Hi all,
I would like to politely seek your view on this. This chapter has troubled me many times over. I was originally from view (2) below, but after re-reading Romans 9 many times and even noting the response that Paul gives to the anticipated reactions ("What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!), I am gravitating towards view (1) based on what I understand from the chapter. However, this conflicts with my understanding of a loving God who wants everyone to be saved.
What is your view?
1. God has already chosen to save some and not to save others even before creation, when He created them. Those who are chosen are the elect. The vessels of dishonour are created for God to show His wrath on them.
OR
2. Everyone who believes in Christ will be saved - hence the decision lies on the person and not God. And since God already knew who would believe Him and who would reject Him ahead of time, so He presestined those whom He knew who would believe Him to be the elect.
I would like to politely seek your view on this. This chapter has troubled me many times over. I was originally from view (2) below, but after re-reading Romans 9 many times and even noting the response that Paul gives to the anticipated reactions ("What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!), I am gravitating towards view (1) based on what I understand from the chapter. However, this conflicts with my understanding of a loving God who wants everyone to be saved.
What is your view?
1. God has already chosen to save some and not to save others even before creation, when He created them. Those who are chosen are the elect. The vessels of dishonour are created for God to show His wrath on them.
OR
2. Everyone who believes in Christ will be saved - hence the decision lies on the person and not God. And since God already knew who would believe Him and who would reject Him ahead of time, so He presestined those whom He knew who would believe Him to be the elect.