Why is Romans 9 not a problem for believers?
Believers need not stumble over Romans 9 because they can look back at their past experience and see they were chosen from before the foundation of the world. God's sovereignty is never unfair; He remains righteous and holy, while the lost are still confronted with 'whosoever will may come.'
Les explains that Romans 9 includes tough verses he would rather skip, but for believers it is not a problem: they can look back at their past experience and see they were chosen from before the foundation of the world. A lost person, however, is still on the other side of the door, still looking at 'whosoever will may come.' Les cites a story from William R. Newell about a man in Michigan who claimed if he was elect he had nothing to worry about and if not he would go to hell anyway. Les says to wake up: the issue is not worrying about election but what you do with the gospel—believe it and be one of the elect, or reject it and go to your doom. From verse 14 onward, the passage shows the sovereignty of God: He can do whatever He wants, but being righteous and holy, He will never do anything unfair or treat anyone unfairly.