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Romans Commentary Chapters 9-16  /  Romans 9:14-16 God Shows Mercy on Whom He Wills  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 7
Origen’s farming analogy (“I planted…God gave the increase”) is used to explain “not of him who runs” as God doing “infinitely greater” work without eliminating human participation; where is the line between “God does the greater part” and “we still must plant and water,” and how would your daily discipleship look different if you actually believed that balance?
Another way to ask: How do you tell the difference between “God does the biggest work” and “we still must act,” like planting and watering? If you truly believed both are needed, what would change in your daily discipleship?

Direct Answer The line is that God provides the essential power and growth (“infinitely greater”), while humans must still respond and exert real effort—repenting, believing, and obediently “running the race.” Daily discipleship would become both more humble (no confidence in self) and more active (real striving), because grace empowers effort rather than replaces it.

Support from Transcript:

  • Origen cites 1 Corinthians: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase…neither he who plants…nor he who waters, but God.”
  • Explanation: without what God provides—“soil, sun, air, nitrogen”—“no crops could grow.”
  • Yet also: “neither will the crops grow if the farmer does not plant and no one waters.”
  • Origen’s conclusion: in salvation, “that which is done by God is infinitely greater than that which we do.”
  • But Bercot emphasizes cooperation: “God requires us to cooperate with His grace…we must repent and believe…We are free to choose or reject.”
  • At the same time, “not everything is in our own power…It certainly is necessary for us to will and to run…[but] not…confidence in our own labors.”
Discussion Follow-ups What practices would change if you truly believed, “apart from Me you can do nothing,” while also hearing, “Strive to enter” and “run the race”?

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