Romans 11:25-36 "All Things for Him"

Introduction

For the last two weeks we have spent considerable time working our way through Romans 11. This passage of scripture has brought the countless destruction of tree’s and the usage of ink throughout history. Many books, and many interpretations have been put forth in this text. The complicated nature of this passage of scripture can be difficult for us to understand. In fact, in our text today, the apostle Paul even refers to what we have been discussing as formerly being a mystery. He says this in Romans 11:25“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Indeed there is a mystery here in how God could use something like the hardening of His ethnically chosen people to bring in the gentiles. To set up the context for our passage I want to call your mind to think back last week to Paul’s illustration of the olive tree. Look with me for a moment at Romans 11:17–19 “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”” You will remember that last week that I mentioned that there is only one root and one tree here mentioned. There are multiple types of branches you have the Jews and the gentiles. The Jews are the natural branches that grew out of the root of the olive tree and the gentiles are the branches that were grafted in due to the rejection of the natural branches - the Jews. It is important for us to remember here there is only one tree and one root mentioned as we look at our text today. We will spend more time than normal looking at some of the arguments of interpretation in this passage. This is not something I would normally do however, I do think it is important because even in the reformed community there is quite a lot of disagreement on this passage. That said, brothers and sisters, though we may have difficulty in understanding what is being communicated here the Lord has clearly spoken. Though what we have presented before us today was once shrouded in mystery, the Lord has given us something valuable that we can hold on to and treasure. In fact, the items the Lord has clearly revealed and those that we don’t understand clearly are occasions for praise and doxology. This is an opportunity for the people of God to respond to one another with charity and not arrogance surrounding our particular understanding of this passage. So, as we go to our text this morning we will be breaking our passage down in three main points.

Sermon Points

A Mystery Revealed (Ro. 11:25-27)

The Mercies of God (Ro. 11:28-32)

Doxology (Ro.11:33-36)

Sermon Text

Romans 11:25–36 ESV

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Exposition

1. A Mystery Revealed (Ro. 11:25-27)

If you will remember back from last week Paul took time in this letter to the congregation of the Roman church to specifically address the gentiles in the room. He says this in Romans 11:13 “Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry” Why was he taking time to specifically address this group? There was danger that the gentiles would become arrogant and proud over the fact that they were saved and grafted in large numbers and that only a remnant of God’s ethnically chosen people were connected to the root. He wants these gentiles saying this in Ro. 11:20 “So do not become proud but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.” In saying this he was addressing the real fear that the gentiles would think themselves superior to the Jewish Christians in their midst. How could they become proud against the Jews when it was their very rejection that made their salvation possible. If were not for this rejection of the Jews the gentiles may have never experienced salvation. All of that said, that brings us to Romans 11:25 “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Paul again, addresses the danger of pride against the Jews. He warns this congregation against being wise in their own sight. He doesn’t want them to become imbalanced in these things but to realize that God’s working in this like others was not because there was anything special in them or obvious in why God would bring salvation to the gentiles.

I am going to reference a passage of scripture that I have mentioned several times just to make sure that we keep this in our minds. Paul says this in 1 Cor1:18-25

1 Corinthians 1:18–25 ESV

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Again, this salvation we preach is not gained by wisdom but by God’s purpose in having mercy upon whomever he will.

Paul here shows that this interdependence of the Jews rejecting the gospel, the subsequent salvation of the gentiles, the Jews becoming jealous of the salvation that the gentiles have and their subsequent salvation and re-grafting is a profound mystery. This mystery has now been revealed in that God has shown His hand.

At present time, a partial hardening of Israel has come in order that the fullness of the gentiles could come in.

Brothers and sisters, it is here in Paul’s words in v25 and v26 necessitate some special care. So I want to address a few of the common questions that come up in this passage.

What does Paul mean when he refers to a partial hardening of Israel?

What does Paul mean when he refers to the “fullness of the gentiles?”

What does Paul mean when he refers to “all Israel being saved?”

In consideration of these questions I want to put forward three popular views regarding what this passage of scripture means. Note that the interpretation of each of the three questions presented really centers around what one understands “all Israel” to mean.

View #1 (Most Popular View) - Is that “all Israel” refers to the mass of ethnic Jews living on the earth at the end of time. This would mean that this mass of Jews would come into salvation in a special way when the Lord Jesus returns. Thus, when Paul speaks of this partial hardening he is referring to the fact that they will stand by in large in rejection of the gospel until this time of special saving grace. Thus in this view, the “fullness of the gentiles” refers to body of elect gentiles at the coming of Christ.

View #2 (John Calvin) - That “all Israel” refers to spiritual Israel. That is the elect of God throughout history. That includes all who are saved both Jew and gentile. In this view there is no distinction made between Jew and gentile but that Paul is generally referring to God’s people.

View #3 - States that “all Israel” refers to the total number of “Elect Jews”, The elect of all Israels “remnants” and is a parallel to the term Paul Uses referring to the “fullness of the gentiles.” So, this is very similar to view #2 but it takes into account that Paul is dealing with two different groups ethnically but ultimately on the elect of both groups will be saved.

I know that this is a lot brothers and sisters but please bear with me. I present these to you mainly to show that faithful believers from the reformed community have folks who fall into each of these three camps.

All that said, I believe that when Paul is referring to the salvation of “all Israel” that he is referring to the elect Israelites. The Lord has retained a remnant for himself for the sake of his name. By His sovereign providence a hardening to the gospel has come on Israel as a nation so that the Lord can subsequently bring in the “fullness of the gentiles” This is evidenced in that in his quotation from Isaiah in v26-27 points to the taking away of sins from Jacob. The only people who have this done for them are God’s elect. There is one root and one olive tree whereby the gentiles and the Jews are fed. There is only one way to be connected to that root and that is through faith in Jesus Christ.

This brings us to our next point.

2. The Mercies of God (Ro. 11:28-32)

Here Paul continues by pointing us to the amazing way in which God has brought things about.

God hardened the Israelites in order to graft in the gentiles. The gentiles being grafted in stand to provoke Israel to Jealousy. This Jealousy stands to provoke the remnant of Israel to have faith and believe the Gospel. This is mystery is what is describing in v28. This why he points to the fact that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. It is through this that both the Jews and gentiles are called and gifted.

The argument presented here precludes any arrogance on the part of the gentile and any despondency on the part of the Israelite.

The Lord has done this thing in order to make his mercy manifest.

Remember the definition of mercy. In a basic sense to receive mercy is to to not receive what one deserves. If you remember back to the first part of Romans specifically Romans 1-3 you will remember that Paul seeks to show that when it comes to righteousness the Jews and the gentiles have the same problem.

Of the gentiles Paul said things like this:

Romans 1:18–25 ESV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Of the Jews Paul said this: Romans 2:12-24

Romans 2:12–24 ESV

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

When he is done addressing both the Jews and gentiles where does conclude:

Romans 3:9–18 “What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.””

This unrighteousness and hardening of the Jews and gentiles salvation creating envy for the remnant was all a part of Gods plan so that he might show mercy to humanity.

Romans 11:32 “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”

How amazing is this mercy which has been delivered to us. How amazing that God would even think to bring about and plan our salvation a people who is undeserving. Brothers and sisters who have received the mercy of God do these amazing truths bring your heart to joy? Despite the dense and at times mysterious nature of salvation do you see these things and go to jump for joy?

The apostle Paul keys us in on how we should respond to these amazing truths:

3. Doxology (Ro. 11:33-36)

I have titled this point “Doxology” because indeed there is no other response to God’s magnanimous saving of savages than to jump up in Joy and praise.

Paul’s conclusion to this dense section of scripture is one of words of Joy and Praise.

We proclaim along with Paul Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”

O Lord the works of your hands are amazing. How could we ever understand these amazing things. You are so high above us and yet you have saved us from the pits of death. You have given us the impossible. You have accomplished our salvation all in your own magnificent way. Praise be to you o God!

Romans 11:34–35 ““For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?””

How could we have ever understood these things or known you unless you were to come down and reveal yourself to us. There is no gift we could give you. How can we repay an infinite debt? Only an infinite Saviour could have paid our debt. Praise be to you o God!

We echo this morning along with the apostle Paul Romans 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Brother, sister does not your heart burn this morning in Praise to the God of your salvation? Does not your Spirit sing “From him and through him and to him are all things.”

If was from him that our salvation has come, our salvation was secured through him, and our salvation was unto him. Do you know this? Do you know that all things are like this? Your life, your job, your children all these things from, through, and to Him. Praise be to God! Praise be to God! Praise be to our God!

If you do not know our great God this today look Him. Believe upon Him who richly has supplied all that we need. Praise be to our God!