God Is Not Willing That Any Should Perish

Romans 9

“Charles Spurgeon was asked how he reconciled divine sovereignty and human responsibility, and he replied, “I never try to reconcile friends.”

“Augustine said that we must pray as though it all depended on God and work as though it all depended on us. That biblical balance makes for blessing.” Warren Wiersbe

Romans 9 is a difficult passage of scripture to understand, explain, and often brings sparring words between church leaders, churches, seminaries, and theologians. Today, my desire it to let you know how I interpret this passage of scripture in my definition of predestination in the promise that “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

God’s desire to extend salvation to the Gentiles should not be surprising, for not all of Abraham’s physical descendants are among his spiritual children. God chose some and rejected others because they lacked faith.

“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.“ Romans 9:6–8 (ESV)

In Romans 9, Paul addressed this issue: If God is so perfectly just and righteous in all his dealings with humans, what about his dealings with his own people Israel?

As was true wherever Paul preached, many Jews in Rome, both Christian and non-Christian, would wonder if the gospel meant that God had abandoned Israel. God has not abandoned anyone, for the Gospel is open to everyone to receive or refuse. Paul dealt with this issue at great length. He began by expressing his great anguish over Israel’s rejection of its Messiah, saying he was willing himself to be forever destined for hell, if that would save his people; as Paul had a great love for his people, but a great calling for the Gentiles.

Harold Wilmington writes in his Handbook to the Bible, “What does God do? Anything he wants to! If God thus chooses some and rejects others, is he being unfair? “Of course not!” says Paul, giving the example of Pharaoh, whom God raised up and then destroyed, all in order to bring glory to himself. But how can God condemn someone he has not predestined for salvation? Such a question hardly even deserves an answer, said Paul, for God has the right to choose one and reject another just as a potter has the right to shape his clay as he sees fit. He has the right to choose both Jews and Gentiles, just as Hosea predicted he would. Even the ultimate salvation of Israel will be only by his grace.”

This passage must be balanced by some of Paul’s other statements in Romans, such as
• God is absolutely impartial (2:11; 10:12).
• He will save all who ask him (10:13).

And balanced by Peter’s pen, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

Wilmington goes on, “Paul did not say that God made the clay as it was but that he worked with it as it was (compare Jer. 18:1–6; Isa. 45:9; 64:6–8). The “objects of his judgment” are “fit only for destruction.” This last statement has also been translated “prepared for destruction,” but it is important to note that in the original Greek, “prepared” is in the middle voice, meaning “to prepare oneself.” On the other hand, God himself prepared the “objects of his mercy” for “glory.” This difference in verb tense suggests that destruction is the deserved destination of sinners, while glory is the undeserved destination of the saved.”

Dr. Tony Evans explains it like this, “Hardening is not predestination to damnation; it’s an expression of God’s prerogative to choose whom he will use to serve his purposes and how he will use them. God punishes the wicked by using their wickedness to accomplish his purposes. God uses obedience and disobedience to accomplish his kingdom agenda while holding people responsible for their own decisions. The Creator has rights over his creation, plain and simple. Whether God is acting in wrath or in mercy, he is accomplishing his plan. The big difference is in how we experience that plan—as willing sons and daughters, or as unwilling slaves.”

“What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” Romans 9:30–33 (ESV)

From one perspective, it was God’s sovereign will to extend grace to the Gentiles. From another perspective, though, the Gentiles have obtained righteousness because they pursued it the right way, by faith. Israel, by contrast, failed to achieve the law of righteousness because they did not pursue it by faith. As long as anyone pursues salvation by works, as Israel did, the grace of Jesus will act like a stumbling stone. Jesus is either the stone we trip over in our self-righteousness, or he’s the rock we build our lives upon.
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So, what is the conclusion to this ever argumentative chapter and battle over predestination? Today, pray for, care for, and share with everyone, everywhere, any way possible as the Holy Spirit leads, as God is not willing that any should perish.

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