God's Unfailing Mercy: A Call to Humility

Bible Passage: Romans 11:11–21

Summary: In this passage, Paul illustrates the remarkable sovereignty of God in orchestrating His plan of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. He emphasizes that Israel's temporary stumbling has allowed for the inclusion of Gentiles into the family of God, showcasing God's mercy and how it can lead to reconciliation. The relationship between Israel and the Gentiles serves as a reflection of God’s overarching sovereignty in history and His continued faithfulness to His promises.

Application: This sermon can help Christians to see their place in God’s plan as a result of His mercy rather than personal achievement. It challenges congregants to demonstrate humility in their faith, acknowledging that salvation is a gift from God and encouraging them to extend grace to others, reflecting God's mercy in their lives.

Teaching: The teaching centers on God's sovereignty and grace, demonstrating that belief is not rooted in human merit but in God's unchanging character. This can transform how believers view their identity and relationships with others, urging them to cultivate humility and gratitude.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage ultimately leads us to Christ, who fulfills God's promises to Israel and provides a pathway for Gentiles to enter into the covenant family. Jesus embodies God’s merciful nature and serves as the unifying factor between these groups through His redemptive work on the cross.

Big Idea: True faith recognizes that we are all recipients of God's overflowing mercy, and it calls us to humility and unity within the body of Christ, celebrating the richness of His grace that transcends all divisions.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring the tension between Jewish and Gentile believers that Paul addresses throughout Romans. A deep dive into the historical settings will provide clarity on the original audience's understanding of grace. Use your Logos library to analyze various commentaries on Romans 11, probing themes of sovereignty, mercy, and unity. These insights can enhance your sermon and equip you to respond to potential questions from your congregation.

Intro: Things that fail

God is unfailing due to His sovereignty

No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God.

Charles Spurgeon

His mercy reigns over all things

1. Mercy in Israel's Misstep

Romans 11:11-15

Stumble as to fall? May it never be-

Can one stumble yes but will they fall?

It is a great question- Can the promises of God fail- No

When we look around us it may seem that they are…. God is Gracious

Ephesians 2:4–5 “4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

The Remnant-

Deuteronomy 4:31 “31 For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.”

What was their misstep- justification by works- open rebellion

Have you ever had a misstep?

Human Merit leads to missteps!

How God uses this missteps!

With Mercy

Psalm 86:15 “15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.”

To make them Jealous?

Dealing with their pride.

Ezekiel 35:11 “11 therefore as I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you showed because of your hatred against them; so I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.”

Isaiah 23:9 “9 The Lord of hosts has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty, To despise all the honored of the earth.”

What is this Mercy from God- teaching us to depend on Him!

OT- NT- God’s story of His mercy.

Riches for the World

We were grafted in.

Colossians 1:13–14 “13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Their acceptance- life from the dead

God makes Himself know in His goodness of His grace what actually a blessing will come when there is obedience.

Highlight the humility needed as we are all equally recipients of divine grace, knowing God's plans are perfect and His mercy all-encompassing.

2. Stay Rooted in Grace

Romans 11:16-18

God’s continuous plan of Salvation

Be careful to continually allow God to work in you… you haven’t arrived

I like to make us think about a point in our lives where God humbled us. I remeber trivia night-

Rooted in grace means we are rooted in our word and prayer.

Root- israel (promises)

Isaiah 40:31 “31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

The branches- jews and gentiles

Broken off from the wild and grafted into the new

Wild branches to nourishing-

You have to be cut off.

Isaiah 58:11 “11 “And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

Believers are grafted in

Humility and grateful- this is the outcome of God’s grace.

1 Timothy 4:4–5 “4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”

Boasting- is not a response of one who has been saved from so much

Grace does not boast-

Obadiah 3–4 “3 “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’ 4 “Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.”

Stay rooted in grace and dependent on mercy

We have a constant dependence upon God. All our natural actions depend upon his providence, all our spiritual actions upon his grace.

Matthew Henry (Nonconformist Biblical Exegete)

Stress that boasting about our position is counter to the nature of God's grace, and we should remain rooted in humility, understanding our dependence on God's mercy.

3. Warning Against Arrogance

Romans 11:19-21

Learn from the broken branches

Unbelief

rooted in our belief with fear

Starting out well-

What is reverent fear

Proverbs 2:1–5 “1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.”

Where the sovereignty of God is denied there will be no holy awe of him.

Arthur Walkington Pink

God’s grace not merit

Not conceited.

God deals with us fairly

Unity of a diverse group of individuals

God preserves us and through that preservation others see His mercy and are invited into that life giving mercy.

Luke 1:51–52 “51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.”

You see arrogance will divide us- when you think anything higher than you ought to be- it will divide we will be lowered, yet there is an equality of work that is done through the Gospel.

Urge your audience to remember that salvation and growth in faith are contingent upon God's grace—not personal merit. This point calls for celebrating unity within diversity in Christ's body, acknowledging His work in preserving us and inviting others to experience His mercy.

Application:

God is Merciful

Remain Humble and Grateful

Arrogance destroys unity.

Questions

What does Paul illustrate about God's sovereignty in Romans 11:11-21?

What was Israel's misstep according to the sermon, and how does it relate to our understanding of human merit?

Can you identify a time in your life when you experienced God's grace in a significant way? How can that shape your testimony?

What role does humility play in the unity of the body of Christ, based on the sermon?

What steps can you take to cultivate a deeper dependence on God's mercy in your everyday decisions?