Romans 9:17-19

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 64 Chapter 9:17 – 19

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 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.”
1. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up…” – For what purpose? For the same purpose God chose Israel over all other nations, for the same reason God chose Isaac over Ishmael, and for the same purpose God chose Jacob over Esau, because He chose it.

a. God chose Pharaohs life, to make him king of Egypt just for the event with Moses and His beloved Israel , to show His power over him.

b. Pharaoh did not simple choose to be a wicked king; God made him a wicked king. “…I raised thee up…”

c. God had His way with Pharaoh just as God has His way with every single person on this earth.

2. “…that I might shew my power in thee…” God set him up as king and powerful to defeat him, to show the world His power over all men.
3. “…and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” – God gets glory from all things, sometimes it makes us wonder how He gets glory but He does. He even gets glory from our government today.
1. Verse 18 “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

1. “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy…” – We live everyday by Gods mercy, sometimes God chooses good for us and sometimes God chooses bad for us, however we must understand God gets glory regardless.
2. Sometimes God blesses us for blessing Him and sometimes He punishes us for disobeying Him. Psalms 81:11 - 12 “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. (12.) So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”
3. Mercy is Gods to give whenever and to who ever He gives it. Man does not control God in any fashion.
4. John 12:39 - 40 “Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, (40.) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”
2. Verse 19 “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?”

1. This verse is known as an objection like Romans 3:7 “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?”

a. Let us make it simple; even though God has elected some to be saved and not others does not mean that God cannot hold the lost accountable.

b. Just because God allowed them to kill Jesus does not mean they will not be accountable.

c. Just because God hardened Pharaohs heart does not mean he will not be held accountable.

d. Just because something is Gods will does not lessen the responsibility. God does not cause sin nor does God make a sinner, however if God does not stop us from sinning then we will.

e. And whatever God has chosen for every single person lost or saved is chosen righteously.

f. We must understand God hardened Pharaohs heart, most people do not understand this point, that He (God) could get glory from him.

2. “…For who hath resisted his will?” – This is Gods will of command or what is known as His permissive will, like Gods will is that you attend church but if you do not then you go against Gods will. Gods ordained will or will of purpose cannot be refused nor changed nor denied. Example a non-elect person will never be saved.

a. However His will of command can be resisted and those that do will suffer punishment, even if God ordained it.

b. God ordained the Jews and Romans kill Jesus; they did and therefore will suffer because of it. Let us remember they chose to kill Jesus, Pharaoh chose to keep the Israelites, and etc.

c. Even though God ordains something man still chooses to do it. Man in his natural state hates God therefore it is easy to go against God and in reality happiness to man.

3. God has elected everything from start to finish about this earth and mankind, and nothing happens that God has not ordained to happen, but this doesn’t mean that God cannot charge mankind for their actions. This is the entire underline fact: God has the right to do with creation as He chooses, and if He chooses to glorify one and send the other to hell that is His choice. God simply owes no man nothing not even an explanation, who is mankind? Nothing unless God makes him something.
4. Luke 21:15 “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”
5. Mankind believes God is obligated to them, God owes man nothing except eternity in Hell!