Vessels Of Mercy And Vessels Of Wrath

VESSELS OF MERCY AND VESSELS OF WRATH
Paul has just given us the illustration of the potter. In that illustration, he suggested that there are two kinds of pots -- one for honorable use and one for dishonorable use. Now he takes that illustration one step further.

Vessels of Wrath.

What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? (Romans 9:22). This verse opens with a conditional clause. It is a first class condition. It assumes the truth of the statement which it proceeds. We could translate it “since.” This is not merely a possible hypothesis, but an established fact. From the lump of humanity there are some who have been designed as “vessels of wrath.” These vessels of wrath have been prepared for the purpose of destruction. We call this the doctrine of reprobation. Their destiny is destruction. At the same time, Paul does not specifically say that God created them to be vessels of wrath, but only that he endured those vessels. The point is that, although God's plan has included the sinful acts of men, we should not take this to mean that God has actively caused men to sin. To take such a position would be to make God the author of sin, a position against which the Bible is clearly opposed.

Vessels of Mercy.

What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. (Romans 9:22-24).

Why would God allow vessels of wrath? Romans 9:23 tells us the reason. This verse tells us why the sinner continually goes through this life without divine judgment being poured out on him. It tells us why God allows sin to continue in the world. It is so that God might make known the riches of His glory upon the vessels of mercy which He also created.

It is for our benefit. It is so that He might save us from the ver worst and then freely give to us the very best so that, in the end, He might be glorified. Peter says it this way: The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). This verse says that God wishes for all to come to repentance. Notice to whom the “all” refers. It is to the same group toward whom God is patient. It refers to “you.” Peter is speaking to believers. He is speaking to those who are among the elect. He is speaking to those who have been chosen by God. This election has been manifested by the fact that these have come to faith in Jesus Christ. In effect, Peter is saying that God is being patient toward those whom He has chosen because He is not willing that any of them should perish.

Peter concludes that he wants believers to regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation (2 Peter 3:15). When we look at the patience of the Lord and realize that He is withholding His judgment of sin, we are not to think that God does not care about sin. Rather, the continuance of sin and suffering in the world is for our benefit and our salvation. If God had stopped all sin and all suffering 100 years ago, we would not have been saved. The fact that He has not done so is a sign of our salvation.

Paul says the same thing here in Romans. He says that God is enduring “with much patience vessels of wrath” (Romans 9:22). This is why Christ has not yet returned. He is withholding His judgment until all whom He has chosen are saved so that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. There will be no objects of mercy who will be lost. God knows those who are His even before they know Him. And He has promised not to lose any.