Today’s passage: Romans 9:19-29
Helpful thoughts:
- In case we might think yesterday’s passage didn’t mean what it looks like it meant, today’s passage confirms it.
- It’s not up to people to like or dislike God’s plan. He is our holy maker, righteous and just. He is also merciful, gracious and loving.
- If God is righteous and everything He does is right, then who are we to object? It is not a good place to be in to read Romans 9 and say “No” to God.
- If God had not shown patience in executing His wrath against sin, no one would be able to receive mercy.
- Remember, no one is righteous and no one seeks after God of their own volition (Romans 3:11). All people are bent to choose against God…under the curse of sin and of their own will. This means no one will go to hell having wished they could have followed Christ but just couldn’t. And all those who do desire to follow Christ are people whom God has given mercy.
- This plan of patience toward wrath in order to show mercy to others is also true of the nation of Israel. Israel’s unbelief was used to present the Gospel to the Gentiles.
- A specific example of this would be the account of Acts 18:5-6. The people heard and willfully rejected the truth, then Paul went to the Gentiles.
Questions to consider:
- This is a hard series of questions, but good to think about. How does the eternality and sovereignty of God coincide with the finiteness and will of people? Do we think the way God does? Do we see time and events that way God does? Can we reconcile these differences? How “big” is God?
- What all is revealed about God through all that we see and experience? What attributes wouldn’t we see if things weren’t the way they are? What would be true of our worship if we did not know all that there is to know about God?
- Are there people who you have shared the Gospel with who have rejected Christ? Who else could you go tell next?