In studying the Decrees of God in our WCF Officer Training Course, we naturally had to look at Romans 9. In that passage, Paul reveals the reason for God’s election of some to eternal life, while passing over others who will not possess it. Of course, all men deserve hell, both because of Adam’s representative sin, and their own as well. So, the fact that He gave life to any is remarkable and gracious.
Now, according to Romans 9, on the one hand, God desired to demonstrate His power and wrath, on the other, His mercy and grace. The demonstration (to “make known” is the phrase he used to describe this demonstration) of each required those upon whom He could—rightly—shed forth mercy, and those upon whom he could—rightly—punish for their unrepentant sin. Both demonstrations, to be just, required sinners. These he decreed would exist, not apart from, but precisely through the means—their decisions.
People object to this teaching, saying something like, “That’s not fair!” But the objection only proves the teaching valid. Paul knew people would object, and anticipated it with the words they would say: “Why, then does God find fault; who can resist His will?” Of course, no one would raise the objection unless what is being taught is exactly that which Paul taught! His anticipated objection proves that the teaching, though difficult for proud man to swallow, is true.