Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site hplabsc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!well!ptsfa!qantel!hplabsc!brengle From: brengle@hplabsc.UUCP (Tim Brengle) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: Presumptions Message-ID: <2802@hplabsc.UUCP> Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 17:45:13 EST Article-I.D.: hplabsc.2802 Posted: Fri Nov 1 17:45:13 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 05:01:19 EST Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 22 What shall we say, then? That God is unjust? Not at all. For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I wish, I will take pity on whom I wish." So then, it does not does not depend on what man wants or does, but only on God's mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I made you king for this very purpose, to use you to show my power, and to make my name known in all the world." So then, God has mercy on whom he wishes, and he makes stubborn whom he wishes. One of you, then, will say to me, "If this is so, how can God find fault with a man? Who can resist God's will?" But who are you, my friend, to talk back to God? A clay pot does not ask the man who made it, "Why did you make me like this?" After all, the man who makes the pots has the right to use the clay as he wishes, and to make two pots from the same lump of clay, one for special occasions, and the other for ordinary use. And the same is true of what God has done. He wanted to show his wrath and to make his power known. So he was very patient in enduring those who were the objects of his wrath, who were ready to be destroyed. And he wanted also to reveal his rich glory, which was poured out on us who were the objects of his mercy, those of us whom he has prepared to receive his glory. Romans 9:14-23, Good News for Modern Man