is the eternal, infinite being and you are a finite creature. You have a beginning, and you may also come to great heights in your understanding, but they will be always fall infinitely short of the wisdom of God. 

…7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6: 7-8

…2“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge? 3Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me. 4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.… Job 38: 2-4

…19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.… 1 Corinthians 1: 19-21

Henry Morris - We have no right to ask God: "Why?" Remember that He answered Job's pleas for understanding merely by reminding Job of the fact of creation (Job 38-41). As our great Potter, He has the right to make His pottery vessels both for honor and dishonor (Ro 9:21). We who have been redeemed by His mercy should be grateful that He chose us even before the world began (Ep1:3, 4, 2Ti1:9), confident that He--by whatever means He chooses--is preparing His "vessels of mercy" (Ro 9:23) to receive the full manifestation of His glory in the ages to come (Ep 2:10). The fact that our finite minds cannot comprehend the simultaneous operation of divine election and human responsibility is irrelevant. Both Scripture and human experience demonstrate both to be true. We must both rest in that fact and act in light of it. - Precept Austin

…9Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? 10Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’” 11Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “How dare you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?… Isaiah 45: 9-11

V. 22 Wanting to demonstrate His wrath - God's wrath is always tied to His justice, and His holiness or otherliness. He has said what sin is, and He need not change His stance since it is from eternity. The first time someone sins then they could and should legally die, and as I have stated before, this could have very well and reasonably occurred in the garden. The moment Adam and Eve sinned it should have all come to an end, and that would have been just, but it didn't. So Paul goes on to say that God had the prerogative in doing this, not only to show His wrath, this part of His just nature which opposes sin, but also His power. The Bible is God's story, His very breath breathed into the quill and ink of Holy Script, telling us of His great power to save, displaying His redemptive plan. He endures vessels of wrath, even causes His rain to fall on the just and the unjust, all to the praise of His glory.  

…3Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved. 4The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster. 5Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.… Proverbs 16: 3-5

John MacArthur - Orge does not refer to an explosive outburst of temper but to an inner, deep resentment that seethes and smolders, often unnoticed by others" (MacArthur, J. James. Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press) MacArthur adds that orge… signifies the strongest kind of anger, that which reaches fever pitch, when God’s mercy and grace are fully exhausted. It will mark the end of God’s patience and tolerance with unregenerate, unrepentant mankind in the swelling of His final, furious anger which He will vent on those whose works evidence their persistent and unswerving rebellion against Him. (MacArthur, J. Romans. Chicago: Moody Press) - Precept Austin

…10You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak. 11 Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? 12I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you.… Isaiah 57: 10-12

…2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. 4Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life.… Isaiah 43: 2-4

V. 23 Vessels of mercy - God is glorified by those who He condemns in their sin, and also by those who He redeems from His wrath. History has continued from the garden due to the promise of the Seed, Christ, the new birth, and which gospel is the power of God to salvation. 

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love…

…5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…

…8that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.… Ephesians 1: 2-10

When God looks down on mankind, He sees all men under sin (Ro 5:12 all are in Adam and in desperate condition and need for His mercy and compassion). In view of that truth what does He have the right to do? Obviously as the Sovereign Creator He has the justifiable right to condemn all mankind to an eternal hell because all are sinners. If you think that this would make God an unfair Judge, then think back for a moment to what Paul taught in Romans 1.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (See notes on Romans 1:18-19, Romans 1:20-21, Romans 1:22-23, Romans 1:24-25)

God has given every man a chance to know Him. But rebellious mankind although knowing about God through His natural revelation, made a deliberate, conscious choice not to honor Him as God or give thanks. The upshot is that all like sheep have gone astray from their Creator and all are without excuse. But here in Romans 9 Paul explains that even though we are all sinners deserving eternal death, God in His mercy, in His love, in His sovereignty has condescended to choose some and has prepared (aorist tense = a definite event and active voice = He did this independent of the creatures, especially independent of any merit they might think they have) them beforehand for glory. - PA

Vs. 24-26 I will call those who were not My people - God's plan of election was from eternity, and also included many among the Gentiles in His counsel. 

…29Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.… Romans 3: 29-31

V. 27 It is a remnant that will be saved - He has continually answered the question as to why or how could those who had such a history with God, the law, the tabernacle and the prophets, how could they have fallen away? This has to do with election, and God has always kept a remnant in every age. Remember, not all are Israel who were related to Abraham, but it was the circumcision of the heart that mattered. It is the same in the church, some are there just for the fish and the bread, the social aspect, but Christ said that not everyone who claims to be His are. 

…20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’…

23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ 24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.… Matthew 7: 20-25

Vs. 28-29 We would have become like Sodom - The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah reached the fullness of the cup of God's wrath and He destroyed them for their sin. Both cities were completely ground to dust by what the Bible describes as burning Sulphur from heaven. Abraham asked God not to do this if there what got down to be 10 righteous in the city, but even that low number could not be found so God removed Abraham's nephew, Lot. Isaiah is saying, that the only thing that kept Israel going is that God had kept a seed, and that He would raise up the Seed of the woman to redeem them. They would have shared and deserved the same fate except for God's mercy to them in preserving a remnant. 

…12until the LORD has driven men far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13And though a tenth remains in the land, it will be burned again. As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled, so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.” Isaiah 6: 12-13

Matthew Henry notes that…

"The rejecting of the Jews, and the taking in the Gentiles, were foretold in the OT (Ro 9:26, Hosea 1:6). It tends very much to the clearing of a truth, to observe how the Scripture is fulfilled in it. It is a wonder of Divine power and mercy that there are any saved: for even those left to be a seed, if God had dealt with them according to their sins, had perished with the rest. This great truth this Scripture teaches us. Even among the vast number of professing Christians it is to be feared that only a remnant will be saved." (Heb 4:1, 2-note) - Precept Austin