Rom9:19-24 Vessels of Mercy

# Vessels of Mercy
## Romans 9:19-24

>>>
+ topical: common **question** among young people
+ whiff of deep **fragrance** in 1 passage
  + starting from **v11**
  + much more in all of **ch8-11**

---

# Does God **predestine** who is saved?

>>>
+ if so, isn't that **unfair**?
  + **freedom** to make own choices?
+ if my **loved one** is unrepentant
  + isn't that all **God's fault**?
+ **attitude** to Scripture:
  + How do I **react** to hard passages

******
You will say to me then, 
“Why does he still find **fault**? 
For who can **resist** his will?”

But who are **you**, O man, 
to answer back to **God**?

[Romans 9:19-20 (ESV) (p.1/4)](# "ref")

******
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?

[Romans 9:20-21 (ESV) (p.2/4)](# "ref")

******
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,

[Romans 9:22 (ESV) (p.3/4)](# "ref")

******
in order to make known 
the riches of his glory for **vessels of mercy**, 
which he has **prepared** beforehand for glory —

even us whom he has **called**, 
not from the Jews only 
but also from the Gentiles?

[Romans 9:23-24 (ESV) (p.4/4)](# "ref")

---

## Vessels of Mercy [(Rom9)](# "ref")
1. God's **Election**: *Jacob / Esau* [(v11-13)](# "ref")
1. God's **Justice**: *Pharaoh* [(v14-18)](# "ref")
1. God's **Mercy**: *Clay Pot* [(v19-24)](# "ref")

>>>
v11-24: 3 **questions**, 3 **examples**
1. **predestination**: does God pre-ordain our destiny?
1. **theodicy**: why does God allow evil?
1. **autonomy**: do I have freedom to make my own choices?

---

Though they were **not yet born** 
and had **done nothing** either good or bad,

... [Rebekah] was told, 
“The **older** will serve the **younger**.”

As it is written, 
“Jacob I **loved**, but Esau I **hated**.”

[Romans 9:11,13 (ESV)](# "ref")

[Jacob and Esau, Phillip Medhurst Bible 131. Kidderminster, England](# "caption")

>>>
+ subseq **nations**: Israel vs Edom
  + but also as **indiv** (even fetuses!)
+ "hated": just "love **less**", skip over?
  + **opposition**, enemy, reject
+ **fair**? (theodicy, pt2) **justice**
  + assume bc indiv **choice** / action:
  + **blessed** ⇒ must've **done** sth? 
+ **why** God mentioned this? **v12**:

---

in order that God's **purpose of election** 
might continue, not because of **works** 
but because of him who **calls**

[Romans 9:12 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ work of **salvation** is done by **God**
+ "election": **call** out
  + God's **choice**, autonomy
+ God doesn't **have** to save **anyone**!
+ Eph uses term "predestination":

---

He **chose** us in him 
before the **foundation** of the world, that 
we should be **holy** and **blameless** before him.

In love he **predestined** us for **adoption** 
to himself as sons through Jesus Christ

[Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "predestined" (προορίσας): **horizon**
  + set boundary, demarcate
+ for **adoption**: emph **grace**
  + not: predestined to **choose** Him
+ so if I'm already **chosen**,
  + do **whatever** I want, since
  + his calling is **irrevocable**?

---

**Cast away** from you all the **transgressions** 
that you have committed, 
and make yourselves a **new heart** 
and a **new spirit**!

**Why** will you die, O house of Israel? 
For I have **no pleasure** in the death of anyone, 
declares the Lord God; so **turn**, and **live**.

[Ezekiel 18:31-32 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ God **desires** that all may be saved
+ but we must **turn**: habits, **lifestyle**
  + **away** from sin + selfishness
  + **toward** God
+ **contradicts** predestination?

---

### Q: God **desires** all to be saved, but **not** all will be. **Why**?

+ **Calvinism** (John Calvin, ~1550s)
  + (Reformed, most Baptist: e.g., [John Piper](http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-we-believe-about-the-five-points-of-calvinism))
  + *Limited* **Atonement**: only for the elect
  + *Irresistable* **Grace**: sovereignty of God
+ **Arminianism** (Jacobus Arminius, ~1590s)
  + (Methodist, some Menno: e.g., [Keith Drury](http://www.crivoice.org/arminianism.html))
  + *Resistable* **Grace** ("synergistic")
  + *Unlim* **Atonement**: eff. to all who believe

>>>
+ debate ultimately mostly **semantic**

---
## The Bible is clear on:
+ God is sovereign in His **authority**:
  + "God's purpose of *election* ..." [(Rom 9:12)](# "ref")
+ God's **character** desires to show grace:
  + "No *pleasure* in death of any ..." [(Ez18:32)](# "ref")
+ Man must **respond**: repent + follow
  + "*Turn* and live!" [(Ez18:32, Rom 10:9-10)](# "ref")
  + ⇒ *urgency* of evangelism [(Rom 10:13-15)](# "ref")

>>>
+ so do need to share **gospel**

---

# **Why** has God shown **mercy** to me?

>>>
+ God loves me, **blessed** me:
  + I must have **done** sth right?
  + Nope!
+ before Jacob/Esau **did** anything

---

## Vessels of Mercy [(Rom9)](# "ref")
1. God's Election: Jacob / Esau [(v11-13)](# "ref")
1. **God's Justice**: *Pharaoh* [(v14-18)](# "ref")
1. God's Mercy: Clay Pot [(v19-24)](# "ref")

>>>
+ so God **predestined** us
+ chose to **love** one and **hate** another
  + even before **birth**
  + does God look at **babies**: Y/N/Y/N?
+ ⇒ that doesn't sound **fair**?
  + that's what v14 asks:

---

What shall we say then? 
Is there **injustice** on God's part?

[Romans 9:14 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **theodicy**: is God just?
+ why doesn't God just save **everyone**?
+ why allow **sin** / evil / suffering in the first place?

---

## Theodicy (Is God Just?)
+ Q [(Mackie)](# "ref"):
 If God is *omniscient*, *omnipotent*, and *omni-benevolent*,
 why is there **evil**?
+ **Man's disobedience** [(e.g., Augustine)](# "ref")
 + [(Plantinga)](# "ref"): free will defense
 + Omnipotent, need not make *contradictions*
 + Full *autonomy* ⇒⇐ God's *sovereignty*
+ **World is a school** [(e.g., Irenaeus, Origien)](# "ref")
 + Suffering necessary for human *growth*
 + [(Swinburne)](# "ref"): free will ⇒ *learn* from mistakes
 but see, e.g.,
 The Brothers Karamazov [(Dostoyevsky)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Problem of Evil (Mackie, 1955)
+ **omnipotent**: doesn't mean He creates logical **contradictions**
  + stone too **heavy** for God to lift
+ **Irenaeus**: "there's always a **purpose**"
  + e.g., lost **keys** ⇒ found $100
  + what about **cancer**? Holocaust? Malicious cruelty?
+ Ivan Karamazov: free will a **curse**, so hates God
  + Alyosha: **Christ** took curse for us
+ evil not a **tool** for good
  + Christ **died**: pay penalty
  + **conquered** sin + death
+ is it **unfair** that God saves one and not another?

---

Certainly not! For He says to Moses,

“I will have **mercy** on whomever I will have mercy,
and I will have **compassion**
on whomever I will have compassion.”

So then it is not of him who **wills**,
nor of him who **runs**,
but of God who shows **mercy**.

[Romans 9:15-16 (NKJV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ we assume **most** people are good
  + and **deserve** to be saved
+ or maybe even **50/50**
+ but because of God's perfect **holiness**
  + and our utter **depravity**,
  + lust for **autonomy** from Him
+ ⇒ God's **justice** would be hell
  + that we **live** + breathe is His mercy
+ What He said to wicked **Pharaoh**:

---

For by now I could have stretched out my hand 
and [...] **wiped** you off the earth.

But I have raised you up for this very **purpose**, 
that I might show you my **power** and that 
my **name** might be proclaimed in all the earth.

You still **set yourself** against my people 
and will not let them go.

[Exodus 9:15-17 (NIV)](# "ref")
[© 2005 @Hamish2k, CC-BY-SA 3.0](# "caption")

>>>
+ why **10** plagues in Egypt? 1 enough?
  + just make Egyptians **friendly**?
  + or **eliminate** them altogether?
+ **God** allowed Pharaoh to rise to **power**
  + allowed him to **live**
  + **justice**: wipe off face of earth
+ note: Pharaoh **chose** to oppose God

---

# Why does God allow **evil** to flourish?

>>>
+ Why **harden** Pharaoh's heart?
+ Further reading: Hab, Job

---

## Vessels of Mercy [(Rom9)](# "ref")
1. God's Election: Jacob / Esau [(v11-13)](# "ref")
1. God's Justice: Pharaoh [(v14-18)](# "ref")
1. **God's Mercy**: *Clay Pot* [(v19-24)](# "ref")

>>>
+ predestination: God **chose** us
  + not bc anything we've **done**
+ theodicy: **evil** exists bc **man's** sin
  + God's **just** wrath is
  + held back by His **mercy**
+ autonomy: **free**, make own choices?
  + what is **free will**? ⇒ v19:

---

You will say to me then, 
“Why does he still find **fault**? 
For who can **resist** his will?”

[Romans 9:19 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ not the one who **wills** or **runs**
  + but God who shows **mercy**
+ so I have no **say**?
+ **autonomy** to direct own life?

---
## Self-*Actualisation* vs. Self-*Governance*

![Maslow's Hierarchy](static/img/MaslowsHierarchyOfNeeds.svg)

>>>
+ Maslow intended **self-actualisation**:
  + realising one's fullest **potential**
  + could be **externally** defined
+ Kant: autonomy as voluntary **submission** to objective moral law
+ but often **misinterpreted** as:
  + achieving my **dreams**, goals
  + **self**-defined (couch potato)
+ **auto-nomos**: self-law

---

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?”

[Romans 9:20 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **no** autonomy to govern self
  + **Creator** defines potential to be actualized
+ in fact, because of **sin**,
  + **impossible** to be truly free:

---

For when you were **slaves** of **sin**, 
you were **free** in regard to **righteousness**.

What **fruit** did you have then 
in the things of which you are now **ashamed**? 
For the end of those things is **death**.

[Romans 6:20-21 (NKJV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ not "free will" as choosing to lift a **pen**
+ "freedom" of choice of **rules**
  + which **religion** appeals to me
+ **autonomy** apart from God: free from
  + caring about His **righteousness**
+ ⇒ this is actually **slavery**!
+ not natur. **moral** / ethical / altruistic
  + but **selfish** / hedonistic / rebel
  + ⇒ result is self-**destructive**
+ this is **default** state of mankind:

---

[God] has endured with much **patience** 
**vessels of wrath** prepared for destruction,

[Romans 9:22 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ just as with **Pharaoh**
+ God could stretch His **hand**
  + **wipe** off the face of the earth
+ **ultimate** destination is still **perdition**
+ but God **withholds** for a time: why?

---

in order to make known 
the **riches** of his glory

for **vessels of mercy**, 
which he has **prepared** beforehand for glory

[Romans 9:23 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ to highlight that we are saved
  + not by our own **efforts**
  + not bc we are more **worthy**
  + only by His **mercy**
+ "vessel": bowl: **utility**, body, purpose
+ what is our **purpose**?
+ not: realize own **goals**
  + achievement, happiness
  + legacy, change world
+ but: demonstrate how **merciful** God is
  + **hero** of our story is God

---

# Can I choose my own **purpose** and **destiny**?

>>>
+ Am I OK with that?
+ vessels of **mercy**
+ destiny: **chosen** by God before beginning of world
+ purpose: show how **merciful** God is

---

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,

[Romans 9:22 (ESV)](# "ref")

---

in order to make known 
the **riches** of his glory

for **vessels of mercy**, 
which he has **prepared** beforehand for glory --

even **us** whom he has **called**?

[Romans 9:23-24 (ESV)](# "ref")

---