Objects of Wrath? - PART 1

Someone once wrote to me seeking help to understand a disturbing passage in the Bible – Romans 9. Paul writes,“God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden” (Romans 9:18, emphasis added).

God’s sovereignty exercised in saving people can be readily accepted by most, but the idea of God using His sovereign power to condemn others to destruction is unpalatable to many. Paul anticipates strong objections and continues with: “One of you will say to me: ‘Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?’” (v. 19).

If God divides humanity into those who will be saved and those who will be condemned, doesn’t this pose problems in terms of justice and the character of God?

Most people appreciate that God will save humankind through His sovereign grace. But there is a problem with this. If God can sovereignly save people, why would He sovereignly condemn others? And what basis would He have for condemning those unfortunate people? If He determines the final outcomes, why blame those who will be condemned, for they had no choice?

Paul understood these arguments and offers an answer which does not directly answer the question at hand. “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?” (v. 20). God as the divine Potter has every right to do what He wishes with the pieces of pottery He produces. To drive home his point, Paul then refers to people who are “objects of his [God’s] mercy” and the rest who are “objects of his wrath” (v. 22-24).

Many people find this idea of God predetermining some to be objects of His wrath disturbing and difficult to accept, and rightly so. This idea has been developed further in certain theological circles as ‘double predestination’. How should we interpret a passage like this?

Firstly, we must pay attention to the context of passages. It is important to identify Paul’s key argument. In chapters 9-11, Paul explores the mysteries of God’s salvation, which includes both Jews and Gentiles, and appeals to his unbelieving fellow-Jews to receive that salvation found in Christ. The Jews had false confidence that they were the chosen people of God. All others were ‘fuel’ for hell.

Paul challenges this belief and argues that God divides differently (according to the presence or absence of faith), and that His salvation includes Gentiles. Who can question God’s choice of Gentiles, or whether God will reject some Jews?

Paul, then, softened his approach and appealed to the Jews assuring them that “God did not reject his people whom he foreknew” (Romans 11:2, emphasis added). Infused with the magnanimity of God, he declared that “all Israel will be saved” (v. 26).

The apostle’s key argument is that God was exercising His sovereign grace to save both Jews and Gentiles. Jews were not to question God’s choices; rather they ought to turn to God’s grace and be recipients of God’s salvation.

Secondly, we must let Scripture explain Scripture when we find things difficult.

Romans 9:5-24 needs to be seen together with passages such as:

• “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, emphasis added)

• “To all who receive Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12, emphasis added).

  
  

These verses emphasise God’s desire to save all, and that salvation comes to those who respond to God’s grace. As a whole, Scripture points to the complex and mysterious interplay of divine sovereignty and human choice.

One such example is the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart (cf. Romans 9:18). While some Exodus passages mention God hardening Pharaoh’s heart, they also emphasise that his heart was hard (Exodus 9:35), became hard due to circumstances (7:22) and that he also hardened his heart (8:15). The texts point to a complex interplay of sinful human nature, sinful choices, circumstances and divine action in a way that we may not fully understand.

Engage with the scripture: Is our salvation entirely dependent on God’s sovereignty and grace? Find Scripture passages that support an affirmative answer. Is our response in faith to the grace of God and the exercise of our free will important for our salvation? Find Scripture passages that say this is so. Reflect: How then would you bring these two biblical perspectives together without contradiction? What is the implication for you personally?

Next week: Thirdly, we must understand predestination correctly. We can find some light in how John Wesley did so.