Niels Prip – Blog

Romans 9:22-25, “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction; and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— including 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.’”

There is so much that can be said about this verse, but I would like to focus on “the riches of His Glory”. In Gill’s Exposition of the Bible it says “…his glorious riches, the perfections of his nature, his love, grace, and mercy, his wisdom, power, faithfulness, justice, and holiness; all which are most evidently displayed in the salvation of his people”. Those qualities were extended to me when I turned to Him for salvation! God would have been right to show wrath towards me, but He didn’t, He showed grace and mercy.

Many people wonder why God allows so much evil and wickedness in the world. This verse tells that God is willing to show forth His wrath and power on the wicked, but is patient with it, so that He might save more people, that He might show forth His riches to those who are willing to join His company. The wickedness in the world is brought on by men, who do not want to serve God. They give in to the wicked schemes and temptations of the devil, creating havoc in the world.

Many refuse to come to Christ because they can’t serve a God who allows so much wickedness. They do not realize that God’s patience with wickedness, is what allows time for them to turn to Him. If God came and stopped it all, they would not be part of God’s people because they refuse to come to Him. It is in the midst of this wicked world, that God is willing to show forth His mercy, patience, kindness, love grace and faithfulness. It is for our benefit! He is willing to show forth His riches upon all who will turn to Him. His love and kindness is directed toward us, if we will turn to Him.

Those of us who come to Him will be conformed to His image. We will then learn to show forth those same riches to others. We are the vessels of mercy. Judgement on the earth will come soon enough.

2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust”.

Romans 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?