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Romans 3:8
And notrather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

1 Corinthians 15:12,35
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? …

James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Why doth.

Romans 3:5-7
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say?Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) …

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me;but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, asit is this day, to save much people alive.

2 Chronicles 20:6
And said, O LORD God of our fathers,art not thou God in heaven? and rulestnot thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine handis there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

“Then why does God still find fault?
This question addresses the issue of divine justice and human responsibility. It reflects a common concern about the fairness of God's judgment if His will is ultimately irresistible. The question implies a tension between God's sovereignty and human accountability, a theme that runs throughout Romans. This tension is also seen in the Old Testament, such as in the story of Pharaoh, where God hardens Pharaoh's heart, yet Pharaoh is still held accountable for his actions (Exodus 9:12-16). The question challenges readers to consider the nature of God's justice and the mystery of His sovereign will.

For who can resist His will?”
This phrase underscores the belief in God's omnipotence and the idea that His purposes cannot be thwarted. It echoes themes found in the Old Testament, such as inIsaiah 46:10, where God declares that His counsel shall stand and He will accomplish all His purpose. The rhetorical question emphasizes the futility of opposing God's will, highlighting His ultimate authority over creation. This concept is central to understanding the biblical portrayal of God's sovereignty, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Job, who acknowledges God's unchallengeable power (Job 42:2). The phrase invites reflection on the relationship between divine sovereignty and human freedom, a complex theological issue that has been debated throughout church history.

Paul anticipates an objection. ThroughoutRomans 9 he has shown that God’s purposes stand not by human effort but by His sovereign choice (Romans 9:11-13; 9:16). By posing an imagined questioner, Paul:

• Invites us into an honest conversation, much like he did earlier inRomans 3:1-8, where he fielded possible misunderstandings.

• Reminds us that grappling with divine sovereignty is not new; believers have always wrestled with the tension between God’s choice and human response (seeJob 40:2;Malachi 1:2-3 compared withRomans 9:12-13).

• Signals that what follows is pastoral as well as theological—he is guiding readers through potential stumbling points, not silencing sincere inquiry.

The heart of the objection is moral: If God directs history, can He rightly hold anyone accountable? Paul later answers with the potter-clay analogy (Romans 9:20-21), but here we pause to notice:

• Scripture consistently affirms personal responsibility even under God’s overarching plan (Ezekiel 18:20;Matthew 23:37).

• Pharaoh is Paul’s immediate example (Romans 9:17-18). Though God hardened him, Exodus repeatedly notes Pharaoh hardening his own heart (Exodus 8:15, 32). Both truths stand side by side.

• God’s judgment is always righteous;Romans 3:5-6 insists that if He could not judge justly, the world would have no moral order.

• Divine fault-finding is aimed at displaying mercy as well as justice (Romans 9:22-23), leading people to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

The objector concludes that God’s will is irresistible, so human effort seems futile. Paul affirms God’s unstoppable purpose yet rejects fatalism:

• God “works out everything according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11), and “none can ward off His hand” (Daniel 4:35).

• At the same time, Scripture calls everyone to respond: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15).

•Acts 4:27-28 shows both truths intertwined: Herod, Pilate, and the crowds acted freely, yet their deeds fulfilled “what Your hand and Your purpose had determined beforehand.”

• The tension drives us to humility. Paul’s next words—“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” (Romans 9:20)—do not dismiss questions; they place them within the Creator-creature relationship (Isaiah 45:9).

Romans 9:19 voices a natural human protest: If God’s sovereign will prevails, how can He hold people responsible? Paul acknowledges the question, upholds God’s right to judge, and maintains human accountability. Scripture’s consistent witness is that God’s will is indeed irresistible, yet He calls each person to repent and believe. Instead of pitting sovereignty against responsibility, the verse invites us to trust the righteous character of God who weaves both truths together for His glory and our good.