April 18, 2009 - The Potter And The Clay

Meditation on Romans 9

Paul illustrates the sovereignty of God over human lives with the image of the potter who has the power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor. (v. 21) Base on that fact, He has decided to show mercy only to those who come to Him by faith to have righteousness and not to those who seek righteousness by the work of the law. (v. 30-32)

The Scriptures also has this to say, "What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory." (v. 22-23 NKJV)

Does it mean that God has predestined some to destruction? I think not. The verb in the sentence "for the vessel of wrath prepared for destruction" in verse 22 is in passive voice in the Greek. It does not necessary mean that God is the one who prepared. It could mean that it was prepared by themselves. But later, on the vessel of mercy it is clearly indicated God had prepared beforehand for glory.

There are other Scriptures which support the premise that God has not designated some for destruction. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord.... is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." According to the word of God here, it is God's desire that everyone should be saved. Then in 1 John 2:2, specifically tells us that Christ has provided His sin offering not only for us but also for the sins of the whole world. "God so loved the world" should naturally mean that He has given His only begotten Son to everyone in the world. So we can conclude that God wants everyone to be saved through Christ.

It is human clay then to take the responsibility to accept God's mercy or not. For Revelation 22:17b says, "Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."