Tuesday, March 21st 2017
key verse: 21
GOD'S ARBITRARY ELECTION
Election occurs before birth, as in the case of Isaac and Jacob. Today, Paul continues to argue for the arbitrary election of God.
1. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy (14-21)
From a human point of view, it seems unfair that our destiny is determined before birth. Yet this is not the case. For God is God, Creator, and he can do with his creation as he likes. He has mercy on whomever he wills and hardens whomever he wills, as was the case with Pharaoh. God is like the potter who makes his clay vessels as he desires, for honorable or dishonorable use. There are two vessels, one destined for honor, the other for dishonor. Gentiles are by nature vessels of wrath. Yet, God has made them vessels of honor, while the Jews are by nature vessels of honor, though they have been made vessels of dishonor.
2. God calls the Gentiles (22-29)
In the beginning, God has mercy on the Jews and the Gentiles. He is powerful, such that he has long endured (1 Peter 3:20) the unbelief of Gentiles. Thus, those who were not a people, God calls his people. While the Jews abandonned God through formalism, God's favor fell on the Gentiles. Thus, the elected Jews are disqualified because they do not accept the divine plan and accumulate the wrath of God like Sodom and Gomorrah once did.
Prayer: Lord, make me accept the sovereignty of your decisions. Thank you for calling me, though I was a vessel of wrath.
Bottom line: your perfect choice
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