You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 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— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’

Romans 9:19-26

Works don’t save your life, Jesus already did. So why do you chase down good works, and not Jesus Himself? The writer is distraught for the people of Israel. Why? So many do not walk in the faith but rather in works, as if works somehow save us. Israelites are God’s chosen people and yet even though God blessed them with land, lineage, and an eternal Kingdom through David’s lineage, leading us to Christ, somehow they think they are able to do what they want and get into good standing with God by their own willpower. In reality, God can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants. As the writer says, He can have mercy on one, and harden another heart. He is saying everyone is one a level playing field, Jew and Gentile.

God molds people as He desires in order to bring glory to the Kingdom of God. He is making a point to say that all people are the creation of God; each person according to His will. It is true that God will allow the hearts of many to be hardened against Him in order for people to see His wrath and power, so that His glory and great mercy shine even greater. What does this mean? God knows many will not choose Him and follow Him, but how much greater is His love and mercy on those who do walk in faith. Instead of Him throwing up His hands and tossing everyone to the fire, He welcomes everyone who desires to know Him and follow Him. He invites them in, to accept their inheritance as His Holy adopted children with the understanding we have a loving God who is also wrathful, but because of Jesus sacrifice will judge us fairly at the end of our time. So what do we pick? Relationship with our God who wants us to join in a daily walk and conversation with Him. Or do we try to earn our way completely missing the point?

What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. 

Romans 9:30-32