The Bible’s teaching of election is that the decisive factor in one’s faith in Christ for salvation is determined by God’s free choice (Romans 9:11–13), as when he decreed “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:13). These are deep theological waters. It is hard to understand how God could be righteous to choose as he does. If this is your initial reaction, it means you are understanding Paul’s claim rightly —the apostle is not naïve concerning the significance of such theology. If God chooses who he will save and who he will not save, we must ask, “is there injustice on God’s part?” (Romans 9:14).

“By no means!” Why not?

In this segment, John Piper lays out the logic of Romans 9:14–18. As we come to realize how big God is, and how horrifying our sin is, we will come to understand election as a grace so impossibly great that we could not imagine it on our own.

Look at the Book is John Piper’s latest effort to help teach people to read the Bible for themselves. It’s an ongoing series of 8–12 minute videos in which the camera is on the text, not the teacher.

As part of this initiative, Desiring God is putting on regional events focused on certain passages of Scripture. This is Part 9 in a series on Romans 9 called “The Word of God Has Not Failed.”