"Mercy Beyond The Stumble”
Romans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsHuman unbelief brings real judgment, but it cannot overthrow God’s saving purpose. Israel stumbled, yet God remained faithful, extended salvation to the nations, and continued His purpose of mercy toward Israel.
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Transcript
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, 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.
Congregational Refrain
Congregational Refrain
Preacher: We stumbled.
Church: God stayed faithful.
HOOK | WHO HAVE YOU GIVEN UP ON?
HOOK | WHO HAVE YOU GIVEN UP ON?
Ever thought:
"They're never coming back to God."
"Their heart is too hard."
"They've resisted God too long."
Maybe:
A prodigal.
A former “Christian”.
A family member.
Yourself.
Be careful making an agreement with hopelessness.
Hopelessness looks at the present and claims to already know the ending.
Faith looks at God's character and refuses to write the final chapter.
Faith puts its HOPE in Jesus and Who He is, NOT our current circumstances.
Everything looked hopeless with Israel, and it looks fairly hopeless for them today...
Israel had:
The covenants.
The prophets.
The Scriptures.
The promises.
The Messiah.
Yet much of Israel rejected Christ and STILL do today…
We know people who live in similar situations.
Surrounded by the things of God, but don’t have Him themselves.
Paul's Question
Paul's Question
Has Israel stumbled into a fall there’s no coming back from??
Paul's Answer
Paul's Answer
Absolutely not.
Preacher: We stumbled.
Church: God stayed faithful.
1. HUMAN UNBELIEF CANNOT OVERTHROW GOD'S PURPOSE
1. HUMAN UNBELIEF CANNOT OVERTHROW GOD'S PURPOSE
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.
"Have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not!"
Israel Truly Stumbled
Israel Truly Stumbled
Their unbelief was real.
Their guilt was real.
Their judgment was real.
Paul is not saying:
Sin doesn't matter.
Everyone gets saved.
Israel can be saved apart from Christ.
Paul is saying:
Israel's unbelief did not make God unfaithful.
Human rebellion still remains accountable.
Human rebellion never becomes sovereign…ever.
The Pattern of Rebellion Throughout Scripture
The Pattern of Rebellion Throughout Scripture
Joseph's brothers meant evil.
Pharaoh hardened his heart.
(Bring up last week’s sermon)
“Don’t play”
God may ACTUALLY leave you alone like you want…
Reprobation
God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
Joseph, Pharoah…
Wicked men crucified Christ.
Yet God remained sovereign.
God can overrule the evil He hates and make it serve His holy purposes.
Heart Check - Application
Heart Check - Application
Have I made someone's resistance bigger than God's power?
Have I judged the whole story from one chapter of pain..?
Have I agreed with the lie that someone or something is beyond God's reach?
Main Statement
Main Statement
Our hope is not that people never fail.
Our hope is that God never does.
Preacher: We stumbled.
Church: God stayed faithful.
(1. HUMAN UNBELIEF CANNOT OVERTHROW GOD'S PURPOSE)
(1. HUMAN UNBELIEF CANNOT OVERTHROW GOD'S PURPOSE)
2. GRACE SHOULD PRODUCE HUMILITY, NOT PRIDE
2. GRACE SHOULD PRODUCE HUMILITY, NOT PRIDE
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, 14 if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.
"By their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles..."
Follow Paul's Logic - What is he saying?
Follow Paul's Logic - What is he saying?
Israel trespasses.
The gospel advances.
Gentiles believe.
Gentiles receive mercy.
Israel is provoked to desire the blessings found in her Messiah.
Important Truth to Remember
Important Truth to Remember
Israel's rejection itself did not save anyone.
Christ alone purchased salvation for all who are repenting and believing.
God used Israel's unbelief as the occasion for the gospel spreading among the nations.
This Was Never “Plan B”
This Was Never “Plan B”
God promised Abraham all nations would be blessed through him.
God wasn't improvising or having to “shift” the plan…
God was fulfilling His promises.
Abraham believed God…so do all those who believe the Gospel.
Jesus is the gospel
Notice Paul's Heart:
Notice Paul's Heart:
He doesn't mock unbelieving people.
He doesn't celebrate judgment.
He longs to "save some."
God gives new birth.
Paul still:
Preaches.
Prays.
Pursues.
Hopes.
Heart Check - Application
Heart Check - Application
Has God’s mercy made me humble or superior?
Do I grieve for unbelievers or criticize them?
Have I stopped praying for someone because I've decided they'll never change?
Main Statement
Main Statement
If grace makes us arrogant, we have misunderstood grace altogether.
Preacher: We stumbled.
Church: God stayed faithful.
(1. HUMAN UNBELIEF CANNOT OVERTHROW GOD'S PURPOSE)
(1. HUMAN UNBELIEF CANNOT OVERTHROW GOD'S PURPOSE)
(2. GRACE SHOULD PRODUCE HUMILITY, NOT PRIDE)
(2. GRACE SHOULD PRODUCE HUMILITY, NOT PRIDE)
3. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS CREATES HOPE
3. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS CREATES HOPE
Romans 11:12, 15-16
Romans 11:12, 15-16
"How much more will their fullness bring!"
"What will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?"
Paul Looks Beyond “The Present Situation”
Paul Looks Beyond “The Present Situation”
He sees:
Fullness.
Acceptance.
Future mercy.
Life from the dead.
Paul refuses to believe that the present chapter is the final chapter.
Important Clarification
Important Clarification
Being “Separate and distinct” does not mean automatically saved.
Jewish bloodlines cannot save.
Gentile inclusion cannot save.
Baptist heritage cannot save.
Church attendance cannot save.
Bible knowledge cannot save.
Only Christ Saves
Only Christ Saves
The covenant root (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) gives Israel hope.
But only JESUS gives sinners salvation, rescue, and His life!
Heart Check - Application
Heart Check - Application
Do I actually know Christ or just Christian culture?
Has the Word actually transformed me or just informed me?
Am I trusting Jesus or my familiarity with Jesus?
Have I mistaken proximity to God's people for union with Christ?
Is our union with Christ affecting our lives?
IF NOT, maybe there’s no “union” at all…
Maybe you need to surrender everything to Jesus TODAY!
Main Statement
Main Statement
God does not merely improve spiritually dead people.
God gives them new life. His own life.
Preacher: We stumbled.
Church: God stayed faithful.
LOOK | BREAK AGREEMENT WITH THE LIE
LOOK | BREAK AGREEMENT WITH THE LIE
Which Lie Have You Accepted?
Which Lie Have You Accepted?
"God is finished with me."
"That person will never change."
"My religious activity makes me secure."
"I'm better than unbelievers."
Romans 11 teaches:
Present unbelief is no obstacle for God's power.
No living person is beyond:
Prayer.
Love.
Gospel proclamation.
The reach of God's mercy.
GOSPEL TURN | THE CROSS SETTLES IT
GOSPEL TURN | THE CROSS SETTLES IT
The Messiah was rejected.
Peter denied.
Judas betrayed.
The disciples scattered.
Jesus suffered.
Jesus died.
Yet through humanity's darkest rebellion:
Justice was satisfied.
Sin was judged.
Mercy was displayed.
Salvation was secured.
Then Jesus rose from the dead.
God didn't simply renovate us.
He resurrects dead sinners and transgressors to life!
Preacher: We stumbled.
Church: God stayed faithful.
TOOK | RESPOND TODAY
TOOK | RESPOND TODAY
Renounce Pride
Renounce Pride
"God, remind me that I’m only standing in Jesus by His grace."
Reject Hopelessness
Reject Hopelessness
"God, forgive me for deciding who or what is beyond Your reach."
Examine Your Faith
Examine Your Faith
"God, don't let me know about Jesus without truly knowing Jesus Himself."
Recover Paul's Burden for the gospel in your life
Recover Paul's Burden for the gospel in your life
"God, give me compassion, courage, and faithfulness toward the lost."
What should we do?
What should we do?
Pray for one person.
Pursue one conversation.
Proclaim Christ without arrogance or fear.
CLOSING
CLOSING
Human unbelief did not cancel God's promises.
Human rebellion did not overthrow God's throne.
Human hardness did not exhaust God's mercy.
Only He determines when enough is enough, according to His good and righteous judgment.
There is:
One Messiah.
One Gospel.
One way of salvation.
One faithful God.
Do not boast.
Do not presume.
Do not remain in unbelief.
Repent.
Believe.
Come to Jesus.
Final Refrain
Final Refrain
Preacher: We stumbled.
Church: God stayed faithful.
Our failure is real, but God's faithfulness is greater.
