Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(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.

(Rom 9:14) “ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (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.” I once heard a preacher say every person had a right to at least one hearing of the gospel. No, no one has the right. It is in grace, favor given but not deserved, that anyone gets a hearing of the gospel.

(Rom 9:14) “ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (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.” Until one embraces the truth that God has every right to do as He pleases in all things, they will stumble at the Word of God. Either that or they will give false interpretations of His Word. God owes us nothing. We owe Him everything.