Regarding Romans 9, this chapter is the “gold standard” of every Pre-determinism teacher. Notice I said pre-determined, as that is the real viewpoint I am dealing with in this blog. You can check out part 1 in this series to understand the difference.
Let’s read through the section that seems to say God preordains some people for grace, and some for wrath. That God pre-decides who is going to heaven, and who will burn in hell forever, with no real choice on their part.
Romans 9:15-21 (ESV)
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 it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
The key verse used here is verse 16. It does not depend on human will, but on God, who has mercy. Sure sounds like this teaches God pre-determines who goes where, and there is nothing we can do about it.
….Not so fast.
The answer to this question of predestination and the proper understanding of it, is in these 2 verses I will share with you. We need to read these first and apply them to Romans 9. Otherwise, we will have a skewed understanding of God’s grace and mercy, exactly who his wrath is for, and how that applies to every one of us.
It’s just a flip of a few pages back to get to Romans 5. You cannot get the whole teaching of predestination just from Romans 9. When you add Romans 5, the full picture comes into view.
A word of caution, and also making sure I am clear.
What I am about to share has also been used to propagate the false teaching of universalism. Universalism (the idea that all will eventually be saved) is a topic for another day, but I want to be clear that this next verse cannot be taken out of context either. You understand the Bible and doctrine with a process called “rightly dividing the word of truth”. This means 1 verse, or even 1 chapter doctrines can and will lead to a false conclusion unless you study the topic throughout the Bible.
God’s character is consistent throughout, and so we must balance what we know about his character when we determine doctrine.
With that said, here is the verse that unpacks predestination:
Romans 5:18 (ESV)
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
The first Adam predestined EVERYONE to hell through sin. The 2nd Adam (Jesus) Predestined EVERYONE to heaven. All means all in that verse in both cases. To say the 2nd “all” in this verse only means some, but the first “all” means all, is reading into the text what you want it to mean, instead of what it clearly and plainly says.
Exegesis involves the careful and methodical interpretation of a text, aiming to uncover and articulate the meaning intended by the original author or authors. It is a disciplined approach that strives to remain faithful to the historical, cultural, and linguistic context in which the text was written. By contrast, eisegesis is an interpretative process where the reader projects their own ideas, beliefs, or biases onto the text, effectively reading into it meanings that are not inherently present. This practice distorts the text’s original message, substituting the reader’s subjective perspective for the actual content of the text.
Applying this distinction to Romans 5:18 highlights the importance of exegesis in understanding this verse within its proper context. Let’s read it in a different translation that perhaps says it a little differently. Romans 5:18 (CSB) states:
“So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone”.
Through exegesis, we would examine the context of Paul’s letter to the Romans, understanding the theological arguments he makes about sin and redemption. We would consider the broader discussion in Romans 5 about Adam’s sin and Christ’s righteousness, exploring how Paul contrasts the consequences of Adam’s transgression with the redemptive work of Christ.
On the other hand, an eisegetical approach might involve reading personal or contemporary theological assumptions into the text. For instance, someone might approach Romans 5:18 with a preconceived belief in universal salvation (as discussed above) and interpret “justification leading to life for everyone” to mean that all people are automatically saved, regardless of their faith or actions.
Through one man – Adam, all were destined for hell. Through one man, all are now destined for heaven, as long as they choose that destination.
Let’s finish up reading Romans 9, as it actually explains this truth:
Starting in Verse 22 through 25:
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,
“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
So now we tie it all together. The scripture says those who WERE not my people (predestined for wrath) are NOW my people (Predestined for mercy).
So how do you pass from predestined for death, to predestined for life?
A key scripture that talks about passing from death to life is found in John 5:24. (ESV):
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
Because of Adam, we were born with the NATURE to sin (Ephesians 2:3
“among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by NATURE children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”)
But praise God, because of Jesus, our NATURE and DESTINATION have been CHANGED, when we receive Christ:
Ephesians 4:22-24
“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
2 Timothy 1:9
“who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
Romans 6:10
“For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.”
In the last of this 3 part series, I will discuss the 5 verses that disprove the idea of predetermined automation.
