Bible Study Seattle

Romans chapters 9 to 11 must be taken as a whole. The first difficult scripture is Romans 9:17-18:

“For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” Romans 9:16-17

Paul is merely quoting Exodus 9:16. Does God harden people to evil only to condemn them? Wouldn’t that be cruel and sadistic? Is God cruel? Satan certainly wants you to think so. But let’s read on.

“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.” Romans 11:25-26

All Israel will be saved?!? What about justice? Is God unjust? Satan certainly wants you to think so.

But the clue is in the phrase ‘hardening in part’. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and Esau’s heart. But this is not eternal. Paul says, “For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Romans 11:15 God’s hardening relates only to the first life. They will be brought back to life for a second chance:

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4 God is not cruel or sadistic or unjust. That is Satan. God will give everyone a full chance to choose Life so that they have no excuse. This will be in our second life. Those that reject Life will be choosing Second Death and there is no remedy for them. This is why the priests were not to defile themselves for the dead:

“The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die, except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother, or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.  He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage, and so defile himself.” Leviticus 21:1-4

This passage is especially applicable to the Millennial reign of Christ and those that choose second death. We are not to mourn these. “No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; they are to be put to death.” Leviticus 27:29 God hardens some people to cause others to seek him but will never harden anyone to the point of second death. That is our choice.