A Study of Romans 9:15-16
“For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
(Romans 9:15-16)
God’s absolute sovereignty in all things may be difficult for us to grasp in light of the truth of man’s responsibility, but it reveals the glory of God in the salvation of sinners by His grace in Christ Jesus.
If it were not for God’s absolute sovereignty, there would be no hope for any sinner. Salvation is neither by the will of man nor by the works and efforts of man.
Man by nature does not want salvation God’s way (the only way), and he cannot earn salvation because of sin.
Salvation comes from the sovereign will of God and by the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.
So how can we understand these things?
We must accept God’s Word and see that God operates upon the plane of His own sovereignty.
All things come about because they are “… predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will:” (Ephesians 1:11).
In this, there are secrets we do not know as God has not revealed them to us – “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God …” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
We operate upon the plane of our own responsibility – “… but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
The fact that we cannot weave both truths into the fabric of our own human understanding does not give us the right to deny either one. The Bible teaches that all whom God has chosen shall believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
It also teaches, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Sinners have no reason not to believe God or even hesitate by wondering if they are elect or not.
Sinners are commanded to trust Christ for all salvation.
Our Lord said, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
Jesus is LORD! 
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