Romans 9:15
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. 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.
God as Creator holds the sovereign right to grant mercy and compassion to whom He wills and to fix the terms on which He pardons sin without consulting man. Salvation therefore does not rest on human willing or effort but on God who shows mercy, whose mercy fills the earth and endures forever. This does not mean He arbitrarily decrees any person to salvation or damnation, for He judges without partiality according to fitness and work, and His choosing of Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau was a choice to special place and service that carries responsibility without deciding eternal destiny. Pharaoh illustrates this, for God did not make him wicked but allowed an already wicked man to rule so His power might be shown, giving him opportunities for faith while hardening him only by withdrawing His Spirit as Pharaoh persisted in resisting. The mercy He wills to show is open to every person and is received by those who turn to Him, forsaking sin, coming to Christ, fearing God and keeping His commandments, while those who persistently reject His appeals harden themselves until they are given up to their own chosen fate.
Words and Context in Romans
The verse belongs to Paul's discussion of election and divine sovereignty concerning the Jewish people's relation to God's plan, showing sovereignty in choosing whom to show mercy and compassion. It closes the wonderful inspired argument for justification and life through Jesus Christ and begins the presentation of the true condition of Israel. That argument proves all are under sin irrespective of nationality, and shows Abraham received justification before he was circumcised so that ritualism or mere human organization has nothing to do with salvation. It gathers force to the climax that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, shows the outworking of that life in the trust taught in the closing verses of chapter 8, and then turns to Israel.
It belongs to the setting forth of the condition of Israel according to the flesh, who are accursed from Christ because though they followed after the law of righteousness they did not attain to righteousness, since they sought it not by faith but by works, while the Gentiles gained precedence over them because they sought righteousness in the right way by faith. This fulfills the words that publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before the self-righteous and that the kingdom is taken away and given to a nation bringing forth its fruits. Yet the Lord did not cast off His people because they stumbled at the Stone He had placed for a foundation, but endured with much long-suffering even the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.
It belongs to the teaching about God's purpose of grace, which does not give the literal descendants of Jacob special standing, since natural descent alone does not make anyone acceptable to God. God's promise is fulfilled in those who become Abraham's children through faith in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, the promises are fulfilled in Christ and the blessing is received through faith, and believing Jews and Gentiles share the same privileges. The Israel that will be saved is spiritual Israel, made up of those who have faith in Jesus, and God's people are not defined by descent from the ancient tribes, which will not be restored according to the flesh, for God's promises are fulfilled in Christ. Unbelieving descendants of Abraham are not counted as his seed, while faithful Gentiles become Abraham's seed and part of Israel through faith. "Israel" in Hosea's prophecy must be understood according to this teaching, not simply as Israel according to the flesh, for the prophecy concerns the gospel work of gathering the true seed from all nations. The promises of the kingdom to the descendants of Jacob were conditional, were forfeited under the old covenant, and can only be regained by obtaining an interest in Jesus, now prince and soon to be crowned King, the kingdom being taken from unbelieving Israel and given to a nation bringing forth its fruits, namely the poor rich in faith who love Him.
God's Sovereign Choice of Mercy
The verse declares the Creator's sovereign right to extend mercy and compassion to whom He wills and to fix without consulting any man the terms on which He will pardon sin. As Creator He has the power and right to preserve or to destroy, and His decision concerning any person accords strictly with that person's fitness or unfitness for continued existence. This sovereignty includes extending mercy as He pleases and withholding it as He pleases, passing over some and appointing them to dishonor and wrath for their sin while others are chosen for salvation.
Salvation does not depend on human willing or running or effort, but on God who shows mercy, for mercy and compassion are His to give and not things earned. His choice is all of mercy and contains no unrighteousness or arbitrariness, and the verses that follow explain both His showing of mercy and His hardening. His mercy fills the whole earth and endures forever, He delights in mercy, and He judges each person without partiality according to that person's work. Sovereignty here is meant to show that salvation comes from His mercy and grace rather than from human merit or effort.
That sovereign mercy does not mean salvation is arbitrary, that particular individuals are decreed to salvation or damnation, or that any soul is barred from salvation. By foreknowledge He knows the characters of men, yet He still does all He can to help even those whose characters He opposes, and they can receive a righteous character if they yield to Him. He calls every soul to a character that can be saved, and His mercy reaches even the wicked when they forsake their ways and return to Him, abundantly pardoning them. Nor is it a claim that He arbitrarily condemns those who have done nothing to deserve it; He offers grace and gives opportunities to serve His purposes, and only those who persistently resist and reject His offers are eventually given up to their own ways.
Election in this verse concerns filling certain important places in His work rather than fixing eternal destiny. By His own will and wisdom He chose Isaac rather than Ishmael and Jacob rather than Esau for special privilege, role, and blessing as instruments of mercy or judgment, and His choosing is a call to salvation that people can accept by choosing His way rather than a choice of anyone for sin or condemnation. Such a choice places heavy responsibility on the man chosen without making his salvation certain, while those not so chosen still retain the full privilege of receiving salvation through Christ if they will. Those who persistently resist harden the heart, and persistent sin leads Him to withdraw His Spirit.
Pharaoh illustrates this hardening, for he was already an extremely wicked man whom God allowed to take the throne at that time so that His power and name could be shown to the world. God did not make Pharaoh wicked but used him after his wickedness made him fit for that purpose, giving him opportunities that could have led to faith, conversion, and salvation. Pharaoh hardened his heart by resisting those saving influences and thereby lost the chance to help lead his people to salvation, and God hardens only by withdrawing His tender Spirit when men persist in sin and grieve it. The potter image likewise shows His long patience and much long-suffering toward the disobedient Jews who proved incorrigible as vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, while believers from both Jews and Gentiles are vessels of mercy who share His glory. Even Pharaoh's refusal, which removed him from the purpose of revealing God's power and name through covenant blessing, did not defeat God's ultimate purpose.
Receiving Mercy and Hardening
Mercy is given on conditions God Himself has fixed, and it is received by those who turn to Him. The wicked receive it when they forsake their ways and their thoughts and return for abundant pardon, the sinner when he confesses and abandons sin, and the weary when they come to Christ. Those who fear God and do what is right are accepted without respect of persons, and mercy is shown to those who keep covenant and commandments, work righteousness, love God and keep His commandments, and love His Son. This choosing is not favoring particular people, and no one is barred from salvation, for God calls every soul to a character that can be saved.
His will to have mercy includes every person, obedient and disobedient. To the obedient He shows mercy unto thousands who love Him and keep His commandments, keeping covenant and mercy with them. To the disobedient, the wicked and sinful, even the worst of sinners, His will is to have mercy and abundantly pardon when they return, because He delights in mercy. His mercy and long-suffering give opportunity to yield and develop the character He intends.
Those who persistently resist His goodness and reject repeated appeals and offers of mercy harden themselves by persisting in sin. They thereby lose the chance to help lead others to salvation and to serve His purposes. They are eventually given up to their own ways as God withdraws His tender Spirit when men persist in sin and grieve it, and they face the fate they have chosen. Their refusal does not defeat His ultimate purpose, for He still reveals His power and name through them.