Sermons on Romans 9:22-23
The various sermons below converge on the central conviction that Romans 9:22-23 reveals God’s sovereign purpose in displaying both wrath and mercy, with the ultimate aim being the magnification of His glory through the vessels of mercy. They emphasize that God’s endurance of the “vessels of wrath” is neither arbitrary nor unjust, but purposeful and just, highlighting human guilt and responsibility alongside divine sovereignty. A common thread is the careful linguistic attention to the Greek text—particularly the verbs for “demonstrate” and “prepare”—which nuances the understanding of God’s active role in mercy versus the more mysterious, passive aspect of judgment. The sermons also underscore that God’s patience with the wicked is genuine and that the knowledge of His wrath is necessary for a fuller appreciation of His mercy, which in turn fosters true worship and love. Several sermons draw on vivid analogies, such as the potter and clay or courtroom imagery, to illustrate the balance of divine sovereignty and human accountability. The theme that evil and suffering serve as the backdrop for the full revelation of God’s attributes, including the cross as the supreme example, is also prominent, with some sermons stressing that God’s self-display is ultimately for His own glory and satisfaction.
In contrast, some sermons place greater emphasis on the actual versus hypothetical nature of Paul’s argument, insisting that the “what if” clause is a statement of fact rather than speculation, which grounds the passage firmly in historical divine action (e.g., Pharaoh’s example). Others highlight the grammatical distinction between the passive and active voices in the verbs “prepared,” suggesting a theological asymmetry where God’s preparation for destruction is hidden and subordinate, while His preparation for glory is direct and intentional. A few sermons critique cultural assumptions, particularly the American ideal of free will, arguing that it distorts biblical sovereignty and theodicy, and call for worshipful submission to God’s right to display His attributes as He wills. The pastoral tone varies as well: some sermons lean into the mystery and inscrutability of God’s ways, encouraging humble trust without full comprehension, while others frame the passage as the “ultimate theodicy,” a definitive justification of God’s justice in election and reprobation. Finally, there is a divergence in how the vessels of mercy are defined—some sermons emphasize repentance and being “made fit” for mercy, while others stress that anyone who calls on the Lord’s name is included, making the doctrine more pastorally accessible.
Romans 9:22-23 Interpretation:
God's Sovereignty and Mercy: Understanding His Purpose (Desiring God) offers a detailed, stepwise interpretation of Romans 9:22-23, emphasizing that God's endurance of "vessels of wrath" is not arbitrary but purposeful. The sermon uniquely highlights the Greek structure of the passage, noting the logical flow: God's desire to show wrath and power is enacted through patient endurance of the wicked, but the ultimate purpose is to make known the riches of his glory to the "vessels of mercy." The preacher draws a careful distinction between God's sovereignty and human blameworthiness, arguing that the "vessels of wrath" are truly suited for wrath (i.e., genuinely guilty and deserving), while the "vessels of mercy" are made fit for mercy through repentance. The sermon uses the analogy of the potter and clay to stress both divine sovereignty and real human responsibility, and it insists that God's patience with the wicked is genuine, not a mere show. The preacher also notes that the ultimate goal is not wrath but the revelation of God's glory to the redeemed, and that the full knowledge of God (including his justice and mercy) is necessary for true love and worship.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst the Problem of Evil (Ligonier Ministries) interprets Romans 9:22-23 as the climactic answer to the problem of evil, focusing on the Greek verbs for "demonstrate" (endeiknumi, sunistemi) to argue that God actively puts his attributes on display for his own glory. The sermon is notable for its linguistic detail, explaining that the Greek aorist middle voice in "demonstrate" means God is demonstrating his wrath and mercy "for himself," i.e., for his own satisfaction and glory. The preacher uses the analogy of a "fourth down, long pass" to describe this passage as the "winning play" in theodicy, and he insists that the existence of evil is ultimately willed by God so that his righteousness, love, wrath, and mercy can be fully revealed. The sermon is careful to distinguish between God being the author of sin and God ordaining that sin exist for a greater purpose, and it repeatedly returns to the idea that only against the backdrop of evil can God's attributes be fully known and worshipped.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Ligonier Ministries) closely parallels the previous Ligonier sermon but adds a unique emphasis on the American cultural context, critiquing the "free will" theodicy as a product of democratic individualism. The preacher again highlights the Greek term for "demonstrate" and the structure of Paul's argument, but he also uses the analogy of a courtroom and the language of "display" to stress that God has the right to put his wrath and mercy on display as he chooses. The sermon is notable for its rhetorical questions and for its insistence that the ultimate purpose of evil is to magnify God's glory, especially as seen in the cross. The preacher also draws attention to the narrative of Pharaoh as a concrete example of a "vessel of wrath" raised up to display God's power and wrath, and he insists that the only proper response is worshipful submission to God's sovereign purposes.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) interprets Romans 9:22-23 as the Bible's closest answer to the question of why God would create a world in which many are lost. The preacher emphasizes the logical structure of the passage, focusing on the conjunction "in order that" as the key to understanding God's ultimate purpose: the display of the riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy. The sermon is notable for its pastoral tone, acknowledging the inscrutability and mystery of God's ways but urging listeners to "live there" in humble trust. The preacher also stresses that the vessels of wrath are truly blameworthy, and that the vessels of mercy are recipients of undeserved grace, so that the contrast magnifies God's mercy and glory.
Romans 9:22-23 Theological Themes:
God's Sovereignty and Mercy: Understanding His Purpose (Desiring God) introduces the theme that God's ultimate purpose in history is not wrath or judgment per se, but the full revelation of his glory to the redeemed. The sermon uniquely argues that the knowledge of God's wrath and justice is necessary for the redeemed to fully appreciate his mercy, and that this is an act of love—God would not be loving if he did not reveal himself fully, including his justice. The preacher also stresses that God's patience with the wicked is real and that no one will be able to claim injustice at the final judgment, as all are truly suited for their respective destinies.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst the Problem of Evil (Ligonier Ministries) presents the distinct theme that God "demonstrates" his attributes for his own glory, and that the existence of evil is necessary for the full display of God's righteousness, love, wrath, and mercy. The sermon adds the facet that God's self-demonstration is reflexive (for himself) and that the redeemed will forever glorify God for the display of these attributes, which would not be possible without the existence of evil and judgment.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Ligonier Ministries) adds the theme that the American obsession with free will distorts the biblical picture of God's sovereignty, and that true worship requires submission to God's right to display his attributes as he wills. The preacher also emphasizes that the greatest evil (the crucifixion of Christ) was ordained by God for the greatest good (the display of his righteousness and mercy), and that this pattern is paradigmatic for understanding all evil and suffering.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) introduces the theme that the contrast between vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy is essential for the redeemed to be "amazed at grace," and that the ultimate answer to the problem of election and reprobation is the display of God's glory in mercy. The preacher also stresses the mystery and inscrutability of God's ways, urging believers to rest in worship rather than demand full comprehension.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility (Desiring God) introduces the theme that God’s righteousness in judgment is ultimately justified by His purpose to display the full range of His attributes—including wrath and mercy—for the sake of His glory. The sermon frames Romans 9:22-23 as the “ultimate theodicy,” suggesting that the existence of vessels of wrath and mercy is not arbitrary but serves the highest good: the revelation of God’s glory in all its facets.
God's Sovereignty: Redemption, Judgment, and Divine Purpose (Desiring God) adds a new facet by arguing that the asymmetry in God’s dealings with vessels of wrath and mercy (as seen in the different Greek verbs and voices) means that God’s ultimate goal is not destruction but the manifestation of mercy and glory. The sermon stresses that while God is sovereign over both, His active preparation for glory is His ultimate purpose, and the preparation for destruction is subordinate and mysterious, never compromising human responsibility.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Mercy in Romans 9 (Desiring God) brings a fresh application by asserting that Romans 9:22-23 is the Bible’s most “ultimate answer” for why God chooses some and not others, and that God’s justice is upheld because He always acts to uphold the infinite value of His own glory. The sermon also highlights that the “vessels of mercy” are defined by anyone who calls on the name of the Lord, making the doctrine pastorally relevant and not merely abstract.
Romans 9:22-23 Historical and Contextual Insights:
God's Sovereignty and Mercy: Understanding His Purpose (Desiring God) provides historical context by referencing the narrative of Pharaoh in Exodus, noting that Paul's language in Romans 9:22-23 is rooted in the story of God's repeated patience and hardening of Pharaoh's heart. The preacher explains that the "vessels of wrath" are exemplified by Pharaoh, who was given multiple opportunities to repent, and that the context of the Exodus is essential for understanding Paul's argument about God's patience and justice.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst the Problem of Evil (Ligonier Ministries) offers contextual insight by connecting Paul's argument in Romans 9 to the broader biblical narrative, especially the story of Pharaoh and the Exodus. The preacher explains that the language of "vessels of wrath" and "vessels of mercy" is drawn from the Old Testament imagery of the potter and clay, and that Paul's argument is meant to echo God's dealings with Israel and the nations.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Ligonier Ministries) also situates Romans 9:22-23 within the context of the Exodus narrative, emphasizing that Pharaoh is the paradigmatic "vessel of wrath" raised up to display God's power. The preacher further notes that the American context of individualism and democracy can make it difficult for modern listeners to accept Paul's teaching on divine sovereignty.
God's Sovereignty: Redemption, Judgment, and Divine Purpose (Desiring God) provides historical and contextual insight by explaining that Paul’s use of the potter and clay metaphor (Romans 9:21) would have resonated with his Jewish audience, who were familiar with Old Testament imagery of God as the potter (e.g., Isaiah 45:9, Jeremiah 18:6). The sermon also situates the discussion within the broader context of God’s dealings with Pharaoh, highlighting how God’s actions in Exodus serve as a concrete example of the principles articulated in Romans 9:22-23.
Romans 9:22-23 Cross-References in the Bible:
God's Sovereignty and Mercy: Understanding His Purpose (Desiring God) references Exodus 9:17 and the story of Pharaoh as the background for Romans 9:22-23, highlighting the repeated opportunities for repentance and the demonstration of God's power. The sermon also alludes to other passages in Romans 9 (especially verses 6-23) to show the logical flow of Paul's argument, and it references the broader biblical theme of the potter and clay (Isaiah 45, Jeremiah 18).
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst the Problem of Evil (Ligonier Ministries) draws on a wide range of biblical cross-references to support its interpretation of Romans 9:22-23. These include Romans 3:5 (our unrighteousness demonstrates God's righteousness), Romans 5:8 (God demonstrates his love in Christ's death for sinners), Jude 4 (the pre-ordination of apostates for condemnation), Exodus 4:11 (God's sovereignty over human abilities), Psalm 115:3, Daniel 4:35, Deuteronomy 32:39, Lamentations 3:37-38, Proverbs 16:4, Job 23:13, Psalm 33:9-11, Psalm 103:19, Isaiah 14:27, 1 Samuel 2:6-8, Amos 3:6, and especially the story of Pharaoh in Exodus. The preacher also references Acts 2:22-23 and Acts 4:27-28 to show that the crucifixion of Christ was predestined by God, and Job 38-42 as a rebuke to those who question God's purposes.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Ligonier Ministries) similarly references Romans 3:5, Romans 5:8, Romans 10, Revelation 15, Acts 2:22-23, Acts 4:27-28, Job 38-42, and the story of Pharaoh in Exodus. The preacher also cites Ephesians 2:5, 1 John 5:20, 2 Corinthians 10, and other passages to support the argument that God's sovereignty and the existence of evil are biblically inseparable.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) references Acts 4:27-28 (God's predestining of the crucifixion), Ephesians 1 (election in Christ), Romans 9:6-23 (the broader context of election and reprobation), and 1 John 2:19 (those who depart were never truly of us). The preacher also alludes to the story of Pharaoh and the Exodus as the background for Paul's argument.
Seeking the Riches of God's Glory (Desiring God) references Romans 9:22-23 alongside Colossians 1:27 (“the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”), Ephesians 1:18 (“the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”), Philippians 4:19 (“my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”), and Ephesians 2:7 (“the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”). The sermon uses these passages to argue that the “riches of his glory” in Romans 9:23 refer both to the overflow of God’s resources and to the beauty of God’s glory itself, culminating in the idea that God’s glory is both the source and the goal of all spiritual blessings.
God's Sovereignty: Redemption, Judgment, and Divine Purpose (Desiring God) cross-references Romans 9:14 (“Jacob I loved, Esau I hated”), Romans 9:18 (“he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills”), and Romans 9:21 (the potter and the clay), as well as the story of Pharaoh in Exodus (referenced in Romans 9:17-18). These references are used to support the claim that God is the decisive actor in both mercy and judgment, and that the pattern seen with Pharaoh is paradigmatic for understanding God’s sovereign purposes in history.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Mercy in Romans 9 (Desiring God) also cross-references Romans 9:2-3 (Paul’s anguish for his kinsmen), Romans 9:6 (not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel), Romans 9:14-18 (God’s freedom in showing mercy and hardening), and the story of Pharaoh (Romans 9:17-18). The sermon uses these passages to demonstrate that the issue at stake is the individual destinies of Jews and the justice of God’s sovereign choices, culminating in the assertion that God’s ultimate goal is to make known the riches of His glory to the vessels of mercy.
Romans 9:22-23 Christian References outside the Bible:
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst the Problem of Evil (Ligonier Ministries) explicitly references the Westminster Confession, quoting its statements on God's ordination of all things and the distinction between God's decree and the responsibility of creatures. The preacher also mentions conversations with Al Mohler and Jim Boyce, citing Boyce's view that the damned will know they received exactly what they deserved, and that the redeemed will forever glorify God for the display of his attributes.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Ligonier Ministries) also quotes the Westminster Confession on God's ordination of all things for the praise of his glory, and references a conversation with Guy Ritchie (husband of Madonna) about metaphysics and the necessity of evil for the display of good. The preacher mentions the influence of American culture and the writings of Rabbi Harold Kushner (When Bad Things Happen to Good People) as examples of attempts to "get God off the hook" for evil.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) references the preacher's own book "Spectacular Sins" as an extended treatment of the topic, and alludes to the influence of Jonathan Edwards (to be discussed in a subsequent session) on the interpretation of Romans 9:22-23.
Understanding God's Sovereignty and Mercy in Romans 9 (Desiring God) explicitly references John Piper’s own book, The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:1-23 (Baker Academic, 1993), noting that it was written after months of wrestling with the passage and that it provides an in-depth exegetical and theological analysis of Romans 9, including the Greek and Hebrew details. The sermon encourages serious students to consult this work for a deeper understanding of the passage.
Romans 9:22-23 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst the Problem of Evil (Ligonier Ministries) uses the analogy of a football game ("fourth and forty on the ten yard line," "punt Deuteronomy 29:29," "long pass for six") to illustrate the perceived difficulty and ultimate solution of the problem of evil. The preacher also references the philosophical systems of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, and critiques the metaphysical theodicy of yin and yang. The sermon mentions the book "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by Rabbi Harold Kushner as an example of a secular attempt to address the problem of evil.
Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Ligonier Ministries) provides a detailed illustration from the 1918 influenza pandemic, referencing John Barry's book "The Great Influenza" to underscore the reality and pervasiveness of natural evil. The preacher also recounts a personal conversation with Guy Ritchie (husband of Madonna) about Kabbalah, metaphysics, and the necessity of evil for the universe's equilibrium, using this as a springboard to discuss the inadequacy of secular and mystical explanations for evil. The sermon also references the American context of democracy and individualism as shaping popular resistance to the biblical doctrine of sovereignty.