God's Unchanging plan for the ages

Open: Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept. 8, 2022 at age 96. Her reign as queen spanned 70 years and her death brought an end of an era. The queen witnessed a lessening of the dignity and power of the Royal House, and it is not expected to regain stature as time goes on.

Transition: Americans chose to establish a representative democracy instead of a monarchy, and the Constitution has served us well for the last 246 years. Even so, we are experiencing great change in our country and around the globe and there are some are questioning the direction we are heading. In times of uncertainty, it is good to know that God has a plan and He is still in control of the present, and the future.

Today we finish the section of Paul’s letter to the Romans that deals with the Jew / Gentile concern as it relates to salvation history. Paul summarizes his argument that he established in chapters 9 to 11, and closes this section on a high note - he points us to the Unchanging God who has an Unchanging Plan!

READ the TEXT: Romans 11:25-36

God’s unchanging plan is seen in His faithfulness to His covenant promises (Romans 11:25-27)

Explanation: Paul begins his summary in v. 25 with a reminder to the Gentile Christians to not be prideful over the unbelieving Jews who have had their branches removed. Paul tells them that the blindness (hardening) of national Israel is partial - it is only temporary. He also tells them the duration of the hardening will come to an end when “the fullness of the Gentiles” occurs. At this future point in salvation history God will remove the blindness and Israel as a nation will embrace Christ as Messiah. This will occur at the time of the end, just prior to Christ’s Return to set up the Millennial Kingdom (cf. Rom 11:15)

Argument: This turning to Christ in the End Times will be the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendents. This is also the definitive answer to Paul’s rhetorical question he set forth at the beginning of Chapter 11: “Hath God cast away His people?” (Rom 11:1). Absolutely not - God will actually set in motion the final deliverance of the Jewish nation in the End Times in a literal fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the future of the nation. (Romans 11:26b -27 are prophecies from Isaiah 59:20-21; 27:9)

Application: We can trust God to be faithful to His promises. We don’t understand how God is working all this out (at least I don’t) but we can trust that He is in control of history and the direction of this world. We can also be thankful that we are living in the times of the Gentiles - the scope of the Gospel has been expanded to include us! God is bringing people into the Kingdom and we can rejoice in His work!

God’s unchanging plan is seen in Salvation by Grace in both Testaments (Romans 11:28-32)

Explanation: Paul informs the Gentile Christians as to how they are to view these unbelieving Jews. Paul states that in terms of the Gospel itself they are enemies. They have this status because they are in active opposition to the spread of the Gospel. This is clearly seen throughout the Book of Acts from the Jewish rulers having Stephen stoned to death for his testimony of Christ (Acts 7:54-60) to instances where the Jews followed Paul from town to town to disrupt his Gospel ministry (Acts 17)

The Gentile Christians were called to remember that even though the Jews were enemies in regards to the Gospel, they “are beloved for the father’s sake” (Rom 11:28b). Paul is stating that these unbelieving Jews are still members of God’s Chosen people and He is not done with them. He underscores this difficult reality by declaring a wonderful truth about the nature of God: His “gifts and calling . . . are without repentance” (v. 29) God’s choices are irrevocable - He does not go back on His word!

Argument: The next 3 verses give a snapshot of salvation history. Paul is informing his readers that under the Old Covenant the Jewish people as a nation had center stage as related to being the main focus of God’s redemption. From Christ’s first Advent until His second Advent, it is Gentiles who have been privileged of God to take center stage. This period, referred to by many theologians as the “between times” has seen a global advance of the Gospel. In the final End Times the Jews as a people group will return to center stage for the final act.

There has been, and will continue to be overlap. Gentiles were brought into the people of God under the Old Covenant, and many Jews have bowed the knee to the Messiah in these “between times,” Paul’s main point is to stress that entry into the people of God has always been by grace through faith. In the cycle displayed in verses 30-32 not the repeated emphasis on belief / unbelief and mercy. Nowhere in this cycle is any type of work mentioned

God’s unchanging plan reveals His transcendence (Romans 11:33-35)

Explanation: Paul moves to conclude this lengthy section of the letter and he does so with a powerful view of the Majesty of God. Paul’s contemplation on God’s redemptive plan of the ages has simply overwhelmed him. The Apostle has been divinely inspired by God to write these words, but he is admitting that he still doesn’t comprehend to vast unfolding of God’s tapestry. The limit of his understanding led him to reflect on the Transcendence of the Eternal God. He is the One who is above and beyond and needs no counselor. Only in the mind of God can these wonderful truths be discerned and understood!

Argument: Yahweh is the One, True, Living God. There are no others. He inhabits Eternity and His ways are past finding out. When we reflect on the world around us and the confusion we experience, we can turn to the One who is holding it all together. History is linear and this world is moving towards its intended end.

Application: We are not going to get it. We are not going to comprehend how God is moving things toward the conclusion. As the prophet spoke so long ago, “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa 55:9) We can simply recognize that we serve an Awesome God!

Gods’ unchanging plan reveals that this really is all about Him! (Romans 11:36

Explanation: Paul’s final thought on this entire subject is a word of praise. He humbly acknowledges that the LORD God is the central figure in all this. The Lord is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth - everything that exists is “of HIm.” God is also the One who is sustaining the entirety of creation. And He is the One who is building the Kingdom. Entrance into the Kingdom is through Him and the result is that all praise and worship is directed to Him

Argument: We can get caught up in our own lives and believe the lie that we are the center of the universe. The reality is that He is the center - it all belongs to Him. The truth that is hard for us to realize is that this Exalted, Majestic Creator and Sustainer is also the Deliverer, and He invites us to join Him. Though we don’t deserve it, He extends grace that we might be part of His unchanging Plan!