Romans 11:32-36
Notes
Transcript
So remember I told last week would prepare us for this week
If you will recall from last week
It was the tough part of Romans 11.
See last week was more of the Theology that Paul was getting the Church in Rome to understand
That yes God chose the Jewish people first
And while most of the nation of Israel rejected God a small portion chose to believe in Jesus
Because they rejected God Paul says they were branches that were cut off
Giving gentiles the opportunity to be grafted in through their belief of Jesus
But Paul reminds us that because they are still chosen people God will save them not because they are Jews but because they will repent of their sin and trust in Jesus
Because church that is the only way to salvation
And this is sort of like when you discuss the sovereignty of God sometimes it is difficult to understand or wrap our minds around
For us sometimes we see things going on and go how in the world is God going to save them when it sounds like He will save them because they are Jews and it sounds like every Jew will be saved but that is not the case
Sometimes when we cant completely understand the mysteries of God instead of them driving us crazy or to frustration or away from Him
Paul is about to illustrate just what they are to drive us to
Church that is worship
As one commentary puts it
“This gospel, this redemptive plan, this theology, leads Paul to doxology, a hymn that arises from the depths of his heart.”
So before we dive into the Hymn it is important to go back to understand how we got to the hymn
30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
Paul is saying that at one point in time you were considered enemies of God because of your disobedience
Meaning you sinned
You might be shocked at that because you understand that everyone has sinned
Yes that is true except God expects perfection
Gods standard for a relationship with Him is perfection
And so Sin has separated you from a relationship with God
But
Remember that is my most favorite word in Scripture because it changes the outcome of the story
See the story was headed for you were disobedient and you were an enemy of God to be eternally separated from God again because of your sin
But God showed you mercy
With holding was was meant for you
God showed you mercy by pouring out punishment meant for you on His only son Jesus who went to the cross in your place
The but God part of it is His grace and mercy
Shown to us even though we are sinners
We accept that grace and mercy as gifts from God when repent of our sin and trust Jesus
Who doesn’t like gifts?
And lets be honest some of you in this room may very well have left Grace and Mercy sitting there in front of you because you are afraid of giving up your sinful life
And this morning is perfect opportunity to walk down this aisle and repent of your sin and trust Jesus for the first time accepting Gods gift you as grace and mercy
So Paul says that you and I have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of the Jews
But we have also seen they will receive Grace and mercy when they repent of their sin and trust in Jesus
And because of the awesomeness of BUT GOD
Paul says this
“OH”
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Paul's response to the awesome grace and mercy of God is OH
Not a nonchalant OH
But a shocked and impressed and jaw dropping OH
He describes this OH
The depth of riches of Gods wisdom and knowledge
Understand just because you don’t understand something or know something doesn’t mean God is surprised
Remember we have long said if you and I could completely understand God and His nature and wisdom and knowledge it would not be a God worth worshipping at all
Paul is saying that because God is so wise and knowledgeable that we don’t even know the riches or the depths He is worthy of being worshipped
To understand that you will never grasp the richness of Gods wisdom and knowledge
The plan of salvation for a lost world that Paul just laid out for us all in Romans 11. proves just that
We would have never come up with a plan so amazingly awesome as that
Then Paul more attributes of God that are worthy of being worshipped
How we can’t even understand His judgement and we cannot understand His ways
To know that our ways are not His ways is humbling
Because I think we want our ways to be His and that is not the case
All the while knowing His ways are best, even when it doesn’t seem like it
I guess really the question is do we feel the same way
Does reading the Word and coming to a point where we just don’t know or can’t understand the awesomeness of God
Does that drive us to worship
Do we believe those attributes of God are worthy of God being worshipped
So Paul is going to explain it further in more depth
Again this is to all leading us to a deeper relationship and to worship
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
Paul brings this up from the Prophet Isaiah
13 “For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ 14 “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the Lord, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
This is in reference to the Nation of Israel
How the nation of Israel fear the nation of Babylon because they were so strong and how they feared a second exodus to Babylon
But In Isaiah God is reassuring them that His plans can still be accomplished no matter what
I think sometimes we need reminded that God set things in motion
Especially during the election season
No matter who is elected President
We often hear this is the most important election
I do believe we are called as Christians to be involved in government
And elections are important
But understand that no matter who is the president
The King of Kings is still the same and is not shocked or surprised by it and church because of that it should lead us to fall on our knees and faces and worship the God who can do that
Because I know the election will surprise some people and some will be upset and others will be happy and some will be surprised and others will not
But understand this it does not thwart the plans of Almighty God and church that again is worth worshipping
If no one has ever counseled God or can counsel God
The Paul asks another question
35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?
Paul is illustrating that there is no one before God
I think we get caught up in the debates and then try and argue who created God
Understand that God was there before there was a there
No one created God and then a gentle reminder that you did nothing or brought nothing to the table
You didn’t earn Jesus going to the cross to pay for you debt of sin
You did nothing to earn or be paid back because you were so awesome
Yes I do believe you were so awesome but I aint God
The answer to this question like the other question is NO ONE
No one has known the mind of God
No one has counsled God
No one did anything to be paid back from God
God does not owe you anything in the relationship
That is once again moves us to WOW
God doesn’t owe us anything and yet
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Should drive us to worship God whole heartedly all the time because of how amazing God’s grace and mercy are to you and I
That even in the midst of our sin God so desired a relationship with us to Save us that He sent Jesus to the cross
Then the story of Jesus knowing He would face the wrath of God was so obedient to God the Father He said ok, I will go
Why because I love them
Because I love you and you and you
Church if that doesn’t well up a shout of praise and drive us to worship the amaingness of God I don’t know what will
Paul finishes with
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
To wrap up everything Paul just explained is to say that
From Him
Through Him
And to Him are everything
Nothing is here without God knowing and creating it, yes even mosquitoes
That God is still very much seated in the Throne as He was before there was a there and as He will be long after it is gone
Church do you understand that Paul is leading us to Worship God by knowing more and more about God
So this morning as we move to our time of invitation
This morning if you do not know Jesus personally there will be people at the front who would love to talk to you about accepting the free gifts of Grace and Mercy has given you today
Or we would invite you to worship this morning
Maybe that is coming to the altar praying or listening
Or sining to an audience of one this morning
The altar is open
