Romans 9:20-22

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 65 Chapter 9:20 – 22

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 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?”
1. Verse 20 is actually indirectly quoted from the Old Testament.

a. Isaiah 29:16 “Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?”

b. Isaiah 45:9 “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?”

c. Man (that is true Christians) must reach the point that we understand that God is sovereign and does as He pleases without mans counsel. One we do, then we establish a whole new attitude about God and then we can declare that God does as He pleases and therefore we are content with what God has made us.

d. Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

e. A should never ask God “why has Thou made me thus?”

f. Our correct attitude is found in; Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

2. “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?

a. This is the answer to verse 19 “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?” Since God is sovereign and chooses whom He will save or not, or makes as He pleases, then how is it that He holds us guilty for not being saved, or for not obeying His will?

b. The same can be said of the question why has God made me poor and another rich? Or Why has God blessed another and not me?

c. “…Why hast thou made me thus?” Paul’s answer is “…who art thou that repliest against God…” The word “repliest” means - to contradict or dispute: - answer again, reply against. – God does as He pleases and we should never ask God “what doest thou?” We should just accept what God has done and be grateful.

2. Verse 21 “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”
1. “Hath not the potter power over the clay…” Paul says God is a “Potter” one who molds clay as He chooses.

a. The real question here is does the clay force the Potter to mold it into what it wants to be? No! Therefore no man (the clay) tells the Potter (God) to make him a Christian, a church member, a Minister, a Pastor, or etc. God still does as He pleases with the clay.

b. The Potter has complete control over the clay, so does the Potter obligated to make all the pots the same? No! Is the Potter wrong by keeping only the pots or vases He elects to keep? No!

c. Do any pots or vases deserve to be kept? No! Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

2. “…of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Can God take two unclean people and make one unto honor and the other unto dishonor? Yes He can.

a. God chose Israel because He wanted too, God chose Jacob because He wanted too, and God chose you because He wanted too. God is not unjust if He doesn’t choose another, or is He chooses to make them a vessel unto dishonor.

b. God also chooses what He wants to make all of His elect and we must be happy and content with what ever He makes us. Jeremiah 18:6 “O house of Israel , cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel .”

3. Verse 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:”
1. This is Paul’s second point; The vessel are those fitted for destruction. Not only does the Potter mold the clay as He chooses but He will also destroy those not chosen to eternal damnation.
2. Just as the potter owes the clay nothing, God owes mankind nothing. All clay is nothing but mud until molded and all sinners are unclean unless God cleans them.
3. What if God showed His wrath to mankind, those chosen to destruction? Would God be unjust? No! Lost people are blessed of God because He allows them to remain on this earth another day mocking Him, cursing Him, dishonoring Him, He could end it today. Psalms 2:9 “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
4. We will pick up here next week.