Romans Chapter 9 Vs. 23

 

God's Sovereign Choice

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Rom 9:23

vessels of mercy,... These are the Jew and Gentile converts to Christianity (Rom. 9:23-24).

This scripture is speaking of the greatness of His character, seen especially in the grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness He grants sinners in Christ.

“Afore prepared unto glory” is speaking of God’s divine election.

The “vessels of mercy” are those He has chosen for salvation.

Eph. 2:3-5 “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

The other alternative relates to God’s dealings with the objects (lit., “vessels”; cf. Rom. 9:21) of His mercy. God chose them as such in order to make the riches of His glory known and He prepared them in advance for glory (cf. Rom. 8:29-31; Col. 1:27; 3:4). The verb “He prepared in advance” (Rom. 9:23) is proētoimasen, “He made ready beforehand,” which God does by bestowing salvation. (The word “prepared” in Rom. 9:22 is katērtismena, “are made or prepared or ripened.”)