God's Sovereign Choice
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Rom 9:19
Thou wilt say... Questions 55-60. Next, Rom. 9:30. Here the Jews argue again, as they did in Rom. 3:7. Paul answers by questions (Rom. 9:20-24). Who are you to reply against God? Who are you to blame God for your sinfulness? Cannot God deal with you as is necessary (Jer. 18:1-17)? If God still wants to save people who will obey Him, Jews or Gentiles, is that not His right? If He has to damn those who harden themselves may He not do so without our criticism?
who
has resisted... Does all this lead to fatalism? Paul does not answer
this question directly, for it is absurd and raised by one who is
ignorant of the righteous character of the infinite God and the
finite character of man. Paul rather deals with the heart attitude
that would produce such a question and reminds man of his limited
understanding of the unlimited and sovereign God.
The Choice Explained
Once again Paul anticipated the questioning response of his readers: Then why does God still blame us? (The Gr. word trans. “then” probably goes with the preceding statement rather than this question, though this also makes good sense.) For who resists (perf. tense, “has taken and continues to take a stand against”) His will? (boulēmati, “deliberate purpose”) These questions are still raised by those who reject the biblical doctrine of God’s sovereignty. If God makes the choices, how can He hold man responsible? Who can go against what He does?
0 comments:
Post a Comment