God's Message From The Potter's House
Jeremiah 18:6-10
God sent Jeremiah to
the potter's house to show him two things about himself. First, THE LORD OUR
GOD IS IRRESISTIBLY SOVEREIGN (v. 6). The God of the Bible is totally,
absolutely, irresistibly, uncontrollably, universally sovereign. He created all
things, owns all things, rules all things, and disposes of all things according
to his own pleasure, even you and me! God rules everything, absolutely. In
creation, in providence, and in grace God is sovereign. God is incontestibly
sovereign over all his works and all his creatures (Dan.
Secondly, IN THE
EXERCISE OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY GOD IS ALWAYS EQUITABLE AND JUST (vv. 7-10). God
dispenses his favors sovereignly and unconditionally. Anyone who speaks
contrary to that is ignorant both of the scriptures and of the character of
God. But God does not punish men unconditionally. God has not arbitrarily predestinated
anyone to hell. Anyone who teaches such a doctrine is ignorant of both the
scriptures and the character of God. Salvation is unconditional, without works.
Grace is free. But wrath, judgment, and eternal damnation are conditional,
based entirely upon the works of wicked men. Vessels of mercy are
"prepared for glory" by God. Vessels of wrath are "fitted for
destruction" by their own wicked works. God is always equitable and just
(Psa. 89:13-14). When he threatens wrath, if the sinner repents, he will be
merciful (vv. 7-8). When he bestows mercy, if men despise his mercy, he will
turn against them in wrath (vv. 9-10).
Don Fortner