Has the Potter No Right?
Notes
Transcript
We have now come to the end of our series on Life’s Most Important Questions. This is the third week in which we have used Romans 9:19-23 as our Scripture text. Today we will deal with the thorny question of election and predestination. This doctrine has caused no lack of debate and division in the church. This makes me sad because this doctrine should be a great source of comfort and joy for God’s people. This is self-evident from the text itself because Paul teaches us that God’s election will be the revelation of God’s glory. To behold God’s glory is the most thrilling and joy-producing event imaginable. With this in mind, let us hear once again God’s Word to us this morning.
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 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? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
This morning’s question is found in verse 21, “Has the potter on right over the clay?” It is a question of sovereignty, does the Creator not have the right to make His creation according to His plan. To answer this question and we would do well to review what we have learned so far.
Review of What We Have Learned So Far
Review of What We Have Learned So Far
Three weeks ago, we looked at the question found in verse 20, “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” Paul uses this question to remind us we who are and who God is. We are but creatures, finite and weak. Moreover, all humanity has fallen into sin and whatever excellence and strength Adam and Eve originally possessed, have now been lost. In comparison, God in infinite, all-powerful and perfect in all His ways. This morning we will not limit God by our presuppositions and weakness, nor will talk back to God, but rather we will let Scripture stand on its two feet.
Then, we looked at the other question found in verse 20, “Why have you made me like this?” In answering that question, we learned that the goal of all creation, but especially the creation of humanity, has as its ultimate goal the demonstration of God’s glory. This ultimate goal is found in verse 23, where we read these words, “in order to make known the riches of his glory.” This means that God’s sovereign plan for ourselves and everyone else is the most perfect, glorious plan possible.
These two truths are key to a proper understanding of predestination and election, because if these two things are true, both the vessels of wrath and the vessels of mercy must be fit vessels. By “fit vessels,” I mean...
Vessels Fitting for Displaying God’s Glory
Vessels Fitting for Displaying God’s Glory
A potter can make many vessels. He or she can make a pot, a cup or a plate. A pot is not fit is it is too small to cook a meal, a cup is not fit if it leaks and a plate is not fit if it is too fragile. Do you remember the accusation some were making against God in the Isaiah’s time? They were accusing God of being like a potter who made pots without handles! We see an example of such an accusation in verse 19:
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
Let us consider what makes a person to be a fit vessel of God’s wrath.
First, that person must have real fault. If someone who is a vessel of God’s wrath does not have real fault, it would not be glorious for God to judge him or her. In fact, it would be the very opposite!
Moreover, that person must have real moral responsibility and freedom. If God coerced a person against their will that would not be glorious.
Finally, for God’s wrath against a person to gloriously just, not simply just, that person must have been the object of God’s love and mercy. God must have reached out to them and called them to repentance and faith. This is in fact, exactly what God has done according to verse 22; there we read that God “has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.” This is a reference to God’s longsuffering mercy we read so often about in the Old Testament.
There are two things according to verse 22 that will cause us to marvel with joyous wonderment at God’s glory, the...
Showing God’s Wrath and Making Known His Power
Showing God’s Wrath and Making Known His Power
God loves His enemies, which is why He commands us to love them as well. Hear these words of Jesus, and do not water them down:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
In fact, God so loved His enemies that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16), in order to provide an atonement sufficient to cover the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), in order that that He can rightly be call “the Savior of all people, especially those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). He calls out to sinners and desires their repentance, not wishing any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). The only thing standing between the vessels of wrath and their salvation is their cold, hard, unbelieving hearts!
It is God’s love and longsuffering mercy towards sinners, which will make God’s wrath so glorious on the Day of Judgement. The Judge sitting upon the thrown on the Day of Judgement is not simple a fair judge, He is loving, longsuffering judge! When the saints see His wrath against sinners on Judgement Day, it will be gloriously just and we will rejoice!
That joy however, will not compare to the joy that the saints will have as they behold the glories of God’s mercy towards them. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prayed that the “eyes of their hearts would be enlightened, in order that they might know the immeasurable greatness of God’s power towards them.” (Eph 1:16-19)
Earlier in chapter nine, Paul speaks of God’s power in reference to Pharaoh:
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
How was God’s power displayed in Pharaoh? God’s power was displayed in the salvation of Israel through the miracles of the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. If you are a Born Again Christian, a greater miracle occurred when you were born again! On Judgement Day, we will finally see just how great a miracle our salvation really was and we will say “glory”!
Three weeks ago, I said God has answers to all of our questions if we are willing to listen and accept them. People often ask, “Why does God chose some for salvation and not others?” The answer to that question is found in 1 Corinthians 1.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
God chose you because you are a vessel especially fitting to display the power of His saving mercy! This is not very flattering, but it is the truth. God according to Paul, designed salvation in such a way as to exclude all human boasting. If election was based on foreseen faith, that would be something to boast about. Rather than foreseeing faith, in election, God takes those who are “dead in their trespasses and sins” and “makes them alive” (Ephesians 2:1-5).
Earlier I quoted from 1 Timothy 4:10; which says God “is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” For the elect, Christ did not simply provide the opportunity for salvation, He secured it by purchasing with His blood our regeneration in order that we would believe the Gospel when we heard it. Jesus has provided it all; this is what is so glorious about the Gospel!
This is truly Good News for those who are worried about their sin and salvation. The doctrine of election is Good News to the poor, the outcast, and the wretched! If this is you, then you are just the sort of person God elects to salvation! However, the doctrine of election is bad news to the self-righteous and prideful; you are just the type of person whom God predestines for destruction. “God,” James writes, “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore, James urges his readers, “Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:6-9)
People often worry about whether or not they are “elect”. Such people worry about the wrong thing, they should be asking, “Am I humble? Do I see myself as a poor, wretched sinner with no hope of salvation but faith in Jesus Christ.” If you do, then great! “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28) He also said, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (Jn 6:37)
The doctrine of election does not close the door the free offer of salvation it throws it wide open! Will you not come to Christ for salvation?
Let us pray.