Romans 9:14-29 Response

I was not always Calvinist–those who believe in God’s election of all who believe. When I first heard of the idea of election as a Christian, I was repulsed. I was once Atheist and then I chose to became a Christian. I remember the time, date, and the place where I have decided to become a Christian. I believed. I decided. I had the freedom of the will to choose.

My Christian college roommate challenged my thinking. He asked me, “do you believe you are a sinner?”
“Of course; how can I not, as a Christian?”
“How bad of sinner are you?”
“Pretty bad.”
“Are you bad as you can possibly be?”
“No, I guess I could be a murderer.”
“Were you good enough of sinner to choose God over a person who did not choose God? ”
“I wouldn’t say I was better.”
“Did you believe because you were a better person than someone who did not believe?”
“No, the Bible says I am sinner like any other person. Faith is a gift of God.”
“Well, since it was your faith, were you saved by the merit of your own faith?”
“No. I have already said faith is a gift of God and not based upon merit of anything I have done.”
“What does the Bible tell us about our condition?”
“It says ‘no one is righteous, not even one … no one seeks God … no one who does good, not even one.’”

Hmmm. OK, then how did I choose God when it says “no one seeks God .. not even one.” God has to first change our heart so that we have new nature and we can freely receive God’s free gift of salvation. Was the choice I made forced? No, God gives us joy to receive His free gift freely. Indeed, I remember I was able say, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Why then did God give me the gift of faith and not the other person next door? I don’t know why, but I know it was not because I was better person or because I will become better Christian. I was Atheist.

Does this mean we do not have to evangelize or send missionaries? No, we don’t know who God has chosen. We have missions, not because we are trying to change people’s heart–That is God’s work–but because we are called to be agents of God’s grace to carry the message of His love. God could have done it alone, but he decided to share the responsibility of declaring His glory among the nations. We evangelize because we are commanded to do so.

We know that Bible says He loves me and gave himself for me. It says God loved us so much that He did not spare His own Son. I also know that Psalm 115:3 says God in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Romans 9 teaches that God is sovereign and He is not like man. Wow, I am touched because He loves me unconditionally and He also is not like a human being: He is sovereign and he does not follow our command or our liking. He is above all things. Is God unfair for choosing some and not choosing others? Isn’t God obligated be American and play fair? It is not that God is forcing non-elect who wants to come to Christ and then he is rejecting Him. All of us who are left to our own will will choose to reject Him. One of the most important summary of Romans 9 is verse 29

Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah

Thank God we would all have been like Sodom and Gomorrah: certain judgement of condemnation. He has shown mercy to some though He had no obligation to save even one person on earth. We could have made the whole earth disappear, but He didn’t. We have a merciful God.

~Dan Oh