Fat lot you know. Election is mentioned isn't it? Has election nothing to do with salvation? ...in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls...
God isn't talking about salvation but about how Despotic a God He is. He boasts it. "Look what I did to Pharoah. Look how I hated Esau and loved Jacob. Look how I controlled and manipulated these people like The Master puppeteer I Am and look how I deal with those I hate. What you going to do about it?"
He says, "What if I populated Hell just so my Children can have a better idea of my mercy to them what's that to you?" ISA 45:9 "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, `What are you making?' Does your work say, `He has no hands'?
Romans 9:19.
He doesn't answer the question the wise ask, "Why does He blame us?" You answer webdog, why does He still blame us? No one resists His will why does He still blame us webdog since it was Him pulling the strings? He does and that is the only answer the wise get. God's Sovereignty shines as bright as day here as He tells us that Esau went to Hell so He could demonstrate to us His purpose in election. This is the only reason given in scripture. Pharaoh was used to demonstrate God's power. He raised him up for this very purpose, to destroy him in public.
Rom 9:22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory...
Paul's conclusion is the only conclusion one can arrive at after reading Romans 9 because it was Paul's conclusion as well.
Whatcha think?
john.