Wesley Corpus

(Verses 4, 5.) (3.) Answers their grand objection to his doctrine, taken from the justice of God to their fathers. (Verses 6-13.) (4.) Removes another objection, taken from the justice of God; interweaving all along strong reproofs to the Jews, for priding themselves on those privileges which were owing merely to the good pleasure of God, not to their fathers’ goodness, any more than their own. (Verses 14-23.) (5.) Resumes and proves by Scripture his former assertion, that many Jews would be lost, and many Heathens saved. (Verses 24-29.) And, lastly, sums up the general drift of this chapter, and indeed of the whole Epistle. “What shall we say then?” What is the conclusion from the whole 7 the sum of all which has been spoken? Why, that many Gentiles already partake of the great salvation, and many Jews fall short of it. Wherefore? Because they would not receive it by faith. And whosoever believeth not, cannot be saved; whereas, “whosoever believeth in Christ,” whether Jew or Gentile, “shall not be ashamed.” (Verses 30-33.) 27. Those words, “Hath not the potter power over his own clay?” are part of St. Paul's answer to that objection, That it was unjust for God to show that mercy to the Gentiles which he withheld from his own people. This he first simply denies, saying, “God forbid!” And then observes, that, according to his own words to Moses, God has a right to fix the terms on which he will show mercy, which neither the will nor the power of man can alter; (verses 15, 16;) and to withdraw his mercy from them who, like Pharaoh, will not comply with those terms. (Verse 17.) And that accordingly “he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy,” namely, those that truly believe; “ and whom he will,” namely, obstinate unbelievers, he suffers to be “hardened.” 28. But “why then,” say the objectors, “doth he find fault” with those that are hardened? “for who hath resisted his will?” (Verse 19.) To this insolent misconstruction of what he had said, the Apostle first gives a severe rebuke; and then adds, “Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” Why hast thou made me capable of salvation only on those terms? None indeed hath resisted this will of God.