Vessels of Honor

One chapter that was used by Augustine and Calvin was Romans 9, they used it to claim Christians are chosen beforehand for salvation.

Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

They use such verses to say God arbitrarily chose one person over another. Yet this verse may be leading to the idea that God can use a preset system such as the Gospel to determine who will be saved. Those who abide in truth are saved, those who reject truth are lost.

ie. those who obey the Gospel are saved and those who do not are lost. God chooses the standard. In determining one's character God allows false teachers and even hardens some for that purpose.

We shouldn't see this as God requiring no free-will. Quite the opposite.

Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Since these are of the same lump there is no distinction in nature, but of final outcome. The same lump represents those connected to the same religion. It is speaking of teachers vs false teachers around the body of Christ, not people in general. Some false teachers were hardened for that purpose.

Notice that the making of one for honor is dependent upon free-will as Paul expressed to Timothy.

2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Following vain babblings makes one a vessel of dishonor, purging ones self from these is required before one becomes a vessel for honor.

Since one has to purge himself, being a vessel of honor requires freewill, and is not a simple preset function of God. God shows mercy to those who accept truth and purge themselves from false teaching.