Ponder this , anything that goes against the nature of GOD. HE cannot do.
HE desires none to perish. So everyone gets a chance. Most just reject.
God does harden a heart, but only after that heart has rejected Him.
We were all once what.............now ponder these next words well
We were all once vessels of wrath, children of wrath as paul says in galations or ephesians.
YET LOOK how long suffereing God was towards us children of wrath.
He gave grace. And we became good vessels no longer under wrath.
All vessels good or bad were created the same. , we were all once appointed unto wrath.
EVERYONE WAS. EVERYONE
But as paul says God shows his longsuffering towards us, And grace entered our heart.
I know so many mess up what pual is saying in romans. The key is
if our understanding contradicts JESUS or HIS sayings, we simply have misunderstood.
We who have come by faith , by grace , were first created as vessels of destruction
and appointed unto wrath. As all are. JESUS said he wont return till all nations
have heard the gospel. UNDERSTAND this means EVERYONE did have the chance
to be saved. EVERYONE , every single man or woman .
But when grace is rejected , that is on the one who rejected it.
EVERYONE had a chance. ALL were once vessels of wrath , ALL.
And no, the pot cannot say , why did you make us as this..........instead
be greatful you were called out of darkness. We were all made with free will.
we were all made in carnal flesh. We were all once vessels , children of wrath.
IS this sinking in yet. God desires the GLORY
and our repentance gives him the glory. All is by grace
faith in Christ . But if one rejects or continues not in the goodness of GOD, CHRIST
their remains no more sacrifice for sins.
Everyone go look in the mirror and say , THE ONLY GOODNESS I have is from GOD
I was once the same vessel of wrath as our these who do not know HIM
BUt he was long suffering , not willing for me to perish
just as he is long suffering , not willing for any to.
However many will.......and check this out...by their OWN FREE WILL CHOICE.
FOr all who hate ME loves death .
And the only condemnation a man has , is that he wont come out of darkness
even when he was unctioned too, or if he comes , he wont continue
because some lust or threat will have him flee away.
ALL have a body that is contrary to the SPIRIT
and all have the chance to come unto HIM by his own grace.
MOST REJECT for they love darkness rather than light .
I agree frienden thalord..........looking at these scriptures afresh, I am seeing afresh here that the Lord rules and "elects" by His foreknowledge.......we have to look at it in light of His foreknowledge and not one word of His contradicts the other, and nor can He act unfairly or unrighteously, as you said He cannot deny His own nature:
2 Timothy 2:20-21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Romans 9:11-23
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
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:
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,