As he continues through the subject of God's sovereignty, Paul anticipates the question of one's free will and doubles down on the authority of God in all areas, including this.  While we can have very sincere questions if we're hoping to gain greater understanding, we must remember that all of our actions are tainted by sin due to our fallen nature, and absent God's grace, we are all vessels of destruction, which are used to show his power and to make known the riches of his glory

 

Scripture: Job 40:1-15, Romnans 9:19-24

As believers, we need to be willing to be an instrument in our Lord's hands, have a genuine heart for the lost, and be willing to do whatever it takes to preach the gospel.  In Acts 8, we see God using Philip in the salvation of the Ethiopian eunuch, who was highly regarded and seemingly had much of what the world has to offer, yet something was still missing.  After God opened his heart, he partook in baptism, which is the outward witness to others of the inward change that God has made.  

 

Scripture: Isaiah 53, Acts 26-39

There are two major categories of objections to the reality of God's sovereign election in salvation, fairness and personal freedom, that Paul anticipates and addresses as we wrestle with this challenging doctrine.  Just as a governor, who has the authority and prerogative, can pardon the convicted, so too does God in choosing to show mercy on some and not others.  This is not based on anything that we do but is the free gift of mercy shown to convicted and underserved sinners.  

 

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-6, 12-19, Romans 9:1-16

While God is always sovereign in the salvation of his people, this fact does not negate our responsibility as Christians to preach the Gospel, with love and without partiality, to all people, whether they're sympathetic to us or not.  We also cannot make the mistake that someone having all of the advantages of growing up around the church and being surrounded by the things God equates to salvation in Christ.  Always preach, never presume, because what's at stake is everything. 

 

Scripture: Isaiah 48:12-19, Romans 9:1-5