Romans 9:22-24

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 66 Chapter 9:22 – 24

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. 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. Let us first note that verses 22 – 24 is one single sentence therefore it must all be taken together.

a. There is at least eight important points in this sentence.

b. “God’s Wrath” v. 22 – “What if God, willing to shew his wrath…”

c. The manifestation of God’s power v. 22“…to make his power known…”

d. God’s endurance to the lost v. 22 “endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:”

e. The manifestation of God’s glory v. 23 “And that he might make known the riches of his glory…”

f. God’s elect v. 23 “…on the vessels of mercy…”

g. God’s predestination v. 23 “…which he had afore prepared unto glory,”

h. God’s effectual calling v. 24 “…whom he hath called…”

i. The world v. 24 “not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”

2. “God’s Wrath” v. 22 – “What if God, willing to shew his wrath…”

a. The word “wrath” means – punishment, anger, indignation, or vengeance.

b. The question is why if God was willing today to manifest His wrath, anger, or vengeance? This is a fact God did once before show it when He flooded and destroyed everything on the earth and in the air. But why if God was to show His wrath today.

c. This world would have problems that is has never experienced before, it is call the tribulation period. The last 3 ½ years are nothing but pain and misery.

d. It is such a miserable and horrible time that God has elected not to allow His elect to endure. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”

e. God is longsuffering even with the lost and evil of this world, He has chosen a time for this anger and it will be in the tribulation period, and those who die before that time are in eternal hell for eternal punishment.

3. The manifestation of God’s power v. 22“…to make his power known…”

a. God’s power is more power than man can stand, God is not weak as most believe, and one day every soul will witness Gods great power.

b. God’s power has been reviled over time, Pharaoh,

c. Exodus 19:18 “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”

d. God’s power is greater than His entire creation together. David said; 1 Chronicles 29:11 - 12 “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. (12.) Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”

e. Revelation 19:6 “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” The word “omnipotent” means - the all ruling, that is, God as absolute and universal sovereign.

4. God’s endurance to the lost v. 22 “endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:”

a. While God hates the lost (because if God doesn’t love a person then He hates them. Psm. 5:5) and has made them for the purpose of eternal destruction, He is longsuffering with them also, because He has not shown Hid wrath as of yet. 2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (20.) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”

b. The word “fitted” means – prepared for destruction. Psalms 74:16 “The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.” The word “prepared” is the same word in meaning, just as God prepared the sun for light He prepared the non-elect for destruction.

c. We often wonder when will the Lord bring wrath to this wicked world, in due time. Luke 18:7 “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (8.) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” but at a time that God has predetermined and when His longsuffering has expired.

5. The manifestation of God’s glory v. 23

a. The Geneva bible note defines it as; “His unmeasurable and marvelous greatness.”

b. John Gill said; “That is, his glorious riches, the perfections of his nature, his love, grace, and mercy, his wisdom, power, faithfulness, justice, and holiness; all which are most evidently displayed in the salvation of his people.”

c. Just as God has prepared vessels for destruction, He has also prepared vessels for His glory. While the Glory of God is shown in both the saved and the lost it is much more shown in the saved because they show Gods love, mercy, and grace.

d. God’s Glory is unspeakable. Isaiah 6:3 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

e. Jeremiah 9:23 - 24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (24.) But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

f. The glory of God is manifested in the saved and will be manifested in the vessels fitted for destruction and in the destruction of this world.

6. God’s elect v. 23 “…on the vessels of mercy…”

a. Why did God choose to have “vessels of mercy”? Life Application Bible Commentary said; Believers still may wonder why they would be chosen while others were rejected. Paul's point is that God is sovereign and that no one has any claim on his mercy. He prepared us in advance by his gift of salvation, and he will reveal his glory when we are finally with him for eternity. Instead of focusing on God choosing some and rejecting others, we should stand in awe at God's offer of grace to any of us. Thus, no one can demand that God explain why he does what he does. He makes all the rules. But he loves to show mercy to us—what an amazing God he is!

b. Ephesians 2:3 - 5 “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4.) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5.) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

c. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 - 14 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12.) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (13.) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14.) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

7. God’s predestination v. 23 “…which he had afore prepared unto glory,”
8. God’s effectual calling v. 24
9. The world v. 24 “not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”