Romans 9:14-18, Translation and Outline

Translation

^9:14 What shall we say then? Is God unrighteous? May it never be! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then, (election) does not depend on a person’s desire or a person’s effort, but rather on God who shows mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I may demonstrate my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” ¹⁸ So then, God has mercy on whom He desires, and God hardens whom He desires.

Main Idea

The reason why it must be concluded that God acts justly in the election of the saints is because salvation depends upon His mercy which He distributes according to His own right judgment.

Outline

I. Drawing the conclusion that God has always dealt unjustly in the election of the redeemed is a repulsive thought that should not be inferred from Paul’s previous argument (v. 14).

II. The reason God remains just through the process of election is because salvation depends on His mercy (not His justice) which He distributes according to His own good judgment (v. 15–18).

A. The result of the distribution of divine mercy being solely at God’s discretion is that a person cannot through their own individual worth be worthy to receive that mercy (v. 15–16).

1. The statement of God to Moses concerning the distribution of His divine mercy was that it was solely at God’s discretion to choose whom He displayed His mercy towards (v. 15).

a. The mercy of God is granted to whomever God chooses.

b. The compassion of God is shown to whomever God desires.

2. Being a recipient of the mercy of God is dependent solely on God and not on the desires or merits of an individual person (v. 16).

a. Being a recipient of the mercy of God is not dependent on the degree to which a person desires to obtain it.

b. Being a recipient of the mercy of God is not dependent on the amount of effort a person puts forth in an attempt to merit it.

c. Being a recipient of the mercy of God is dependent on the will and desire of God to be merciful.

B. The result of the sovereign God bringing about His ultimate glorification through His creation is that the distribution of His divine mercy lies solely in His good judgment (v. 17–18).

1. The scriptural purpose for which God demonstrated His sovereignty over the actions of Pharaoh was that God alone would be glorified through him (v. 17).

a. The purpose for which God allowed Pharaoh to live and rule was that the power of God would be confirmed through him.

b. The purpose for which God allowed Pharaoh to live and rule was that the name of God would be made known throughout the earth.

2. Whether or not an individual person receives the mercy of God or rejects His revelation is determined solely at the discretion of God (v. 18).

a. The recipients of the mercy of God are determined solely at His discretion.

b. Those who are unwilling to accept the divine revelation of God are determined at His discretion.