Video Notes: 

• Romans 3:5-6 – Similar accusation, but in Romans 3 it was that God shouldn’t find fault because our sin only makes His righteousness and mercy more apparent. Here it’s question why God can find fault if no one can oppose God’s will.
• “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” – Everyone! Romans 3:11-12. That’s what sin is!
  • God is patient and allows people to resist while showing kindness in order to lead people to repentance. (Romans 2:4-5)
  • God right to find fault in our sinful resistance of His will. This is why, apart from salvation through Jesus, we stand condemned in our sins. It’s also appropriate to point out that God’s primary will IS our salvation. When we resist that, we condemn ourselves.
• We need to take a step back before we start accusing God. Remember, we are the created, He is our creator.
• The Potter and the clay – The general theme of God’s ultimate authority over His creation, man.
  • Honorable use and dishonorable use – 2 Timothy 2:20 – Dishonorable (ordinary is probably better), is not referring to evil or sinful, just not special or holy use.
  • The word, “use”, is helpful. This isn’t referring to salvation and condemnation. It’s the person’s (or people’s) use in God’s plan of salvation.
• Vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy
  • As mentioned earlier, God’s mercy and His wrath are both part of His righteousness (Romans 1:16-18)
  • While the vessels of mercy are “prepared beforehand” the vessels of wrath are not.
  • Who are the vessels of wrath? Romans has made it clear that before faith in Christ, all people are under God’s wrath and legitimately so.
  • Who are the vessels of mercy? These are all those who have faith in Jesus. They are appointed for God’s abundant and eternal glory.  We note the use of prepared beforehand in reference to the vessels of mercy and only for the vessels of mercy.
  • There is no indication that God predetermines some to condemnation.