<p>9:16 <em>So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy</em>- God's statement that &quot;I will have mercy&quot; means that it is <em>His </em>will which saves men, and not the will of man &quot;him that wills&quot; and all the works done as an outflow of human will. His mercy is therefore operative on a level above human will / volition and works 'running'. It is God and not man who does the 'running' for our salvation.</p>