Q and A

“Does Romans 9:20-24 teach that God has created everyone either saved or lost? I mean are we either lost (a vessel of wrath) or saved (a vessel of mercy) because God made us that way? In other words, are we what we are with no way of changing?”

Great question! Romans 9:20-24 says, “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—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?”

It is very easy to see how someone can arrive at the conclusion expressed in the question by reading Paul’s words in these few verses. However, no passage should be forced to stand alone and this one is no exception. In fact, these verses should not be considered without first reading Jeremiah 18:1-12, the passage Paul clearly borrows from for his illustration in Romans 9:20-23. If you’re able, take a moment to read Jeremiah 18:1-12 before continuing.

Jeremiah shows us that the nations are just like clay in God’s hands. If God declares that a nation needs to be destroyed, and that nation turns from its evil and humbly repents of its wickedness, then God will relent from the disaster He had intended for it. If there is a nation that God intends to build and plant, and that nation chooses to turn from God’s way and does evil, then God will relent of the good He had intended to do it. God operates the same way with individuals as with nations.

With Jeremiah 18:1-12 firmly in mind we come back to Paul’s “vessels of wrath” and “mercy” in Romans 9. With the knowledge that men have the ability to choose the path of good or evil we see that “vessels of wrath” are self-fitted. Those who spurn the gospel of grace and experience the wrath of God as a result will simply be reaping that which they chose to sow. On the other hand, those who choose God’s righteousness will be God-fitted for salvation. I say “God-fitted” because they have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God just like the first group (Romans 3:23).  However, they are not content to walk the path of darkness. They possess an active faith in God which relies not on their own merit (for they have none) but upon God’s mercy and grace. In this way they are the God-fitted recipients of the riches of His glory. Indeed, salvation by grace through faith is the overarching theme of Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Must a current “vessel of wrath” remain one? Must he resign himself to a future of everlasting punishment? No! Praise God that a “vessel of wrath” may become a “vessel of mercy” (Romans 2:4; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 2 Peter 3:7-9)! At the same time, current “vessels of mercy” must understand that a certain lifestyle is expected of them (Romans 6; Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:1-3; Philippians 2:12-13, etc). Refusal to live this life makes a “vessel of mercy” a “vessel of wrath.”