Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Romans 9:22–23, KJV 1900) I had aContinue reading “Prepared for Glory (Romans 9:22-24)”

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” (Romans 9:20–21, KJV 1900) I haveContinue reading “Reply Not Against the Master Potter (Romans 9:19-21)”

“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Romans 9:18, KJV 1900) Many years ago, someone challenged me to understand what the reformers taught regarding the theology of salvation. More than this, I wanted to see what the Bible said about these things. I began an exhaustiveContinue reading “Difficult Truth (Romans 9:14-18)”

“And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, TheContinue reading “Sovereign Call (Romans 9:10-13)”

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not theContinue reading “Sovereign Promise (Romans 9:6-9)”

“To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5, ESV) Many times, I have been in discussions with people about the deity of Jesus Christ. Those who deny that Jesus is fully God and fully man assert thatContinue reading “Incarnate God (Romans 9:5)”

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 9:4–5, KJV 1900) AllContinue reading “A Chosen Nation (Romans 9:4-5)”

“That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:” (Romans 9:2–3, KJV 1900) The expression having a heavy heart refers to having much sadness and grief. Often, we have heavy hearts. The extreme ofContinue reading “Passion for the Lost (Romans 9:1-3)”

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39, KJV 1900) Many, perhaps mostContinue reading “Nothing Can Separate (Romans 8:35-39)”

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37, KJV 1900) In the 1970 movie, Patton we have this epic quote ascribed to General George S. Patton. “For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. InContinue reading “More than Conquerors (Rom 8:35-37)”