Acceptance or Rejection

18 Acceptance or Rejection

Christ came to His own people and they rejected Him—. The gospel was first preached to the Jew, then to the Gentile; it is for all who believe. Those who accept are God’s sons—; .

A. The Perfecting—vv.

1. Complaint—v. 19.

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” (v. 19). Paul responds to this question rather than answering. Paul does not take an Arminian approach and say “The reason he still finds fault is that all sin is found in man, so it is dependent on what people do with their choices.”

Romans: Crossway Classic Commentaries Verses 6–24

“If God hardens us, why does he blame us for being hard?” Gross as is this perversion of the apostle’s doctrine on the part of the objector, Paul at first rebukes the spirit in which it is made, before he shows it to be unfounded. It is not the Bible’s teaching that God first makes men wicked and then punishes them for their wickedness. The Scriptures only assert what we see and know to be true, that God permits men, in the exercise of their own free agency, to sin, and then punishes them for their sins, in proportion to their guilt. He acts towards them as a perfectly righteous judge, so that no one can justly complain of his dealings. This strictness in the administration of justice is, however, perfectly consistent with the sovereignty of God in determining whom he will save and whom he will permit to suffer the just recompense of their deeds.

If God hardens us, why does He blame us for being hard? As gross as this perversion of the apostle’s doctrine on part of the objector, Paul first rebukes the spirit in which it is made. It is not the Bible’s teaching that God first makes men wicked and then punishes them for their wickedness. Scripture asserts that God permits men, in the exercise of their own free will, to sin, and then punished them for their sins.

Paul expected that this would be the response of many. And he objected with a moral rebuke: “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God?” (v.20a). So, before Paul begins to answer the question, he asks the objector to remember who they are and who God is. Paul is basically responding to those who constantly belittle the doctrine of God’s Sovereignty with a “Who do you think you are?”

Remember Job. He was the victim of much injustice at the hands of men and Satan; he suffered affliction without relief. Finally he raised his fist against heaven and shook it in the face of God. God answered Job by means of a lengthy, relentless interrogation:

Who is this who darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

Now prepare yourself like a man;

I will question you, and you shall answer Me. ()

God’s interrogation of Job continues: “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion?” (v. 31). Job answered no. “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?” (41:1). The answer was no, chapter after chapter, and finally Job said, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:6). Even when we go through seasons of suffering, financial insecurity, marital issues, job loss, we still will not fully comprehend the mystery of God’s sovereign will, let us not be moved to blasphemy.

Romans Potter and Clay

The absolute integrity and righteousness of Almighty God is not to be questioned. Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” (v. 20b). Pharaoh could not shake his fist at God and ask, “Why have you hardened my heart?” God owed Pharaoh no explanation. Pharaoh’s heart had no inherent righteousness. God used Pharaoh for his glorious, holy, merciful, and gracious plan of salvation.

The righteousness of Almighty God is not to be questioned. Does the clay have the right to say to the potter, “Why have you made me like this?” (v.20b). Pharaoh had no right to stand before God and ask, “Why have you hardened my heart?” God certainly did not owe any explanation to Pharaoh. God used Pharaoh for His good, holy, merciful, and gracious plan of salvation.

2. Cooperation—vv. . The potter has power over the clay. We should be as clay in God’s hands—; . Let Him make you what He wants you to be—.

3. Control—vv. . God wants us to bring honor and glory to Him. We will show forth His power. He will reveal His riches through us—.

4. Chosen—v. . He chose us, not only the Jews—; .

B. The Prophecy—vv.

1. Prophecy (from )—v. . In the family of God—. Sons of God, to be with Him and be like Him—.

2. Pardon—v. . “And the heathen, of whom it was once said, ‘You are not My people,’ shall be called ‘sons of the Living God’ ”—LB.

3. Prediction—vv. . Of many Jews, only a few would be saved. God will do as He promised—. Christ was rejected—; .

4. Power—v. . God’s power will execute righteous judgment. He keeps good records. Note , “The books will be opened.”

C. The Problem—vv.

1. Pardon—v. . Salvation is offered to the Gentiles who were made righteous by accepting Christ—. His blood cleanses from all sin—, .

2. Problem—vv. . The Jews didn’t seek Christ for pardon. Depended on their good works and stumbled over the Rock, Christ Jesus—; . It is through God’s mercy that He saved us—.

3. Prophecy (from ; )—v. . “Those who believe in Him will never be disappointed”—LB. The builders rejected Christ.

Our eternal destiny depends on what we do with the gospel—. If we accept, we are born again—; we become children of God. If we reject, we remain children of the devil—; we are already condemned—. When we accept Christ, He changes us; daily He makes us what He wants us to be.

Pentz, C. M. (1980). Expository Outlines from Romans (pp. 31–32). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.