Monthly Archives: May 2025

Romans 9- The Potter

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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? Romans 9:19-21

So as were working through the book of Romans, specifically Chapters 9 through 11, many people have different interpretations or understanding of the text. Many will argue their theological position to remain in the religious tradition they are in. However the bottom line, it doesn’t matter what you think or if you can even comprehend Gods will and plan. God is soverign, rules and reigns over His creation, and regardless whether you can comprehend his glory or holiness, doesn’t matter. In fact, if we are being honest, nobody could possible fully comprehend God, as we are His finite creation.

The old preacher John Wesley once said “Bring me a worm that can comprehend man, and I’ll show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God” Now skeptics will say this is an excuse, this is a copout to say we can’t comprehend God. Is it really? Or are we just being honest with our limitations as His creation? Can you explain to me how God created the Heavens and Earth, stars, moon, planets, humans, animals, ect from nothing? Nobody can explain the awesome power of our God

The Apostle Paul gives us gives us great insight in this text “Does not the potter have power over the clay” (v21) God is the potter and we are the clay, that should be a little humbling, right? Can the clay comprehend the Potter? Probably not, but does that matter? The Potter is in control, the Potter is the Creator and ruler of His Creation. The Potter has the power and authority to do whatever He wishes, regardless of how you feel about it or if it falls into your theological tradition or thinking

As scripture says “The Fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding” (Proverbs 9:10) One of the big issues with the Church today, is we lost our Fear, our Reverence of God our Creator.  Instead of obeying Gods Word, we argue well I was taught this or this person said that, they are all just Clay! The Potter is greater than all Clay, yet in todays Church we have elevated the Clay over the Potter. Professing ourselves to be wise, we became fools (Romans 1:22)

How can God harden Pharoahs heart? Because God is the Potter and Pharoah is the Clay, as the Apostle Paul says “But who are you to reply against God” (v20) But we argue against God, because we have no fear of God, we have no reverence of God, we have elevated the Clay over the Potter, the Church needs to Repent and sumit to our Lord Jesus Christ, and be filled and led by the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Romans 9- God Is Sovereign

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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. Romans 9:14-18

Now as we continue to talk about election and salvation, many of us define our preconceived ideas of who should be saved and who should not be saved. The problem is we are not God, when you start going down this trail, you are going way above your pay grade. As the Apostle Paul quotes Exodus when God told Moses “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy” God is going to save whoever he wants, this again is above our pay grade

This reminds me of the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) While he was condemned to die on the cross, Jesus told him “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) While he was condemned to die, God chose to save him. The thief on the cross will probably be one of the most controversial people in Heaven. Even today, many legalists argue you must do this and that to be saved, but the thief on the cross did none of these things, it was Christ alone that saved him. This is a great example of Gods sovereignty, going against our man-made religious formulas for salvation.

Pharaoh is another great example, that the Apostle Paul brings up, “For this very purpose, I raised you up that I may show my power in you” (Romans 9:17) The evil Pharaoh actually fulfilled Gods will and purpose, by God demonstrating His power and sovereignty with the plagues and exodus of Egypt. (Exodus 9:16) As scripture says “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 7:3) Again the critics will say “This is not fair”, “why would God harden Pharaoh’s heart?” Because God is sovereign and we are not, going back to what He told Moses, God will have mercy on whomever he desires, and hardens whomever he wants to harden” (Romans 9:18)

Now on the flipside, did Pharoah have any opportunity to repent? Of course He did,  Moses went to Pharaoh ten times, and asked to “Let my people God” (Exodus 5:1, Exodus 8:1) Why would God grant him these opportunities if he couldn’t respond? But didn’t God already know how this was going to go? Of course because God is sovereign and Reigns over all the Heavens and The Earth!  (Psalm 113:4-6)

The problem is when we try to inject our will or ideas into Gods soverignty, you might say “I don’t understand how God has mercy on whomever he wants to have mercy, and Gods hardens whomever he wants to harden”  Yes because your a finite creature of the Creator, to think you can comprehend the mind of God is sure blasphemy in itself. God rules and reigns, submit to The Lord Jesus Christ today! Amen!