sermon 10/11/25

What is open theism?

Romans 11:33–36 NIV

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 5: Romans–Philemon 3. Hymn of Praise (11:33–36)

God is supremely qualified to handle the affairs of man. Depth is a universal figure of the immeasurable or incalculable. Paul’s emotional involvement is reflected in the change from prose to poetry. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom (practical know-how) and the knowledge (awareness of truth and reality) of God. All of God’s decisions and choices are with full information and utter fairness. He knows the end from the beginning. To man this is baffling and unsearchable.

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament Chapter 11

33. O the depth of the riches, and wisdom, and knowledge of God!—In the 9th chapter St. Paul had sailed but in a narrow sea; now he is in the ocean. The depth of the riches is described, ver. 35 the depth of wisdom, ver. 34 the depth of knowledge in the latter part of this verse. Wisdom directs all things to the best end: knowledge sees that end. How unsearchable are his judgments—With regard to unbelievers, his ways—With regard to believers! His ways are more upon a level, his judgments a great deep. But even his ways we cannot trace.

Scripture: Isaiah 46:9–10; Acts 2:22–24; Romans 11:33–36

Theme: Open Theism claims God doesn’t fully know the future. Scripture shows a God who is sovereign yet deeply relational.

Big Idea: God’s sovereignty and intimacy aren’t in competition—He is both in control and close to us.

Romans 11:33 NIV

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

—> Many scholars believe that Paul was picturing the ocean or a vast sea when writing these words, due to there poetic nature.

Romans 11:34–35 NIV

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”

—> Some of our best intentions to understand God still fall miserably short.

—> We can’t grasp a God that is completely incomprehensible in his power but so relational in his presence.

—> In the world we live in these people don’t exist.

—> We are separated from the powerful and the important. The rich, the famous, those In “power” separate themselves from the common and the ordinary.

—> Even the religious leaders and political leaders of Jesus and Paul’s time were doing that.

—> Yet the God of the universe came and dwelt among men, and not just any men but common men. He blended into crowds, he was homeless. He chose relationship with us even though he has zero dependance on us.

Romans 11:36 NIV

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

—> One of those “all things” is grace.

—> it is the grace that proceeds from him that calls us to him.

—> It is this God that is ruler of everything that reaches out to us the creation with the offer of grace.

—> It is through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and in the empty tomb that we are truly saved. He is our saving grace. Covering us by his blood so that we can be made whole, not by anthing that we do or accomplish. Not by our own power, or might, or position, but through our relationship with the one that saves us from ourselves.

—> So our only response to this offer of love and grave. That opportunity to unite with God is to give our selves over to him in worship and service.