God's Glory in Grace and Judgment

January 21st, 2025
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 9:22-24 What if God, though willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory— 24 us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

According to Romans 9:22, God has revealed His wrath, power, and patience towards those who prepared themselves for destruction by rejecting Him. His wrath was revealed at the cross of Christ in the payment for sin’s penalty, His power was revealed at Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and His patience has been revealed through His longsuffering of those who continually refuse to repent and receive His loving offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. Now in v. 23 another reason is revealed for why God allowed sin to infiltrate His perfect creation.

One must note the contrast between the “vessels of wrath” in v. 22 and the “vessels of mercy” in v. 23. In v. 22, these “vessels of wrath,” referring to unbelievers, are said to be “prepared for destruction.” The middle voice in which “prepared” is used, being reflexive, is literally translated “prepared themselves for destruction.” So, unbelievers are not prepared by God for destruction; they prepare themselves for such by continuing in their unbelief. In contrast, v. 23 speaks of the “vessels of mercy” as those “prepared beforehand for glory.” This latter us of “prepared” is written in the active voice where the subject, in this case God, is doing the action. So whereas unbelievers prepare themselves for destruction, God prepares believers for mercy. The former have themselves to blame for their fate, and the latter have God to thank.

Therefore, unbelievers are responsible for their unbelief and the consequences thereof; they cannot blame God. Their “destruction” is their own doing, not God’s. But those who have been “prepared beforehand for glory” have only God to thank for their salvation. This means that God does not select some for hell and others for heaven. All are bound for hell, yet God in His mercy has chosen to save some. His purpose, as always, is to display His glory to His creation—from angels (Eph. 3:10) to humans (Rev. 5:9-14). God will display His character in both judgment and grace, and He will receive glory for both. If God chose to save everyone, then He would deprive Himself of the glory due Him in judgment. Likewise, if God chose to pour out His wrath on everyone without exception, then He would deprive Himself of glory due to His mercy.

Now it is evident from Scripture that no one can be saved apart from faith in Christ. Even OT saints were saved by faith in what God promised in Christ (cf. Heb. 11). Although man must respond in faith, faith itself is not a work of man, for saving faith is a gift from God (cf. John 6:29; Rom. 12:3). The main purpose of God’s grace, however, is not to benefit those who are saved but to bring glory to the One who saved them, God Himself. This is why God makes known the “the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy.” Nothing is dependent on man’s will or exertion but solely on God’s mercy (9:16), grace, and compassion—all for His glory.

In v. 24 Paul, a descendant from Israel, identifies “us” as he includes himself among other believers in Christ as God’s “vessels of mercy.” Those within this group encompass both Jews and Gentiles, for God makes no distinction between culture, color of skin, intelligence, etc. The universal offer of God’s grace available, and all will be held accountable for their decisions. Clearly, God elects some and rejects others on the basis of His divine sovereignty, yet He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:32). Undoubtedly the assurance of Christ in John 6:37 gives comfort: “the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37).

Food for Thought

So is God to be rejected because He ordains that there be evil, guilt, and penalty? The Apostle Paul didn’t think so. On the contrary, as John Piper says, “God’s glory will shine the more truly and brightly for having decreed and governed this universe as we know it. The effort to rescue God from His sovereignty by denying His foreknowledge of sin or by denying His ultimate control over sin is destructive for faith and hope and worship. It is a great dishonor to His word and His wisdom. Christians, if you love the glory of God, look well to the teaching of your church and your schools. Test them. But most of all look well to your souls.”