Romans 9:19-20: You Will Say To Me Then, "Why Does He Still Find Fault? For Who Can Resist His Will?"

Romans 9:19–20
[19] You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” [20] 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?” (ESV)

This passage of Scripture is one of the most difficult for us to grasp. The context for this verse is the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. Paul knows that his readers will have a logical question to the fact that God divinely chooses who he will have mercy on and who he will not have mercy on. If we were not given mercy by God how can he hold us accountable for our sin?

First of all, this is a very valid question. It is one that has caused people much consternation. One of the biggest challenges for us is that many of us have an inadequate view of God. We do not view him as completely sovereign. We insist on things being determined by us. We attempt to direct things and then expect God to fall into line with our will. God does not work that way.

Paul's response is perfect: "Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?" This answer is not only appropriate for this question, it is perfect for every attempt of man to question God. Regardless of what God does he is perfect in what he does because he is God. We must have a view of God that accepts his sovereignty in all things.

Paul gives us a good illustration. God is the potter. We are the clay. God has the right to do as he pleases with what he has created. Part of being clay is that we do not get to say how we are going to turn out. We are at the mercy of the potter's hand. The good news is that the potter is good, and just, and loving, and merciful.

Our God is sovereign. He is also good. Instead of spending our time questioning him, we should repent of our sins, place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, and walk in obedience to His perfect will.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

James 2:18: I Will Show You My Faith By My Works

James 2:18 [18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV) There are certain things in life that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Double stuff Oreo cookies and milk. Faith and works. James raises the point that someone might argue that faith and works can be separated. "One will say, "You have faith and I have works." Is it ok for works to be separated from faith? James is making the argument that faith and works are not to be separated. James is saying to the one who has faith only, with no works, that he wants them to see his faith by his works. In other words, if you are going to claim to have faith, but have no works, you have no evidence of faith. If I am to believe that a person has genuine faith I can only see that by their works. Faith brings action. There are so many people to claim to have some kind of faith, yet when it comes down to it, their

Every Day Devotion

Search This Blog