The Mystery of Mercy

Bible Passage: Romans 11

Summary: Romans 11 explores the mystery of God's plan for Israel and the Gentiles, showcasing His unfathomable mercy and grace to all, despite their unfaithfulness.

Application: This sermon can encourage Christians to trust in God's mercy amid personal and communal struggles, reminding them that God's grace abounds even in times of doubt and rebellion. It highlights the importance of recognizing that mercy can be extended to anyone, urging believers to cultivate a spirit of inclusiveness and hope.

Teaching: This sermon teaches that God's mercy is not limited to any group and that His plans encompass both Jews and Gentiles. It illustrates the importance of humility in recognizing our need for mercy and the transformative power it holds in our lives.

So now that Paul has spent a considerable amount of time establishing the Gospel is for everyone. He once again asks a rhetorical question. If the Gospel has come to the gentiles then does this mean that God has not rejected all of Israel? Today we will se how God is still using Israel in spite of thier rejection. This mystery of mercy.

1. God's Everlasting Faithfulness

Romans 11:1–6 CSB

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life! 4 But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal. 5 In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. 6 Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

In this passage we see both the mystery of God’s mercy and the terrifying reality of his judgement.

Even though Israel as a nation failed to uphold the covenant of the Law. God did not reject them in entirety. He did not hold the sin of the many against the those who would humble thier hearts and come to him in faith. He continued to offer his mercy and grace to all those who would come despite the nations rejection. He does not base his salvation on works but on those who will come to him in faith and repentence. Even when we feel that we are alone. Understnad this ...that God will always have a faithful remnant of people that will not bow the knee to the society’s demands.

Yet do not be deceived do not presume upon the mercy of God. If you are here today and you think that you will simply live your life your way the way you want and then one day repent, you may not get that opportunity.

Look at verse 7- 10

Romans 11:7–10 CSB

7 What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day. 9 And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually.

This is a terrifying reality. That due to a person’s choice to rebel God for his purposes may bring circumstances that will further harden that person’s heart. Paul earlier uses the example of Pharoah and now is applying this same principle to Israel.

Just like God used Pharaoh’s rebellion to highlight his great power. He will use the rebellious nation of Israel to take the Gospel to thier enemies.

Is then God unmerciful? No, it was the rebellion of their own hearts that was the catalyst for the hardening. In the same way, you who are here today do not take the mercy of God for granted for it is possible that God may increase your hardness for the sake of demonstrating his own power. In this you will never come to salvation. Church family it is possible that God will stop drawing you...Scripture calls this apostasy. When a person becomes so hardened to the holy spirits voice that you will enter ultimate rejection. Then nothing you hear or see, will change your mind. Their may be a window of time for you to answer the call of the Holy Spirit. When that window is shut, it is to late for you. This terrifying reality is one that is often not talked about. Do not delay answering the call of God for you might not ever hear his voice again. Is this due to the cruelty of God?

If one is drowning and a resucer comes, yet the victim refuses the help of the rescuer. Is it the fault of the rescuer or of the one needing rescue. You see no one can place the blame on God. You are hearing the gospel message, you are hearing the warning. The blame is now on you if you enter into eternity without christ.

Yet somehow in God’s infinite power even the rebel will still be used to display the glory of God.

You see you can be used by God to your benefit showing the redeeming power of the Gospel or you will be used to your detriment as a witness against hardening your heart against God.

Galatians 6:7–8 CSB

7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

But those who will turn to Christ can be grafted into the promises given to Israel.

2. Grafted into the Promise

Romans 11:11–13 CSB

11 I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring! 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

Now while Paul emphasizes the fear of God’s wrath and ultimate rejection. for the sake of the promises that God has given to Abraham and Israel, Israel as a nation still will one day turn from rebellion and embrace Christ.

He says look if there rebellion still brings about the gospel how much more when Israel once again embraces thier purpose as a light to the nations will thier fullness of purpose and blessing be to the rest of the world. Then to illustrate this truth he uses the example if the olive tree to illustrate his purpose and plan

Romans 11:14–27 CSB

14 if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree, 18 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware, 21 because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.

Here Paul uses the example of the Olive tree to illustrate his purposes and plan.

He is saying that even though Israels branches have been cut off and in its place the gentile branches have been grafted in, don’t think that he cannot in his great power graft back in even dead branches and bring them to life.

For a time there has been a partial hardening of Israel. We can definitely see that in our day. Israel by in large has rejected Christ but there are members of the Jewish community through humility have seen and believed in the Messiah.

In the same way Gentile the, the wild branch, has been grafted into the tree of promise through faith but he reminds them and says but don’t get conceited. You are not grafted in because you are better than the Jew, but rather because of the goodness of God’s plan.

Think about this for a moment.

The plan of God was to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Israel. Had they not hardened thier hearts they would have been preachers of Jesus christ but then in thier rebellion God still used them to take the Gospel to the rest of the world. You see God always fulfills his purpose.

Through Israel’s obedience the gospel message would have been delivered to the world and even through their rebellion the gospel would be delivered to the world. In the first way Israel would have been blessed. Israel would have been raised to prominence. In thier rebellion they have been made low, protected, yes, but made low. Instead for a season the gentile church would take up the flag that Israel dropped but do not be arrogant. It all stems from the same plan of God to bring about salvation to all those who will come. One day Israel will be grafted back into its natural place.

So God uses rebellious Israels rejection to bring about the Salvation of the gentiles. Then he uses the gentliles salvation to invoke jealousy in Israel so that they might return and be saved. Yahweh was thier God not the god of the gentiles. Yet God truly is the God of all that will come to him. This idea that the gentiles have been made whole through a jewish messiah. The Messiah that came from them will one day invoke a jealousy for the things of God once again. So that they to might be saved and that which was dead grafted back into the tree.

so in this Paul says

3. Marvel at Mercy's Mystery

Romans 11:28–36 CSB

28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, 29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. 30 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

This understanding of God’s plan causes Paul to burst into praise. The savior that came from Israel as a promise to Abraham was not just a savior to the Jews but though God’s irrevocable plan was to bring about the salvation of the entire world.

Through blessing God would bring it about. Through rebellion God would bring it about. Through acceptance God would bing it about. There is nothing that can stand in the way of God’s plan.

So maybe today you have been sitting in discouragement about the state of our nation. The state of our world. Take heart for God’s plan will continue through both rebellion and obedience. As wicked men and the enemy of the world and God believe they can thwart God’s eternal ways. Nothing can stop our God. He has proven it over and over. His plan will come to pass. This is the essence of Paul’s praise.

You could conclude the sermon by marveling at the mystery of God’s merciful plan, as Paul does. This doxology of praise serves as a reminder that God's wisdom and ways are beyond human comprehension and should lead to worship and trust. Perhaps encourage believers to rest in the knowledge that God's merciful plan is still unfolding. This might inspire awe and deepened faith, prompting bold and expectant living focused on God's glory and redemptive purposes for all.