Romans 9 and Steve Gregg

I was listening to James White's radio show today and I received the distinct privilege of getting to hear a beautiful exegete in one Steve Gregg. Here are some things I never knew about Romans 9:

1. Romans 9 is not referring to the election of individuals to salvation (nevermind the proceeding context of Paul agonizing why some WITHIN THE NATION of Israel are perishing). Romans 9 is referring to the election of nations to accomplish God's historical purposes (is this really any different from what we heard from Adrian Rogers or Dave Hunt).

2. God chose the nation of Israel to temporal purposes not to eternal salvation(hmmm.."You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews"). People were just as likely to be saved in unchosen nations like Edom as they were in chosen nations like Israel (what other chosen nation than Israel is there?).

3. The hardening of Pharoah is an act of judgment on the nation of Egypt and not a case of an individual being hardened for judgment.

4. Mal. 1:2-3 can only have ONE initial fulfillment and not a greater fulfillment to show why some of Israel is lost and perishing. Thus, Mal. 1:2-3 is referring ONLY to God's sovereign choice of Israel over Edom.

And last, but certainly not least...

5. The objector's cry in verse 19 is not emerging from Pauline doctrine. "For who has resisted his will", according to Mr. Gregg, is contrary to Paul's doctrine but is what the objector is coming up with from his own misunderstanding. Fortunately, Paul sets this man straight by saying, "WHO ARE YOU" and, as we can all see, "WHO ARE YOU" is Paul's way of emphasizing you are the one who is resisting God's will, you are the one who is going against his sovereign purposes, you are an example of one who is doing precisely what God would not want you to do. Therefore, Paul is pointing out the fallacy in the objector's own question (this, I must admit is one of the most creative interpretations of these verses).

With those brilliant observations from the text compiling such an impenetrable case for the absolute, autonomous will of man and the right of the sinner to thwart the will of God, I believe I have been convinced of the veracity of the synergistic, semi-Pelagian gospel. Please excuse me. It's time for me to go find a copy of Dave Hunt's, "What Love is This."