God's Sovereign Choice Part 6

Pastor Michael Huffman

Salvation is of the Lord • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Romans 9:1–29

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Introduction:

I. Paul’s Passion (vs. 1-5)

II. Paul’s Proclamation (vs. 6-8)

III. God’s Prerogative (9-29)

Romans 9:22 AV

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Last time together we ran out of time as we began to discuss the fact that since all of these things are true, what is the ultimate purpose for the existence for evil people and an evil world.

Now, as we move forward on this and so we get can a complete picture on this, I want to give you some insight to the grammar that is being used in this passage.

When we came to v. 21, Paul had just concluded answering what we will call an imaginary objector about how can it be right that since God Predetermines all these things and nothing can change, how can it be fair that God would hold them responsible for what He has predetermined.

Paul’s answer to the objector is basically, “you do not have the right to question God. Just as the pot does not have the right o ask the potter why did you make me this way. The potter has the right to make of the same lump of clay one vessel for good use and other vessel for common use. That is His right and you do not have the right to question it”.

But then when we get to our text in v. 22 we see that Paul then follows that argument by giving, possibly another objector, an answer to, “well, then God does God even create people that will never be redeemed?”

He begins by answering that question with a “what if God....”

Now, the word “if” in this text is what is called a “First Class Condition” clause, and this type of clause appears 300 times in the NT.

Now, let me explain the first class conditional (by the way there are three different type of conditional clauses in Greek; first , second and third class condition).

The first class conditional clause is an assumption of reality for the sake of argument.

Now, it is not reality, but it is the assumption of that reality.

In other words, I have read grammar works and heard messages preached on the first class condition and the author or the preacher will generally saying something like: “the first class condition tells us ‘since’”, giving it a stand of reality that is not really there.

It is not a condition of reality but an assumed truth for the sake of argument.

In fact, just for some perspective, here are a couple of first class conditions that cannot possible be translated to means “since”.

Matthew 12:27–28 AV

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament 1) Not “Since”

Obviously it is illogical to translate both sentences as since I cast out, because the arguments are opposed to each other. And it would be inconsistent to translate the first participle if and the second since.

Jesus is not saying here that “the reality is that I am casting out demons by the power of Satan....” but the word “if” there is a first class condition and I want you to be aware that when you read of here people speak of a first class condition, that it does not necessarily create an environment of reality.

Now, it could be reality, but that is not the point of the first class condition.

It only gives a statement that seems to be true for the sake of argument.

And Paul’s point in our text in could be stated this way: “Well, let’s just say for the sake of argument that God created evil, non-elect people in order to demonstrate his wrath and power. Just for the sake of argument. I am not saying that is the reason, I am just stating something for the sake of argument. The fact is, though, that even IF that statement were true or not true, God has had much patience with those vessels of wrath who were prepared for destruction”.

God could have judged Pharoah right after his first refusal to obey, but He did not.

He could have judged every sinner after the very first moment of their very first sin, but He did not.

He is patient in the display of His wrath.

Now, that is the second area of grammar that we need to examine.

What did Paul mean when he said that these vessels of wrath were “prepared for destruction?”

The Greek word is “καταρτίζω” and is a perfect, passive participle”.

In the Greek it would be translated like, “having been being prepared”.

The Prefect tense in the Greek tells us, in the majority of instances, of an action that has been completed in the past but has abiding results in the present”.

But this text also says that it is in the passive voice.

And as you know there are three voices in the Greek language; active, middle and passive.

The passive voice is the subject is receiving the action of the verb.

There are only two choices that we have here regarding the nouns; God or the vessels.

Well, God is certainly not receiving the action of being prepared for destruction.

As MacArthur says:

Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Second Anticipated Question Answered

God is not the subject

These vessels are doing the action to themselves, namely by their rejection of the truth they preparing their destruction.

But this was done in the perfect tense, in the past.

This rejection was predetermined.

Men and women go to Hell because they reject the Gospel and thus prepare themselves for destruction, that is their responsibility.

But also keep this in mind, that this verb “prepared” is a Perfect tense verb; an action completed in the past having abiding results into the present.

This rejection was foreordained, that is God’s part.

God is sovereign, man is responsible.

Romans 9:23 AV

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Notice this.

“Prepared in v. 22 was passive, their rejection, by God’s decree, is preparing them for destruction.

But in v. 23 they are the elect are being prepared for glory by God in the Active voice.

God is actively at work in the preparation of His elect people to glory.

But the non-elect are receiving unto themselves the preparation of their rejection of the truth.

So let me sum it up for you.

Two things took place in eternity past: the preparation of the non-elect vessel to wrath and the preparation of the elect vessels to glory.

But there are two different ways that these things take place.

The vessels of wrath receive the action of the preparation (passive voice) by their rejection and this rejection determined beforehand (perfect tense).

The vessel for glory are prepared actively by God (prepared in v. 23 is the active voice with God being the subject).

Man is so depraved and dead in sin that God must actively work to ensure their preparedness for Glory.

But the non-elect God leaves them to themselves and they receive the just penalty for what they have done in rejecting the Gospel (which is what all men do from birth unless changed by the power of the Spirit of God), this preparation is being received by them (passive voice) because of their rejection of the gospel, determined from eternity past (Perfect Tense).