Expert: Sal - 5/18/2007

Question
Hi Sal,

Some people say Romans 9:15-22 shows that God has predestined some to hell.  I don't believe this, but don't know how to argue this.  Can you help?

Answer
Dear Les:

It’s great to hear from you, my friend!

How the idea that God would arbitrarily send some people to hell first got started I can’t understand. I suppose that it was started because of the so-called Reformation. Once one separates from God’s teaching authority, the Catholic Church, God’s revelation becomes unclear. It’s very clear to me that the belief that God would simply choose to send some people to hell despite how they lived their lives is completely without merit.

Before we examine the passage in question (Romans 9:15-22) we should first ask how does it fit with the context of the rest of the Bible? In the Old Testament we read that it is only the person who sins that is cut-off from God. “Only the one who sins shall die…The virtuous man’s virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man’s wickedness shall be his own” (Ezekiel 18:20). This passage obviously supports personal responsibility. We are responsible for our final destiny. “Then shall everyone be saved who calls on the name of the Lord” (Joel 3:5). In the New Testament we also find personal responsibility to be the rule. In the very same Letter to the Romans we read, “For if you confess with you lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (10:9). In St. John we read, “Whoever believes in the Son has life eternal. Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure the wrath of God” (John 3:36). St. Mark also emphasizes personal responsibility. “The man who believes in it (the Gospel) and accepts baptism will be saved; the man who refuses to believe in it will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Now let’s look at Romans 9 in the light of what we have just read about the context of the rest of Scripture. The statement, “I will show mercy to whomever I choose; I will have pity on whomever I wish” (v. 15) seems to be saying that God blindly chooses to save some people. This implies that God also blindly chooses to condemn others to hell. St. Paul has quoted Exodus 33:19 for that statement. The quote is following the Golden Calf incident of chapter 32. God chose Moses over firstborn Aaron. It was not blindly that God chose Moses, but because of Aaron’s sin in forming the idol for the people to worship. The inclusion of this story by St. Paul in Romans 9 continues his motif of the firstborn being passed over in favor of the younger brother. In v. 9 Isaac is chosen over Ishmael and in v. 13 Jacob is chosen over Esau. St. Paul’s point is not that God predestines to heaven and hell, but rather that God will pass over the unrighteous firstborn (the Jews) in favor of the righteous younger brother (the Gentile). God did not do this arbitrarily. He did this because the Jews hardened their hearts against the acceptance of Jesus. They refused to accept the obvious fact that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees on this very subject. “If you were blind there would be no sin in that. But 'we see’, you say, and your sin remains” (John 9:41). “But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep” (John 10:26). St. Paul then introduces the example of Pharaoh as one who refused to believe something that was obvious (vv. 17-18). Some have wrongly concluded that these verses prove that God arbitrarily makes some people hard-hearted against the Gospel. It is important to note that when Scripture says that God hardened someone’s heart it means that God let that person suffer the consequences of his freely chosen action. “And Pharaoh seeing that rest was given, hardened his own heart, and did not hear them, as the Lord had commanded” (Exodus 8:15; see also 8:28 & 9:34). God deals with individuals according to their decisions. If one refuses God then God may let that person suffer the consequences of his own freely chosen action. “And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire” (Romans 1:24 GNT [Good News Translation]).

Some will look at vv. 19-22 and believe that God arbitrarily makes some people “vessels fit for wrath, ready to be destroyed” (v. 22). In other words, ready to be sent to hell. This is actually the opposite of what St. Paul has in mind. He is quoting from Jeremiah 18:1-12. In this passage the potter, God, does not make vessels, people, to be destroyed. He reshapes the vessels giving them another opportunity to be useful. “Can I not do to you house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the Lord. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. Sometimes I threaten to uproot and tear down and destroy a nation or a kingdom. But if that nation which I have threatened turns from its evil, I also repent of the evil which I threatened to do (Jeremiah 18:6-8). Therefore, St. Paul is saying if the Jews repent and turn to Christ they will receive salvation, but if they stubbornly refuse then they will receive damnation. His point is that either way it is a personal decision not an arbitrary one that God makes. This is very much different then those that say St. Paul is teaching that we have no choice in what our final destiny will be. St. Paul himself was once a vessel set for destruction so he is well aware that God can remold the vessel and make it useful if we desire it. St. Paul received a second chance when he repented of attacking the Catholic Church and become a missionary bishop of God’s Church. The Potter remolded St. Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 26:5-20). So you see that this passage actually means the opposite of what the Reformed Calvanist says it means!

I hope that this will help you. If I can be of further help just let me know.

God Bless You,
Sal