Romans 9:14-18

Sunday School

Romans 9:14–18 is a critical passage in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, dealing with God's sovereignty in election, mercy, and justice. The main theme we are to take away from these verses is that this passage continues Paul’s argument that God's choice (in election) is not based on human effort or merit but on God's sovereign will. He anticipates objections to the fairness of God in choosing some and not others. Let’s jump directly into our story this morning.

Would someone please read Romans 9:14-18 out loud.

Romans 9:14–18 NASB95

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires

According to verse 14, is Paul suggesting that God is unjust? No. Paul anticipates the objection that God's choice (e.g., choosing Jacob over Esau) may seem unfair. He answers emphatically: “By no means!” God is not unjust; rather, His justice includes His sovereign right to show mercy or not. God cannot be unjust because He is the standard of justice.

What does “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy” mean? This quote from Exodus 33:19 emphasizes God’s freedom to dispense mercy not based on human merit, but on His divine will. It's a declaration of God’s sovereign grace, showing that mercy is not owed, but freely given. Mercy, by definition, is not something owed—it is given freely. Therefore, God is not unjust when He gives mercy to some and not to all.

In verse 15, Paul quotes Exodus 33:19 (“And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”) , where God declares His freedom in bestowing mercy.

What does verse 16 teach about human effort and God's mercy? It says that salvation or God’s mercy does not depend on human desire or effort, but entirely on God who shows mercy. This supports the idea that grace is not earned but given according to God’s purposes.

For what reasons might Paul bring up Pharaoh in verse 17? Paul cites Exodus 9:16 (“But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.”) to show how even those who oppose God (like Pharaoh) are used by Him to fulfill His purposes. This doesn’t mean Pharaoh had no free will; rather, God used Pharaoh’s resistance to accomplish His divine purpose.

In verse 18, what might it mean that God “hardens” whom He wills? It means that God, in His sovereignty, can allow or cause someone’s heart to be resistant to Him—for example, Pharaoh. This hardening can be seen both as a judgment and as a way to fulfill God's larger redemptive plan. Importantly, this doesn’t remove human responsibility. God chooses to show mercy to some and hardens others. The “hardening” here is best understood as God's judicial response to persistent rebellion—solidifying a person in their chosen path.

If time permits, let’s reflect on these five verses as they are extremely important for us to grasp.

Is God unfair for choosing some and not others? No. Paul argues that mercy is not something God owes to anyone. If God were obligated to give mercy, it would be justice, not mercy. God’s choices are grounded in His sovereign and just character.

What does “it depends not on human will or exertion” mean? Salvation and God's mercy are not based on human desire or effort but on God's gracious initiative. This emphasizes divine grace rather than human achievement. We are not capable of earning it.

Does God randomly harden people’s hearts? No. In Pharaoh’s case, Pharaoh hardened his heart first (Exodus shows both Pharaoh hardening his own heart and God hardening it). God's hardening is often a judicial act in response to human sin. Generally throughout scripture, when people refuse to repent of their sins, God will give them over to their sin, thus hardening their heart from accepting the gospel. It is justice to sin and rebellion that leads to God hardening hearts.

What do these verses say about free will? This passage highlights the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. While God is sovereign, Scripture also teaches that humans are morally responsible for their choices.

How should we respond to God's sovereignty? With humility, reverence, and trust. Paul’s aim is not to confuse but to magnify God's grace and power. The appropriate response is gratitude for mercy, not accusation against God's justice.

Would you like to go deeper with theological implications, historical context, or application questions for group study?