In looking at this part of Romans 9:14-33, it seems to me that the emphasis is on the sovereignty and mercy of God. Paul uses the example of Pharaoh and how it says in Exodus that he hardened his heart. God allows Pharaoh's heart to be hardened because he is going to use Pharaoh as a way of bringing honor to His name. It seems that there is a emphasis all throughout scripture that God is concerned that His own name be honored and known. By demonstrating these miracles and judgments in Egypt, God makes his name known throughout the world. The book of Exodus uses this phrase of hardening 15 times through Exodus 7-14.
Paul points out that God's mercy is demonstrated not because of the good that someone has done, but because of God's own decision to have mercy. We should keep in mind that all of us deserve judgment. Just as it said earlier in Romans 3:10-12 that there is no one who is good or righteous. Therefore, the fact that God has mercy on someone shows that he is more than fair.
Paul uses the example of a potter, who uses one lump of clay for honorable use and another for common use. God is the one who owns the clay and can decide what to do with each. He chooses to include in those who he will have mercy the Gentiles. A person who were not seeking Him found him and those who were seeking Him did not because they did it without faith.
The reason that the Israelites failed is that they thought they could obtain a righteousness through the law. While it was through the law that we become conscious of sin Romans 7:7. Paul gives the example in Romans 7:4-6 of a spouse being joined to her husband. That the marriage vows are in effect as long as the person is alive by saying
"Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God." Romans 7:4
So, now we are viewed as being dead to sin, but alive to God by faith. This is our spiritual stance before God. We can have assurance in it because it is not because of something that we have done. I didn't earn His forgiveness, so I cannot lose it by what I do or have done. Jesus is described in verse 33 of Romans 9 as the stumbling stone that the builders rejected, but which became the cornerstone. Natural man cannot understand the things of God and even the spiritual man will struggle with understanding some things.
Paul points out that God's mercy is demonstrated not because of the good that someone has done, but because of God's own decision to have mercy. We should keep in mind that all of us deserve judgment. Just as it said earlier in Romans 3:10-12 that there is no one who is good or righteous. Therefore, the fact that God has mercy on someone shows that he is more than fair.
Paul uses the example of a potter, who uses one lump of clay for honorable use and another for common use. God is the one who owns the clay and can decide what to do with each. He chooses to include in those who he will have mercy the Gentiles. A person who were not seeking Him found him and those who were seeking Him did not because they did it without faith.
The reason that the Israelites failed is that they thought they could obtain a righteousness through the law. While it was through the law that we become conscious of sin Romans 7:7. Paul gives the example in Romans 7:4-6 of a spouse being joined to her husband. That the marriage vows are in effect as long as the person is alive by saying
"Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God." Romans 7:4
So, now we are viewed as being dead to sin, but alive to God by faith. This is our spiritual stance before God. We can have assurance in it because it is not because of something that we have done. I didn't earn His forgiveness, so I cannot lose it by what I do or have done. Jesus is described in verse 33 of Romans 9 as the stumbling stone that the builders rejected, but which became the cornerstone. Natural man cannot understand the things of God and even the spiritual man will struggle with understanding some things.
