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NASB | Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "I RAISED YOU UP FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE, TO DISPLAY MY POWER IN [dealing with] YOU, AND SO THAT MY NAME WOULD BE PROCLAIMED IN ALL THE EARTH." [Ex 9:16] |
Bible Question:
If God loves everyone, why did he harden Pharoh's heart? |
Bible Answer: First, I would say the foundational assumption of God loving all people the same way certainly contributes to why you may be confused about the issue. God does love everyone, and demonstrates it through the general revelation of his grace to all people (Romans 1). However, we often make the mistake of placing the love of God into a box of our own fashion, by saying He loves all people the same way, and thereby make his ability and freedom to love his own even less than that which we claim and demand for ourselves. My love for my wife and daughter is not the same as it is for the guy down the street or my boss. I have the freedom and the moral obligation to love my own in a special, intimate way. In a similiar manner, God's love for the Israelites is not the same love that He had for the Amalekites or the Egyptians. He has a special love for those whom He chooses for His own. We tend (due to 150 years of Arminian tradition) to assume God has a vanilla-flavored love for all people, when the Bible clearly demonstrates that salvation is based upon God loving and having mercy upon wretched sinners--so that they are saved--rather than loving and having the same mercy on all people the same way and hoping it works. Essentially, if God's love and mercy are the same for all people, then it is impossible for God's love and mercy upon me (grace) to be directly responsible for my salvation. What this Arminian idea says is that God didn't do anything for me that he didn't also do for the lost. Which, if true, means I'm not saved by grace at all, but rather by my own choice to be saved. But what virtue in me brought me to repentance? Was I "better", or "smarter", or "more insightful" than the guy who went to the grave unrepentant? Why do some come and others not come if, ULTIMATELY, salvation is dependent upon free will? Anyway, I apologize for the rambling. Back to your question. I believe the reason God hardened Pharoah's heart is simply because it was the desire of His will to do so in order to accomplish His purpose. Don't forget that Pharoah got what he wanted. All sinners do. Except for those whom God has made new creations in Christ--also according to His purpose and will. Romans 8-9 sheds a great deal of Light on this important question. Have a good one! In Christ, Matt Eph 1:11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh ALL THINGS after the counsel of his will; |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Rom 9:17 | Author | ||
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Ric | ||
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Titus 3:4 | ||
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kwin | ||
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Baptistbred | ||
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JibbyJee | ||
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orie | ||
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mr kanx | ||
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irishmom |