Romans 11:33-36 In this lesson we first review Paul's explanation in chapters 9-11 of how God has worked through salvation history. He culminates this masterpiece with a hymn of praise of God. What are the two different ways this passage might be translated? What are three things about God that are infinitely deep? What does Paul have in mind when he speaks of the riches of God? What is God's wisdom? What is God's knowledge? Why can no one be God's counselor? What are two things we must keep in mind about knowing the mind of God in view of what Paul says here about it being unsearchable? How do the "mystery" of Romans 9-11 and Jesus himself relate to the matter of knowing the unknowable mind of God? If everything is from, through, and to God, how can we be comforted while realizing that God's mind is so unsearchable? (52 min)

Keywords Mercy, Israel, Gentiles, Omniscience, Wisdom, Knowledge

Romans 11:26-32 Picking up from where we left off two weeks ago, Paul explains how it is that all Israel will be saved. With what does he say that Israel's spiritual renewal will be associated? Why does Paul apparently make an alteration in his quotation of Isaiah? What is it about the gifts and calling of God that is the basis for Paul's confidence? What gifts and calling does he appear to have in mind? If the Gentiles to whom Paul writes are inclined to be skeptical about Paul's expectations of a great salvation of Israel, what experience does Paul offer as evidence? How does God's use of Israel's disobedience and His use of the mercy shown to Gentiles bear on the subject of the problem of evil? In all of the hardening of both the Jews and the Gentiles, indeed of all people, what is the overriding purpose of God? How can we be sure this verse does not teach universalism (that all people will be saved)? (56 min)

Keywords Israel, Gentiles, Mercy, Hardening, Salvation, Mystery

Romans 9:22-26 Having considered last week about the vessels Paul discusses in these verses, we return in this lesson to discover a bit more about those vessels, and then to study Paul's "what if" statement. What evidence do we have from this passage and others that the condition of being a vessel of wrath is not unchanging, but that a vessel of wrath can become a vessel of mercy? What are two different ways we might use a "what if" statement such as Paul uses here? How does Paul use it? What do we learn that God is every bit willing to do? Yet we learn that God has not done this. Why? What is the glory for which the children of Israel in Egypt were prepared as God waited on Pharaoh? How does Paul use the word "from" in verse 24? How does he use the word "called?" How does the story of Hosea's daughter and son give evidence that God can call some who are Gentiles His people? How does this passage shut the door on racism? (61 min)

Keywords Calling, Vessels, Wrath, Mercy, Hosea

Romans 9:22-23 Having established the right of the potter to make whatever kind of vessel he wishes from the clay, Paul now asks a "What if?" question. There are three entities in these verses, God, vessels of wrath, and vessels of mercy. In this lesson we take time to consider who and what are the vessels of wrath, and who and what are the vessels of mercy. What is the first most important thing we learn about the vessels of wrath? To what utility does God purpose to use these vessels? To what does the term "vessels of wrath" refer, their purpose or their condition? Who are the vessels of mercy? What is the utility to which God proposes to use such vessels? What is the difference between the preparation of the vessels of wrath and that of the vessels of mercy? Is the condition of being a vessel of wrath an immutable condition, or can such a vessel become a vessel of mercy? In our next lesson we will learn about how God uses these vessels. (61 min)

Keywords Potter, Clay, Vessels, Mercy, Wrath

Romans 9:17-20 In this lesson we continue to consider what Paul says about God's hardening of Pharaoh, and then we go on to begin reflecting on Paul's response to the charge that God has no right to find fault with those He's hardened. Paul's choice to use Pharaoh as his example of God's hardening serves the purpose of foreshadowing something that he will argue in chapter eleven. What is that? When we encounter in this chapter the idea of God hardening people, why should this not take us by surprise? Is the hardening by God irrevocable? What are the two purposes we see for the hardening of recalcitrant sinners? What is the principle regarding human responsibility that the questions of verse nineteen are based upon? Why should we consider those questions more of a charge against God than legitimate questions? To what passages from the Old Testament does Paul allude in his response to these questions? In our next lesson we will continue to consider Paul's answer to these questions and his use of the potter and clay analogy. (57 min)

Keywords Mercy, Hardening, Pharaoh

Romans 9:14-18 Picking up where we left off last week, what approach is Paul using in order to convince his readers that there is a true spiritual Israel which is distinct from ethnic Israel? How far has Paul progressed in his argument? God has chosen to show mercy to the nation of Israel, while at the same time he has excluded Edom (the descendants of Esau). This raises the question of whether or not God is just in making such choices. What two events in the history of Israel does Paul use to buttress his argument that God is just? Do these verses completely resolve the question? What is the background in the history of the Jews to God's words to Moses about to whom He shows mercy? How does this demonstrate that mercy is up to God and not man? Why does Paul next use the illustration of Pharaoh? What does Paul mean when he refers to Pharaoh being "raised up?" What happened before God hardened Pharaoh's heart?What would not have happened had Pharaoh not been hardened by God? What has Paul not discussed in this chapter so far? (60 min)

Keywords Mercy, Hardening, Justice, Jacob, Esau, Edom, Pharaoh, Rahab