Using Wisdom in a Conforming World

Romans 11:25-12:2.

We live in a world that constantly beckons us to blend in, to adopt its ever-shifting values, and to trust in human wisdom above all else.

Yet as followers of Christ, we're called to something radically different—to live transformed lives guided by divine wisdom rather than cultural pressures.

Also...

Maintaining a lifestyle that honors our Saviour

Through focused transformation and submission to Gods will

And not ours.

An idea that is so far removed from the ideology of the world today.

Where living life “Our Way” is the only way to go.

Ignoring Gods absolute truth for our own opinions.

This teaching should embolden Followers of Christ to lean into Gods Wisdom

Avoiding the complications of the ever-shifting sands of popular opinion

Or the changing whims of society

In summary:

Followers of Christ should always be communicating to the world Where true wisdom comes from

Allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us

And guide us as we confront conforming pressures of this world.

And live fully and completely in Gods Will.

So lets begin with:

1- Unveiling the Mystery

Romans 11:25–27 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.”

We need to consider this first section with Paul’s teaching in companionship with the rest of the Letter written so far

This in regards to Israel as a Nation

The Sad condition of a Faithless nation

The grafting in from outside of the rebellious nation

The welcoming in of the Gentile world that did embrace and believe in the Gospel of Christ.

With the eternal hope that this would compel Paul’s fellow Jews to seek this same salvation for themselves

Paul includes the Gentiles as his brothers in Faith and wished

That they understand this great “mystery”

Apostle Paul uses the phrase, “I do not want you to be ignorant...”

Several times, across several of his letters, when emphasizing an important point.

Also includes the personal title of “Brothers”

The Apostle is setting the stage for a greater understanding of the story of God’s redemptive power.

And His sovereign Authority over everything across all of time.

The focus is on the opportunity for both Jew and Gentile to

Trust in the Divine Wisdom of God

Rather than the understandings and opinions of Humanity.

Paul’s bigger picture includes all Followers of Christ to be the flourishing tree

That is the symbol of God’s Kingdom

The pile of broken branches, symbolizing those that reject God’s free gift of Salvation.

To add veracity to the teaching Paul quotes:

Isaiah 59:20–21 ESV

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

The redeemer was and is Jesus Christ.

This is Paul’s only reference to the Return of Christ in this letter.

Christ will purge Israel of all ungodliness.

This is God’s covenant promise to His chosen people

The promise to “Take away their sins...”

Is an excellent descriptor of God’s Forgiveness

Scripture is plain in regards to God forgetting our sins- Forever.

We still have a tendency to remember them for years-

Often with the assumption that God does as well.

This is humanity not trusting God at His word.

What we miss is that-

What we hold on to is the memories of those sins.

In Christ, by the Grace of God...

Upon confession to Him, we are freed from our sins

Completely, totally and Forever.

A good illustration is this:

God removing our sins is like the house that is demolished and hauled away for disposal.

If we continue in those sins, we rebuild walls that have already been destroyed.

The fact that we now live in the 21st Century of the church age, is not relevant to God.

He sees the future from His timeline- Not ours.

In the book of Genesis, we see God's promise to Abraham to make him the father of many nations.

Picture Abraham, at an old age, looking at the stars in the sky as God tells him his descendants will be as numerous!

Imagine his bewilderment, thinking, "If I had known this would happen, I'd have bought a bigger tent!"

God's promises may sometimes seem far-fetched, but they are as certain as the stars above. When God makes a promise, there's no expiration date!

So now we have the foundation for our need to seek after, and rely on God’s Wisdom.

Next we look at the promise that all human ethnic groups can receive God’s Wisdom.

2- Together in Mercy

Romans 11:28–32 ESV

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.

Paul shows us, now, how all of humanity can receive God’s mercy.

When you feel disheartened by the state of the world and wonder if your actions can make a difference, lean into the promise of Matthew 28:20, where Christ assures us He is with us always.

Engage with your community by volunteering for local missions or feeding programs in your area. As you serve, remind yourself that even small acts of kindness mean a lot in God’s kingdom.

Keep a journal to document how you see God working through these efforts, and share your experiences with others, not out of a sense of pride, but to inspire them to join in fulfilling God’s promises in action.

This is where things get a bit nuanced:

Called to be the witness to the world of God’s graciousness,

Israel failed, miserably, and in turn, became the enemy of God

That worked out well for the rest of the world, as-

That opened up Salvation to all of humanity

But, because the Gifts and calling’s of God are irrevocable:

In other words:

God cannot ever go back on His Word.

Israel was still God’s elect and

God’s love was extended to them because of the OT Patriarchs.

Because of God’s eternal grace and mercy,

He still welcomes any and all Jewish believers into the fold

For the sake of. and in keeping with His promise to their Ancestors.

This, in no way suggests there is a way to merit God’s favor or Blessings,

Based on heritage or anything else.

It simply points to God’s promises- Once made- are irrevocable by God.

He does not change His mind

And continues to this day to offer His grace, mercy, protection and provision to His chosen people.

It is key to note that While God will not renege on His Promises

It does not mean that we cannot resist Him.

If God’s promises WERE revokable-

We could, then, call His Character into question

Paul reminds his Gentile followers that they were, at one time,

In rebellion against God

It was out of ignorance, but it was rebellion, nonetheless.

It was because of Israels disobedience, that Grace and Mercy were extended to the Gentiles.

However, God, always being faithful-

Once mercy was extended to all of humanity

Gods chosen people were also included in the promise as well.

Despite their continued rebellion.

As a Nation, Israel has been in rebellion towards God, since the time of Christ

As they rejected Jesus as their Messiah

They temporarily missed their unique opportunity to be the light of the world.

Thus proving that they were as much in need of a Saviour as the rest of the world.

As soon as the time of the Elect among the Gentiles has been completed-

God’s mercy will, again be focused on Israel.

By understanding this aspect of Gods mercy, Followers of Christ, today

Should grasp the unifying role we all play, across all ethnic and cultural divisions.

I encourage all believers of Christ to stand firm in your faith and be wise in the knowledge of our own individual identity as part of Gods complete Family of Believers.

This should compel us all to strive to be More like Christ in our daily lives and less conformed to the world around us.

The Closer to Christ we live, daily, the less impact, influence and pressure our current social and cultural issues will have on us.

Gods mercy extends only to those that realize they have been held captive by their own sinful lusts and desires.

This is the conclusion to Gods over-arching plan:

He is willing and able to extend His grace and mercy to all that will humbly come to Him, believing and confessing their need for a Saviour in their lives.

What a glorious view of both Jew and Gentile- All of Humanity experiencing the Richness of the Blessings from our Heavenly Father.

So our final point:

3- The Majesty of God

Romans 11:33–12:2 NLT

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

In this closing section, Paul begins to transition into the personal application of Transformation. The rest of the Letter to the Roman church is establish on this foundation.

The final chapters will be the practical application of the foundation, already laid.

Several questions to highlight are:

How great are Gods riches, wisdom and knowledge

His ways are so much beyond anything we can comprehend

Who could, or would dare to know the thoughts of God

Who holds enough Divine knowledge as to be able to offer God advice.

Echo’s of the last couple of chapters of the Book of Job

Finally- Who could ever possibly out give God.

The personal application begins with:

Because God has given everything of Himself for us

We should willingly give everything of us to Him.

That we present ourselves to the world as “Living Sacrifices” or Living Testimonies of Gods Glory, alive in us.

This is our practical act of worship to Him

Let us not get caught up in the issues of this world,

So much that we become distracted from our singular mission

To be about making Disciples for Him

But, rather, allow God, through the Holy Spirit to begin to transform each of us

Into a new creation, By the renewing of our minds-

Or by changing the very way we think about everything.

That we approach our lost and dark world from a Biblical perspective

In regards to everything.

So that we can rest in the knowledge of Gods will for our lives

Which is always good, pleasing and perfect