By **long post warning
One of the most theologically controversial passages in Scripture is Romans 9. This is not for lack of clarity in the chapter, for the flow of thought is rather straight-forward. Rather the controversy of the chapter relates to our struggle with some of the revelations God gives in Romans 9.
However, it is not the theological content of Romans 9 that this post is about. Instead, this post is to show you how graciously God guides us through things which He understands perfectly, but which we really struggle with.
God knows all that is true about Himself, about salvation, and about mankind. But in a chapter of His Word where He reveals the relationships between all those truths, He takes extra care to help us keep a clear mind through it all.
Most of Biblical doctrine is revealed to us in the great accounts of God’s dealings with different people. But sometimes God uses direct instruction to teach us sound doctrine. Romans 9 is one of those instruction passages that even gives us some revelation about God’s own hand in it all. But look at how graciously God accommodates our struggles in understanding it all.
Romans 9:1-5 echoes Paul’s heart for the salvation of a people group whom he knows will not all be saved. Those people had all the spiritual privileges of receiving God’s revelation and grace, but not all of them would get saved. Immediately you might wonder, “But isn’t God’s Word sufficient? Why didn’t it work for them?” In the very next verse, God answers our confusion.
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. …
Romans 9:6
We breath a sigh of relief that God’s Word was not at fault, but then still wonder how those with God’s Word still don’t get saved. In Romans 9:6-13 God informs us that the answer to that question lies in God’s purposes.
Although that certainly answers the question, we now have a new struggle. Isn’t it a little unfair of God and His purposes that some who have His Word still don’t get saved? God takes our question, asks it rhetorically for our sake, and then, because our confusion might not get the obvious answer, states it for us plainly.
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!
Romans 9:14
So far God has given us the following pieces of the puzzle:
- Many who have God’s Word don’t get saved, but it is not that God’s Word has failed.
- God has a particular purpose for each, and there is no injustice in it.
As non-contradictory as those pieces of the puzzle are, we still don’t understand it all, and so God explains to us that the answer lies in understanding His mercy (Rom 9:15-16), God’s power, and God’s witness to all (Rom 9:17). God even gives us the overarching summary of how His will relates to people’s salvation (Rom 9:18).
But again, even though there is no contradiction in God’s explanations, we still have nagging questions. After hearing “he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills” (Rom 9:18) we think back to one of our first questions about the fairness of it all. Again, God puts some words to our confusion.
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
Romans 9:19
“Yes, that is exactly our question!” This time God doesn’t answer us with something else we might perhaps not understand, but answers us with something that makes perfect sense.
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?
Romans 9:20-21
There are spiritual realities about God, ourselves, and especially salvation, that we find hard to piece together. The topic of Romans 9 is certainly among those spiritual realities that we find hard to piece together—and this post is not dealing with the topic at all. But what we do realise as we work through God’s Word on such realities, is that all the pieces of the puzzle are equally true. We are not, like other religions, left to emphasise one truth over another, or place one text in subjection to another. All the individual truths revealed are true in and of themselves, and do not contradict any other individual truths revealed by God. Many pieces are not revealed and cause us much confusion at times, but at least we know those pieces are not missing. They are all contained in a box called “God’s mercy, God’s purpose, God’s right”.
In what must be the most incomprehensible paradox of salvation—the coexistence of mercy and justice—God has taken the time to reveal enough to us so we know God is not merciless, unjust, or unable. And at the same time God has revealed it in such a way that we realise He knows our struggles and acknowledges the issues our minds jump to when we don’t understand it all. So when you read God’s Word, and do not understand something, keep reading, for God’s Word is given with full knowledge of our questions, and all the answers we need have been revealed so our faith will not be proven untrue or self-contradictory.
No wonder the Apostle Paul could record all these words of God that were echoes of his own heart too, and conclude with the following words of worship.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36