It means that God can, according to His sovereign purpose, harden the hearts of individuals as a manifestation of His justice.
When Scripture states that God hardens whom He will, as seen in Romans 9:18, it indicates His sovereign control over human hearts and destinies. Hardening does not imply that God creates evil, but rather that, in His justice, He allows individuals to remain in their sinful state, effectively sealing them in their rebellion against Him. This aspect of God’s sovereignty highlights the seriousness of human sin and the total depravity of man. Passages such as Exodus 9:12 illustrate this dynamic, where God hardens Pharaoh’s heart to reveal His power and glory. This hardening is also a stark reminder of the necessity of God’s mercy, as none can stand righteous before Him without His intervention.
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