“What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—” -Romans 9:22–23
In contrast to God’s having endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, Pauls raises the readers attention to flip side of this coin: the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.
Both are prepared beforehand, one for destruction and one for glory, all in order to make known the riches of such glory for those who are vessels of mercy. In other words, the Triune God has, from before the beginning of time, designed a plan according the good counsel of his will to reveal both his wrath against sin and his mercy toward sinners.
“It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” -Romans 3:26
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