#1643 Romans 10 Part 1 My Heart's Desire

 

Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For not knowing about the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of law: “The man who does these things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will go down into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes upon Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him, 13 for “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10: 1-13 LSB

Romans 10: 1-13 Their Salvation

V. 1 Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation - Paul writes disbelief but not the people. He is not just sorrowful, but he goes to the only One Who has the power to convince the heart of anyone. Prayer is Paul's response, and should be ours for the lost of any people. MacArthur points out that though Paul was called as the apostle to the Gentiles that did not diminish his continual entreaties to God for Israel to be saved. 

…14And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” 15“Go!” said the Lord. “ This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”… Acts 9: 14-16

1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,… 1 Timothy 2: 1-3

…21“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.… John 4: 21-23

V. 2 Zeal for God but not according to knowledge - This sounds like Paul's own testimony as Saul. He was religious, fervent, eager to keep the law of the Pharisees, and went after what he saw as the opponents to God with zeal. People can sound confident, sincere, and be outwardly intense, even animated in the proclamation of what they believe. Paul went so far as to kill Christians because he thought they were infidels. He lacked the "knowledge" (understanding) of Who Christ really was, and so he treated His followers as apostates. 

…5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. 7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.… Philippians 3: 5-7

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. 13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. 14And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.… 1 Timothy 1: 12-14

V. 3 For not knowing about the righteousness of God - That is the righteousness that comes through Christ, as it is unattainable by human effort.  They tried to establish a righteousness of their own which was only acceptable within their social bubble, and they lowered the bar so low that it no longer reflected God's law or pointed to His righteousness which can only be grasped by faith. 

…2“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.…

…5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.… Matthew 23: 2-7

V. 4 For Christ is the end of the law righteousness - This is the stark contrast. Their works pointed to themselves and their system. God's law, and the sacrificial system, pointed away from them to Christ. Christ would have to come and live the life that was pleasing to the Father in order to fulfill all righteousness. Their hope would have to shift from their own tainted works to belief in His perfect work. 

Paul means that belief in Christ as Lord and Savior ends the sinner's futile quest for righteousness through his imperfect attempts to save himself by efforts to obey the law. J Mac from Study Bible Note

i. “Christ did not come to make the law milder, or to render it possible for our cracked and battered obedience to be accepted as a sort of compromise. The law is not compelled to lower its terms, as though it had originally asked too much; it is holy and just and good, and ought not to be altered in one jot or tittle, nor can it be. Our Lord gives the law all it requires, not a part, for that would be an admission that it might justly have been content with less at first.” (Spurgeon) - E Word

V. 5 The man who does these things shall live by them - This is a reference going back to the OT, so if you are going to practice these things, seeking righteousness through the law, then you have to be perfect in it.

…4You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God. 5Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD. 6None of you are to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.… Leviticus 18: 4-6

9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”… Galatians 3: 9-11

Vs. 6-8 The word is near you - It is not earned by some quest or perfectly keeping the law, the former is useless and the latter is impossible. Believing either is to make light of Christ's perfect work and sacrifice. It wasn't far from them at all, or to anyone reading this now, Paul is proclaiming that word, the gospel, so believe. 

…12It is not in heaven, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ 13And it is not beyond the sea, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ 14But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.… Deuteronomy 30: 12-14

VS. 9-10 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved - See, it was right in front of them. Jesus is Lord, which means you are not. Belief in His resurrection isn't just the acknowledgment of a super natural event, but a fulfillment of prophecy and to show that Christ's payment satisfied God's justice. It is the believer's great hope. 

ii. Wuest, quoting Robertson on Jesus Christ is Lord: “No Jew would do this who had not really trusted Christ, for Kurios in the LXX is used of God. No Gentile would do it who had not ceased worshipping the emperor as Kurios. The word Kurios was and is the touchstone of faith.” - E Word

d. Believe in your heart: Mere intellectual agreement with the facts of the cross and the resurrection is not enough. You must believe in your heart; and even that belief is not enough without accompanying action: confess with your mouth.

i. “We believe everything which the Lord Jesus has taught us, but we must go a step further and trust him. It is not even enough to believe in him as being the Son of God, and the anointed of the Lord. But we must believe on him… The faith that saves is not the believing of certain truths – not even believing that Jesus is a Savior – but it is to rest on him, to depend on him, to lie with all your weight on Christ as the foundation of your hope. Believe that he can save you; believe that he will save you; in everything leave the whole matter of your salvation with him in unquestioning confidence. Depend on him without fear as to your present and eternal salvation. This is the faith which saves the soul.” (Spurgeon) - E Word

V. 11 Will not be put to shame - It was always by grace through faith. This is a quote from Isaiah.

…15For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” 16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken. 17I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.… Isaiah 28: 15-17

Vs. 12-13 Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved - This call recognizes Jesus as Lord, as God has revealed Himself to us in Scripture. It is not just a call into the dark to any god, it is a call to the only true God. We also saw earlier that it is a call to the One Who raised Jesus from the dead. Whoever is a blessed thing, meaning it is not limited to a culture or nationality. We are all one fallen race in Adam and all those who believe can be made alive in Christ. 

…44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.…

…47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.… 1 Corinthians 15: 44-49

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#1642 Romans 9 Part 5 Tripping Rocks

 

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, laid hold of righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,

And the one who believes upon Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 9: 30-33 LSB

Romans 9: 30-33

V. 30 Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, laid hold of righteousness - A people separated from the common wealth of Israel, outside of the circumcision, not having the Law or the prophets. They did not pursue righteousness by way of the law which they did not know. These were lost on a whole other level, raised to worship idols and to commit those acts which God had deemed worthy of eternal punishment. 

William Newell (Romans 9) summarizes God's sovereignty in election:

1. Man was lost-he could not save himself.

2. He was guilty-none could pardon him but the God he had sinned against.

3 He was by nature "a child of wrath" not deserving good; nor being able to change his nature. He was allied with God's Enemy; and had a mind at enmity against God: a mind not subject, nor able to be subject to God's law or will.

5. He knew he was doing things "worthy of death"; but not only persisted in them, but was in league-approval with those of like practice; he was "of the world, " not of God.

6. Therefore, if any move be made toward man's salvation, it must come from God, not man.

7. God, being God, knew beforehand that the attitude of every man by nature toward his overtures would be to oppose them.

8. Since any real response to these overtures, therefore, must come from God's grace, He must elect to overcome effectually man's resistance, either: (a) In no case, (b) Or, in every case, (c) Or, in certain cases.

9. To hold God unable to overcome man's resistance in any case is to limit His power.

10. But to hold that God is unwilling to have certain saved is to deny His repeated word-

"Who would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth";

"As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live."

11. Therefore, it would seem that only in those cases in which it would no longer be consistent with God's glory-that is, consistent with His holiness and righteousness, and His just government of His creatures, would God withhold, or refuse longer to employ. His gracious operations in behalf of any creature.

12. But, when we consider Election, we must remove our thoughts wholly from this world, the first Adam, the sin of man, and his "attitude" toward God. The purpose of God according to Election is "not of works, but of Him that calleth." It is outside human history altogether. - Newell from Precept Austin

Paul has started his letter to the Romans with the indictment, the reality of man's fallen nature. He has shown that salvation is unattainable through merit or human will. Paul's message is that of justification by faith alone, the object of that faith being Christ, His works, not mine, His life in place of mine.  

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.…

…21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.…

…24Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. 26For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.…

…27Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,…

…30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 31They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.… Romans 9: 18-32

11Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.… Ephesians 2: 11-13

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.… Ephesians 4: 17-19

V. 30b Even the righteousness which is by faith - It was by grace they were saved, through faith, and that, not of themselves, for it was the gift of God and not of works lest they should boast. Abraham didn't believe of his own, in fact he had to be brought to that faith. He trusted God to leave his country in search of another, but when it came down to the promise of Isaac, Abraham tried to make another way through Ishmael. Sarah laughed at first, but she too was brought to that faith. Abraham believed before he had the sign of circumcision, that sign of separation from the world, of being set apart. God graciously brought him to believe in Him and that was accounted to Abraham as righteousness. Even the Jewish sacrificial system points to faith, to putting your hope in the life and death of another. Those all pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, and that our works would never be satisfactory. Our works are all tainted by sin, by ingratitude, our inability to see ourselves in our proper place and to hold redemption so high as it warrants. We do not have the capacity in ourselves to view God aright or to love Him as we ought. 

21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,… Romans 3: 21-23

…9Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before. 11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.… Romans 4: 9-11

12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,… Romans 4: 12-14

1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2 This is why the ancients were commended. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.…

4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “ He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.…

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. 9By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.…

…10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.… Hebrews 11: 1-12

V. 31 But Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness - The law was never intended to save, only to show man that he was hopelessly lost. It was the bar to convict us of our unrighteousness.

V. 32 They did not pursue it by faith - The law should have informed them of their state, which should have led to mourning over their sin, and turning to God for salvation. Instead they elevated the laws which they kept, invented new laws, and ended up with a horizontal religion, reliant upon the respect of their circles. I may fool you, and you may reflect back to me, and say, "Ah, Calvin is a good man, I saw him measuring and paying a tithe of his mint and cumin today." We are so easily deceived by others because we are already self deceived. The thing that all who are saved come to, whether Jew or Greek, is that we can't do it, can't be good enough, can't save ourselves, that we rely upon the righteousness of Christ. We need a Mediator, a Savior.

…27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” 28Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”… John 6: 27-29

V. 33 A stone of stumbling - For those who trust in their own ability to keep the law, who think that they have lived up to it, a Savior from sin will be a point of contention and confusion. They have chosen another way. The verse goes on to call the Stone, Him, and the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame. This points to Christ, Who they rejected, and Who most of the world still rejects to this day. We are told that His own rejected Him, but many in the world today call Him a crutch, the cults speak of another Christ Who is not God the Son, and many in the so called church today make up a Christ after their own image as well. The real Christ is a stumbling stone for most. 

…13The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded. 14And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare. 15Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”… Isaiah 8: 13-15

…15For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” 16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken. 17I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.… Isaiah 28: 15-17

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#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

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