A vessel cannot complain with a potter

[瑤翰 김요한]

A vessel cannot complain with a potter. (Romans 9:19-23)

It is said that modern education based on the educational theory of American John Dewey, influenced by existentialist philosophy, is the greatest enemy of the message of the cross of Christ.

Even now, when I see educator-turned-pastors raising their voices to destroy God's foreknowledge, preordination or decree, I sigh and look on in silence.

We can choose to have faith in God with your will, or you can make a decision to live according to God's Word.

Why God hurts our pride by restricting our free will, saying it is a total corruption and an unconditional choice?

God laughs when he sees people protesting and asking like that. (Psalm 2:4)

I heard that beginners in the stock market are called ‘Jurin’, but they are probably younglin (spiritually young child) who do not know the message of the cross.

Q. Can we question God’s decree?

“You will say then to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? Nay but, O man, Who are you that repliest against  God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me this?’” (Rom. 9:19-20)

A. Those who have been called into Christ and born again cannot do that.

There is a mysterious mechanism between the Creator and creation, so when God speaks, those who hear the words can never resist.

For example, this is the case of Abraham.

People say that Abraham obeyed the word of God and left Ur of the Chaldees, but the truth is that once the word of God comes, no one, not even Abraham, can resist.

For example, the Lord told a sick man who had been lying by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years to get up, pick up his bed and walk, and the sick man got up, picked up his bed and walked. (John 5:8)

Intellectuals influenced by pedagogy will preach, saying, 'If you hold fast to the word of God like that sick man, your illness will be cured. Hold fast to the word.'

That is the difference between being born again and receiving the Word in Christ, or whether you strengthen your faith and will to believe the Word.

In fact, the sick man did not stand up by holding on to the word, but the word the Lord spoke caused the sick man to get up and walk.

So why would God fault us? You can ask back.

You may say, ‘If God takes care of things on his own, why he find fault about not believing in him?’

That's why Paul explains it by saying, 'Who are you?'

'Uh-huh! It's like, 'Hey man, be careful what you say.'

It means whether you question God or argue with Him.

The thing formed means something that has been created, creature.

This means that you cannot blame the person who created it by asking why it was made this way.

The relationship between the Creator and creation is one of selection and predestination.

‘Why did God place the tree of knowledge of good and evil in Eden? 'Why did you just let the corruption happen?' Those who argue with God's unfairness have not yet been born again.

He is a man without the Holy Spirit, like a cloud without water, like an autumn tree uprooted (Jude 1:12).

How can a created human being question God, the Creator?

That can never happen.

Paul thinks of salvation as a creative work.

Therefore, salvation is a re-creation and is seen as included in God's plan for the completion of God's work of creation. (Genesis 1)

Q. Doesn’t the potter have the authority to decide on the type of vessel?

“Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonor?” (Romans 9:21)

A. Of course, the type of vessel is made according to the potter’s choice.

The name of a bowl is determined by its contents.

If you put kimchi in it, it is a kimchi bowl regardless of the material of the bowl. If you put gold in it, even if it is made of clay, it is a gold bowl.

If the vessel contains Christ and His spirit and life, it becomes a precious vessel.

When you reach a certain level in the process of faith, you become clearly aware that although you are a pottery vessel made of clay, you contain Christ, the glory and image of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Through this, we learn the message of the cross. (2 Corinthians 4:10-11)

That is why the new covenant is very important (2 Corinthians 3)

Because in the Spirit of Christ we receive His image and attain glory through His glory (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).

Q. Can you complain about God’s unfairness?

“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:22-23)

A. Those who have been called in Christ according to His purpose cannot do this.

God is longsuffering even to those who receive His wrath.

God is longsuffering even toward the vessels of wrath upon which He is destined to demonstrate His power.

So, in Psalm 73, the writer confesses that he almost fell and slipped when he saw the prosperity of the wicked in the world.

But he knows the generation of the sons of the Lord (Psalm 73:15), and when he enters the sanctuary, he knows the end of the wicked, and he knows that they are in a slippery place (Psalm 73:17-18)

Even though he was created to become a vessel of God's mercy, a vessel of compassion, and to let people know the riches of God's glory, no one can say why he did that.

Because God is God.

There is no being in heaven or earth stronger than God.

However, those who have been called in Christ and are qualified to obtain righteousness and rejoice in the hope of glory do not say, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and become zealous on their own. 

Instead, if I go in faith according to the promise to the place where the Lord calls me, the Holy Spirit will seal and guarantee me.

It is not that I believe and hold on to the Word on my own, but if I listen to the word of promise already fulfilled in Christ and move forward with faith as he show, God will recognize me as perfect.

Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.

Translated by  Nancy Chung

COME AND SEE WORLD MISSION