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.”   

Think On These Things

When happiness is spiritual failure

            It is becoming more common these days for Christians living in sin to say things like, “I only have one life to live and I’m going to live it to the fullest. I believe that God really only wants me to be happy.” Such thoughts demand consideration.

            First, let’s think about that “one life to live.” Hebrews 9:27 says, “…It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” I fear those who express the opening sentiments ignore the second part of verse 27. If judgment is just as certain as life (and is based upon the manner of our life, Romans 14:10-12) than wisdom dictates that our life be lived in a certain way. James 2:10-12 shows us that the proper way to live is God’s way. His way has been graciously revealed to us in the Scriptures, “the law of liberty.”

            Now let’s think about the statement, “I’m going to live it to the fullest.”  Whose “fullest” is under consideration? Whose standard is being used to decide when the “fullest” has been reached?  In 1 John 3:4 we read, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” The definition of sin is transgressing the law. God has graciously given us His law in the Scriptures, the perfect law of liberty. To do that which God’s law says not to do is to sin. To keep on doing it is to live in sin. That’s a problem. In the first chapter of Hebrews the writer endeavors to display the supremacy of Jesus Christ over angels. In verses 8 and 9 he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Our Lord hates wickedness, which is precisely what breaking His law is. Such a one may choose to live a wicked life but let him never imagine that it is being lived to the “fullest.”

            Now to the statement, “I believe that God only really wants me to be happy.”  Three thoughts are in order:

-Nowhere in Scripture does God ever say He only wants us to be happy. One may believe this but that belief cannot be the product of saving faith for saving faith comes by hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

-The very last thing God wants is for the person living in open sin to be happy about their decision. His patient forbearance is not a sign of acceptance, but of kindness designed to lead one to repentance (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

-How can one who has died with Christ (Galatians 2:20) find it in themselves to be happy in their decision to commit spiritual adultery (James 4:4) and turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them (2 Peter 2:21)? Such a one has spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29). Happy?  Whatever for!?

Let us all understand that to go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth is a terrible decision rife with terrifying spiritual consequences. To be happy in such a state is total spiritual breakdown and a tragic failure.       

Snapshots of Jesus

“Father, glorify Your name”

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.  Father, glorify your name.”

John 12:27-28a

At this point in John’s gospel Jesus was concluding His public ministry and preparing to offer final instructions to His disciples. The shadow of the cross loomed very near.  Measuring the time before His horrible death in hours rather than days, Jesus could not help but think about the torment that awaited. Knowing full well that God’s eternal purpose and His own incarnation pointed directly to this hour, Jesus nonetheless recognized the tremendous agony He was to begin experiencing very soon. He did not just recognize it, He dreaded it. However, rather than beg His Father to spare Him, He asked only that the Father’s name be glorified.

We serve an extraordinary Lord, do we not? Facing physical agonies far beyond those we are likely ever to experience (not to mention the spiritual agonies of the crucifixion), Jesus’ primary concern was that His Father be glorified. As the crucifixion events began in earnest our Lord faced them with a dignity, grace, and trust that boggles the mind. He did not decry the unfairness of it all, He did not lash out at His persecutors, and He did not sink into the despondency of broken trust.  Later, when He requested that terrible cup pass from Him, He was clear that His greatest desire was the fulfillment of His Father’s will (Matthew 26:39-44).  When it was clear that the Father willed He drink from that cup, our Lord emptied it dregs and all. Indeed, extraordinary does not begin to do Him justice.

Yet is it not here, when difficulties appear on the horizon, or when they fling themselves down right in our lap, that we often break with the Lord’s example? Do we not often plead with our Father that trials and difficulties never darken our doorway? When they strike do we not plead that they be removed as quickly as possible? What if it is God’s will that we drink every last drop of that cup, displaying the stalwart Christian character of unshrinking trust and faith throughout? What if our Father wills not that the trial vanish but that we endure it, regardless of how long it lasts, all the while magnifying Jesus Christ to those observing us in the very agony itself? We would do well to remember that tested faith is the only proven faith (James 1:2-4). Joy is found not in the trial itself, but in the opportunity to persevere and grow afforded by the trial. It is always God’s will that grow!

Our Lord shows us that our prayers ought not to be filled with petitions that trouble never come upon us. We may as well pray that our faith never be tried, tested, or proven! Neither should our prayers be offered in a spirit of fatalistic resignation that says, “God’s will is going to be done, I am going to experience difficulties in this life, and there is nothing I can do to prevent it though I certainly wish I could.” Jesus shows us that His spirit is displayed in the heart that delights in the fulfillment of the Father’s will. Though God may not cause a hardship to come our way, we know that when it does He wills we face it with the same trusting faith of our Lord.

When hardship comes we can do no better than join voice with Jesus Himself. “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done…Father, glorify your name.” (Matthew 26:42; John 12:28a)