Before approaching the 9th chapter of Romans, you must have a prayerful, humble heart; otherwise, the chapter will seem off and not aligned with the rest of Scripture. Many have tried to read the chapter and rationalize the justice and sovereignty of God with His loving kindness and forgiving heart. Romans 9, read by itself, will portray God as a tyrant and forceful deity who arbitrarily chooses some to be saved, while others are dammed to hell. Sounds harsh and not Christ-like if we compare the chapter with other verses in the Bible that show God as merciful and gracious. How are we to rationalize the two images of God we see? Is this a contradiction that could take down the authenticity of the Bible? Well, if it could, it would have long ago. But history proves itself by the test of time and how the Scriptures have held up through many challenges and arguments.
The Bible is full of questions, yet also provides answers for everything meaningful in life. As you begin to read, or re-read Romans 9, remember the reality of your existence, death, and God’s character and nature. You see, the secret to reading this chapter is not in the translation, nor is it in looking into historical writing. The secret is the condition of the reader’s heart. Recognizing who you are, in light of who God is, will shape and form how you understand the chapter. When you have that proper attitude and approach, then Romans 9 will open up a whole new understanding of God’s grace. You may think you understand God’s grace, but read it with a humble heart, and God will help you see the truth in the words. Are you ready? Let’s begin:
- Read Romans 9. Write down all the questions you would ask God concerning what is taught in the chapter. Be specific and detailed. Write it down as if you were going to send that letter to God when you are finished. Challenge Him and question Him if you feel the need. If you feel upset at what is written, tell Him what upsets you. If there is something you disagree with or have a hard time accepting, write it down. Let God know how you feel and be honest with your feelings. Don’t cover or hide anything, but let it all out in writing. If you think God is unjust and unfair, let Him know how you feel. If you feel God should do it differently, then explain to Him what you would do. Lay out a plan you think would work better, and detail it as best as possible.
- When finished, fold up the paper and seal it in an envelope. Any size envelope will do. Address it properly from you to God. Then, place the sealed envelope inside the Bible, where Romans 9 is, and close it.
- Pray to God and ask Him to show you the answer to your questions. Ask with a sincere heart, seeking genuine answers. Set aside any presuppositions and preconceived notions about Romans 9. Try to blank out everything you have heard or were taught in the past, and clear the slate to be ready to read Romans 9 with fresh eyes. Tell yourself you will approach the Word with a humble heart and motivate yourself to be willing to learn and accept whatever God reveals. Then, when you are ready, re-read Romans 9. Come back when you are finished and read the rest of this article.
- If you have genuinely re-read the chapter with a humble heart, willing to accept whatever God reveals as truth, then read on. If you feel you already understand Romans 9 and don’t agree with some of its contents, re-read Romans 9. If you feel this exercise is silly and a waste of time, shut off your computer, go to bed, and try again tomorrow. Repeat the steps above if necessary.
- Read Romans 9. Write down all the questions you would ask God concerning what is taught in the chapter. Be specific and detailed. Write it down as if you were going to send that letter to God when you are finished. Challenge Him and question Him if you feel the need. If you feel upset at what is written, tell Him what upsets you. If there is something you disagree with or have a hard time accepting, write it down. Let God know how you feel and be honest with your feelings. Don’t cover or hide anything, but let it all out in writing. If you think God is unjust and unfair, let Him know how you feel. If you feel God should do it differently, then explain to Him what you would do. Lay out a plan you think would work better, and detail it as best as possible.
Now that you are ready to learn, ask yourself: Are you in any place to question the Almighty God? 
If you truly believe God created this entire Universe, and knowing all that He can do (power to destroy the whole world, change the destiny of anyone, overthrow all authority on Earth), are you telling me that, being a small microscopic element in this vast Universe, you will challenge God and demand answers from Him? We are nothing and worse than other created things, because humans are the only ones here on Earth who rebelled against God. It is by God’s grace that he showed His love to us. Nothing we have done or could do could ever earn God’s favor. You are a sinner. I am a sinner. We are all rebellious sinners before the holy and perfect God of this Universe.
Ask yourself this: Would you barge into the President’s office and challenge why you have to pay taxes? Would you go to your boss at work and demand answers for why you get paid the amount that you get?
Even though you know you are subject to others, you show respect and receive whatever is given. Yet with God, you feel you can go to Him and demand answers?
Have you ever asked God why He saved you? Really, why did he choose you out of all the good people in the world? Why save your life over the next person? You see, your salvation was never guaranteed. You did nothing for your salvation, nor could you even come close to qualifying for merit. In God’s eyes, you are just another sinner groveling and loving your sin. But God, in His mercy, decided to save you out of all people. Why do you deserve His favor? Who are you that you should receive eternal life?
You demand answers from God, yet you never asked Him why He shows grace to you. Why does God, knowing you fail all the time and make mistakes, knowing your heart will turn from Him at any moment, knowing you have no ability to do good to earn His favor, why does this God love you? Yes, that is the truth. God loves you. He truly does. But why? What makes you so lovely or lovable? What makes you so special that you deserve salvation over someone else?
If you think that you chose God, and that is why you are saved, then you have placed yourself above God. You have handicapped God from being God, which is no God at all. If your salvation depends on you choosing to be with Him, how arrogant are you? You think that God will let you into Heaven because you chose Him? You believe God is eagerly waiting for you to choose Him? What kind of God do you believe in that can’t save someone despite the person’s sinful unwillingness? Let’s be honest here. You would have never chosen God. He had to choose you because you would have never chosen Him. If he didn’t choose you, you had no hope. It is 100% God’s work of salvation in Christ. God did all the work. You are just a recipient. Does that make you cringe or upset you? Are you upset that you lost control over choosing God? Be glad you are chosen. Don’t fight the choice. It will only lead to pride and a hardened heart.
Why is it so crucial for you to feel like you chose God? The root of this feeling is fear. Fear of not being chosen. Fear of seeing someone not be chosen. The fear roots back to when we were kids, waiting in line to be chosen to play the game. The anticipation overwhelms. The feeling of pain and sorrow when not being chosen. These are all experiences most of us had in our youth. They are experiences we tend to keep far away and avoid. They may be similar feelings rekindled when reading Romans 9. Because of this fear, Christians make God out to be in the shape of their comfortable idols.
The modern Christian idol we are struggling with is the idolatry of making God out to be weak and unable to save all people. To the idolatrous Christian, God is an all-loving, always forgiving, never angry God of the Bible. We are facing the opposite situation from the Old Testament, where the Israelites viewed God as an overpowering authority that must be obeyed. The fluffy New Testament God does not align with their view of God. They made God into what they imagined Him to be. The New Testament era brought about a change in view, and Jesus Christ is the example. With the message of love and forgiveness, Jesus showed the Jews a different picture of God. Part of the issue they had with Jesus was that they believed he was committing blasphemy by portraying God in a new way. Some would say that he is not the God of the Old Testament.
With the popular movement of evangelicalism, we see the opposite picture of God. We have made God into a non-judgmental, always forgiving, never hating God. Both camps are correct, in and of themselves, but what they are both missing is that God is the same God of the Old and New Testaments. Meaning, the God you pray to today is the same God who destroyed Egypt and had many people killed. We want to ignore these passages, yet they are true and describe our God. So let me ask you again, who are you to demand answers to your questions from God? He is the same God who leveled Sodom and Gomorrah, and He can do the same to any country that exists. Is God God or is He not?
After reading the above, if you feel down and crushed over those harsh words and agree with everything that was said, then you are ready to receive a deeper understanding of God’s grace.
Let me put Romans 9 to you in this way: If you feel you can ask God anything at all after reading Romans 9, you have not understood Romans 9. You see, when you start questioning God about anything (matters of justice, predestination, sovereignty), then you have already placed yourself above God, and you have not understood who God is.
God is not His name, nor is it His title. God is beyond understanding. He is infinite, eternal, magnificent, glorious, majestic, merciful, and gracious almighty. We reference Him as “God” because there is no higher description for the Almighty.
When you finally reach the place of a humble servant, then you have finally understood who you are in light of who He is. God will bless you and open your eyes to see the truth. The truth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who chose us out of the pits of our own hell, to rescue us from sin and death. Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life we have to our redemption. Understanding and respecting God lead to His Son Jesus. Knowing God has chosen you, he came down Himself to make the way for you. The words of Thomas seem appropriate here as he declared, “My Lord, and my God.” (John 20:28)
If you came to a place where you understood all that was said and humbly accepted God’s sovereignty, then that envelope and burn it. Praise the Lord, you are saved in Jesus Christ.
