Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(Rom 9:27) “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:”  Remember, this chapter is dealing with people groups rather than individuals: the nation of Israel; Gentiles as a group – people. The nation is not at this time “God’s people”, that is future. Today a remnant is saved just as a remnant of Gentiles is saved compared to the whole.

(Rom 9:25) “As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. (26)  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.”  At least five hundred years before Christ the Jewish nation was told, there will be others beside you that are called “Mine”. I cannot but wonder if our minds can truly comprehend, “We are now God’s children.”

(Rom 9:23) “And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (24)  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”  The riches of His glory: mercy and forgiveness; the sacrifice of His beloved Son for unworthy sinners; placing them in His Own family through adoption plus giving them an inheritance. Yes indeed, this speaks to the riches of His glory! I am one of the  vessels of His mercy.

(Rom 9:22)  “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (23)  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”  Here we can plainly see that the Lord has a purpose in all things He does and allows. The Lord will be glorified not only in His mercy towards us, but also in His grace in longsuffering to the lost. He will also be glorified when all stand to before Him to be judged.

(Rom 9:20) “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? (21)  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”  The Lord desired to have a people who would respond out of a good heart to the cross, as a result loving Him. Those who do not still honor Him as the contrast holds forth the other: (Eph 2:7) “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”  Praise His Name! 

(Rom 9:19) “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? (20)  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?”  That is, “Who has had the power to resist His will?”  Yet, the truth is, each of us to some degree resist His will every day. He has given us a free will. He makes  no one love Him. He makes no one get saved. To use a person who is has already condemned self to carry out His will can hardly be said to be wrong.

(Rom 9:17) “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. (18)  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”  Men can either yield themselves to God or resist; but no matter, His will, will be done. The Lord wasn’t condemning a man to hell. He was using a man already condemned to carry out His Own will. He is God.

(Rom 9:15)  “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. (16)  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” By saying and acting as if the salvation can be had at any time, we lower its importance. It is not a fruit that can be plucked if we so desire, but an offer to a drowning man just before he perishes.