Scripture says salvation is “of God who shows mercy”* (Rom 9:16).
this is that scripture in Context ---not just one line -----there Jaebius
Again this is God's Sovereign Plan for the Future -----God will use Who He Wants --How He Wants and When He Wants to bring His Plan to victory -----And His Plan is Still playing out there Jaebius ----His Plan is not Finished Yet ----and He Will continue to Use any Man or Woman He Chooses in any way He sees fit to bring His Plan to Completion -----
verse 17 tells you that ----
17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh:
“I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[
g]
God also raised up Jeremiah for His purpose for His future Plan ----
The Call of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4–10)
Pre-born appointment: God says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations
God use a prostitute for His purpose to bring about His Future plan ----Hosea 1:2
God Chose David as well as others to be a King ----He Chose Mary ---He chose -Elizabeth------He Chose John the Baptise ----He Chose a Donkey to Speak ---all His Sovereign Will -----and they all obeyed
God’s Sovereign Choice
6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[
b]
8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.
9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[
c]
10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.
11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:
12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[
d]
13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[
e]
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
15 For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[
f]
16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[
g]
18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
But Here is what you and Calvin are missing -----
God Himself Chose to Allow us to Have Free Will to make decisions ---
Otherwise God would not have given a Choice to the israelites to choose between the Blessings and Curses in Duteronomy 28 ===
and He wouldn't have given a Choice to Cain to master Sin or to make the choice to do well or not to do well ----
-
if God was using His Sovereign Will on our choices---there would be no Choice for Cain ----He would have simply done to Cain what He wanted ---period --end of story ----
Genesis 4:7-----he said this to Cain
Choice
If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted?
---------
-Choice
And
if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you],
but you must master it.” Choice
He wouldn't have given the Jewish nation a choice to choose Life or death ----
Deuteronomy 30 :19----
New International Version
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
The Hebrew Word here for Choose ---Strong's
Lexical Summary
bachar: To choose, select
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usage
The verb בָּחר occurs about 152 times in
the Old Testament and consistently carries the idea of deliberate, discerning choice.
Whether the subject is the LORD or humankind, בָּחר always implies personal commitment, preference
for one option over others, and the expectation that the choice will be honored in life and worship.
-------------------------
Divine Choosing of a Covenant People
frames God’s sovereign election
Selection of Kings and Leaders
בָּחר establishes legitimate authority. The LORD “chose Judah as leader”
Choice of a Worship Center
Deuteronomy introduces a crucial refrain: “the place the LORD your
God will choose to put His Name”
Chosen Sacrifices and Offerings
The LORD’s selection governs sacrificial worship: “You shall bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices …
in the place which the LORD will choose
The Elect Servant and Messianic Hope
Isaiah introduces “My Servant, whom I uphold,
My Chosen One in whom My soul delights
-------------------------------------------------------------
Human Responsibility in Choosing
God initiates, humans respond. Moses sets life and death before Israel:
“Choose life, so that you and your descendants may live” (
Deuteronomy 30:19).
Joshua echoes the call:
“Choose this day whom you will serve” (
Joshua 24:15).
Proverbs warns against choosing crooked paths (
Proverbs 1:29-30) and commends choosing wisdom (
Proverbs 3:31).
Prophetic Appeals and Warnings
Prophets confront Israel’s
misplaced choices—idols, alliances, injustices—contrasting them with God’s righteous selection:
“They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations” (
Isaiah 66:3).
Such choices incur judgment yet invite repentance (
Isaiah 55:6-7).
Wisdom Literature and Moral Dimension
Job laments that
evildoers “choose not to know His ways” (
Job 21:14).
Proverbs repeatedly equates choice with character: “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (
Proverbs 21:3).
The Psalms celebrate choosing God’s testimonies (
Psalm 119:30).
From Google ---I agree with this ---
God can sovereignty choose to limit or restrict the outward exercise of His power, such as granting humans genuine free will or binding Himself by His own promises. This self-limitation flows from His own free choice rather than an outside force overpowering Him.
This free will to choose came from God ----so which ever way He chose to allow this ---we can only speculate ---in my view ------ but we have some freedom to choose and we have that freedom to choose where our Spirit and Soul reside in our end ---and that is what I believe Folks ------
