Romans 11:33-36 "Captivated By Glory"

Introduction:

It was October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the Castle Church Door in Wittenberg, Germany.

The were five basic emphasis that the reformation under Luther was making. We often refer to them as the 5 Sola’s of the Reformation.

Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone, To the Glory of God Alone

This emphasis of the Glory of God Alone is the one that helps us see the over-arching purpose of God as He works to bring His plan of redemption to pass in the world.

If we loose sight of this our Christianity will be skewed by asserting another over-arching purpose into our pursuit of Christianity.

The Apostle Paul couldn’t help himself when it came to keeping focused on the glory of God. We have seen him describing God’s plan of redemption in great detail over the last several chapters.

And Paul gets to a place where he can’t help himself but to break out into doxology by declaring the greatness of God in light of His work of redemption.

And what we see are three categories of God’s attributes that Paul declares in light of God’s work in covenant redemption.

First we see the Knowledge of God being highlighted in verse 33. Look back at your text to verse 33:

I. The Knowledge of God (33).

Paul has been describing how God consigned all, both Jew and Gentile, over to disobedience in order to have mercy on all, both Jew and Gentile.

God had decreed it in eternity past and then throughout time He worked it to bring His plan of redemption through Christ to pass at the appointed time.

When we speak of God’s wisdom and knowledge we are dealing with a set of categories that are unique to only Him in the context of the Godhead.

Theologians refer to God’s knowledge and wisdom as being Omniscient. There is nothing that God doesn't know.

God is not bound by limitations in His wisdom and knowledge like we are.

As a matter of fact all of us are limited in our understanding in our fallen nature. And we could never search out and come to full understanding of the infinite God and know all that He knows.

His judgments are unsearchable and His ways are inscrutable. That means that the ways of god can’t be tracked.

God’s omniscient knowledge begs the question of His Independence as Paul points us to in verses 34-35. Look back at your text:

II. The Independence of God (34-35).

These two verses appear to be derived from teaching from the Book of Job.

God being omniscient is independent and is not in need for anyone to “fill Him in” or to enlighten His understanding.

God doesn’t look to fallen man for insights in order that He can get a more accurate perspective.

God is not dependent on any other being or creature in all the Universe. He is the only non-dependent being in the Universe and beyond. Therefore God is not obligated to anyone in such a way as to warrant God extending payment to them.

We are dependent beings as people because we are dependent on our Creator for our very existence. God doesn’t owe us anything.

All of the benefits that we receive from Him are due to His sovereign grace and mercy.

The Book of Job is all about suffering in light of God’s providential purpose and plan.

Job ponders the God’s purpose in his suffering and yet we are never told that Job even gets an answer to His dilemma. He only comes to realize that God doesn’t necessarily owe him an answer.

Job does get confronted with the greatness of God and the goodness of His character.

I guess we could say that Job learned some great truths about God in his experience with extreme suffering but pain is not usually our favorite means to learn and hone our theology.

A God who keeps us from all suffering is usually preferred in our day and time. But that is not the God of the Bible. Nor does a pain free life fit within our Christian experience in this world.

Pain has a sanctifying effect on us as Christians. C.S. Lewis says that: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

And it accomplishes many things in our lives but one thing is clear from it, We are dependent on God for meaning, purpose and restoration. And we long for it and we are not able to find those things in ourselves. I know people try but a dependent being is never a reliable source for ultimate answers.

That is why we look to God for these things and He doesn’t have the need to look to us for such answers. He exercises an independence where He has no need in His being.

The omniscient wisdom and knowledge of God begs the question of His attribute of Independence. And they both together point us in the direction of the ultimate purpose in verse 36:

III. The Majesty of God (36).

All things exist from Him and through Him and to Him (36a).

All the Universe is all about Him and it all is a manifestation of His glory.

The life that we live is not primarily about ourselves. It is all about God and His work in and through you to bring glory to Himself.

The whole plan of redemption is all about that.

Christian if we don’t see our lives in context to the glory of God, and understand our purpose in light of Him and His glory, our Christianity will be primarily about something else.

This is why we can easily become bored with being a Christian. We think Christianity is primarily about our salvation and our sense of well-being.

Both of those things may be by-products of Christianity but they are not the primary purpose.

When we live for something other than for god and His glory we are pursuing a life that will be by default about some aspect of the self.

This is why Martin Luther said: “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.”

We live from and through and to ourselves by our very nature. Even our apparent good works are often done as extensions of our own vanity.

Christian only the gospel can transform us through regeneration and sanctify humility in us. God’s relentless grace confronting the impulsive tendencies of our hearts is what works change in us.

When this is done the love for God in and through Christ becomes the chief motivation for us to pursue a life for the glory of God.

That roots our purpose in this life into the grand purpose of eternity. This is why we were created. To glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Not just in this life but throughout eternity. “To Him be glory forever. Amen” (36b).

Conclusion:

Christian I wish that all I needed to do was just preach this sermon and we all just get it like a light bulb being turned on.

But I find that I can know this truth theologically but the cares of this world can so easily turn me in another direction.

Even though I know and I have learned many times that this world holds no lasting hope for us. And the pain and the disappointments at times can seem so prevalent.

Such times remind us in an obvious way that we were made and created for something more.

It is when I am reminded that everything is about God’s glory in Christ. Only then am I able to contextualize trials in light of divine grace and the eternal context.

This is where the glory of the gospel shines brightest in my life because I know that God has secured me to Himself through Christ and nothing can change that.

I can confess my sin and rest in His provision of grace to me and know He is faithful to cleanse me of all my unrighteousness.

Unbeliever you need a Savior. Come to Christ and believe the gospel for your salvation.

Let’s pray!