Romans 11:22-36

Set-Backs and Set-Ups

Romans 11:22-36

Introduction

Introduction

Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us. Currently, we are walking through the letter of Paul to the Romans, and today we are closing out the first part of the letter to the Romans (chs 1-11). Would you open up your Bibles with me to , verse 22.

Those broken in unbelief are restored by grace.

God is mighty to save, and His salvation is all of grace. Our call is to receive His grace and repent of our sin, turning to Him in faith.

Last week, Pastor Rich walked us through , where the apostle Paul tells us that those broken in unbelief are restored by grace. God is longsuffering with His people–He holds out His hands in their disobedience, desiring them to repent from their sin and come to faith Jesus. Likewise, He is still doing the same, holding out His hands towards us. God is mighty to save, and His salvation is all of grace. But for His salvation to be true for us, we must receive His grace through repenting of our sin and turning to Jesus in faith–trusting His work of salvation to make us right. We must be united with Christ in faith, and walk in light of that. He is the repair for our brokenness, who can turn our despair into delight. He can use our missteps for His glory. We will continue that theme today.

NOT DONE YET

Would you pray with me

Romans 11:22–36 ESV

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. 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.” 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. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:22–36 ESV

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. 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.” 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. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Set-backs in the story are actually set-ups for His glory.

Our Command and God’s Power (v. 22-24)

Romans 11:22–24 ESV

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Paul is charging those who have faith in Jesus Christ’s grace to ‘continue in His kindness’. This is an interesting thing to consider, no? God has already been kind–He’s displayed He is kind through sending His son Jesus to take on the punishment that our sins earned us. And we believe that forgiveness of sins is granted as a gift to all who trust in His grace (, ), so what does it mean to ‘continue in His kindness’?

Well, Paul knows that on this side of heaven, there’s this constant temptation within us to look inward and away from Jesus. We constantly are told from the world around us (and often from within us) that we have to look to our abilities to gain approval, to our accomplishments to gain significance, and our performance to gain acceptance.

Jesus flips the script in saying that His accomplishments, His performance, and His abilities are what earn our status in God’s family as forgiven and loved.

The Scriptures over and over again proclaim once for all salvation and at the same time a continuing in that kindness.

Colossians 1:21–23 ESV

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 ESV

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

If indeed you continue in the faith. Continue in His kindness. And I would submit that this is what it means to continue in His kindness:

If indeed you continue in the faith. Continue in His kindness. And I would submit that this is what it means to continue in His kindness:

To continue in God’s kindness means to live a life in which your hopes and your actions show that Jesus is your everything.

It doesn’t mean ‘try and hope and try and act good enough to gain Jesus.’ Jesus freely gave Himself for you. He calls us to live for Him in happy response to His grace. That’s the amazing thing–experiencing God’s kindness (His love displayed in Jesus) is what’s meant to propel us to act in accordance with His ways.

To illustrate–

I always get on my roomies Corrie and Lauren, because they have this obsession with taking care of stray cats that run up on our back porch. A week ago, this one cat in particular came up our porch, and it was busted. Like, really brutally messed up in it’s eyes, ears…all of it. Anyways, Corrie and Lauren have been feeding and changing it’s water bowl. And the cat hasn’t left the porch since then. Why? It’s free to. We don’t put a leash on it and not let it go. But the cat wants to stay near us, on the porch, because it has tasted ‘literally’ the goodness we provide.

God acts the same way – He wants His kind salvation to lead us to stay near Him and walk in His ways:

Romans 2:4 ESV

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

It’s shocking because the way our world works is that we think that threats and intimidation and fear is how we get people to do things. We tell people “don’t do this, or else this will happen.” While God is honest about the consequences of disobedience, they are not meant to be the motivation of our obedience. We see it is His kindness, His longsuffering, His patience with our sins – this is supposed to make us want to repent and live for Him.

Therefore,

But for me, it is good to be near to God–I have made the LORD my refuge, that I might tell of all His works.

A Christian is not someone who is forced to stay near Jesus, but someone who wants to be near Him because they have experienced His goodness and grace.

Psalm 73:28 ESV

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

But for me, it is good to be near to God–I have made the LORD my refuge, that I might tell of all His works.

The kindness of Jesus should lead us to examine our lives and see if there’s anything we’re doing or thinking that is incompatible with His ways. This is what it means to repent. To turn from ‘doing me’ and live for Jesus.

Practically, one grace of God might be you signing up to join a DNA group at Restoration, where small groups of people get together to encourage one another in the faith, read Scripture together, and pray for each other.

This is what Paul is warning the people here of–they must continue in His gracious kindness, because if not–they will be cut off (V. 22)

I’m not sure where you’re at, spiritually speaking, at this moment in time. You might feel like you’re not continuing in His kindness. That in fact, you deserve the severity of God, because you have fallen. You may feel like you’re going to be ‘cut off’. I want to encourage and challenge you with the hope of the Word of God.

Romans 11:24 ESV

For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Romans 11:23 ESV

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

Paul says that the hope for Israel (who was cut off for unbelief – i.e. not continuing in God’s kindness/trusting in Jesus) is the same hope for you and me:

God has the power to graft them in again

Paul says that Israel, if they do not continue in unbelief, can be reunited to God in Christ and be saved – because GOD HAS THE POWER TO GRAFT THEM IN AGAIN.

Now, grafting is a really neat illustration that Paul uses when talking about this–

Grafting happens when you take a branch of one tree and put it into an already existing tree. It consists of two parts – the rootstock (which is the base tree) and the scion (which is the branch). What you do is you actually cut open the rootstock, and place the branch (scion) into it, tie it up, and eventually, if done right, it will grow into the rootstock and become part of that tree, sustained and protected by that root.

Paul is saying that, if those who are unbelieving RETURN in faith to Christ (the rootstock), God has the power to unite them back to Him.

Jesus, like the rootstock, was literally cut open that we might grow into Him and be sustained by Him for the rest of our days; becoming one with Him.

Hosea 14:3–7 ESV

Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:

When Israel turns from saying ‘Our God’ to the work of their hands, God will heal their apostasy. When they

Take a look at Jeremiah 3:22

Jeremiah 3:22 ESV

“Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness.” “Behold, we come to you, for you are the Lord our God.

We simply must return. God has the power to heal our faithlessness. In our returning, coming up near Him, He will heal our faithlessness.

We simply must return. God has the power to heal our faithlessness. In our returning, coming up near Him, He will

And Israel was bugging out. Read . They were committing all kinds of sin and idolatry, totally forsaking God.

And He still begged them to return, and He will heal.

He speaks the same to us. A broken branch can never be grafted in if it stays away from the rootstock. Likewise, we will never be healed if we don’t come near to Jesus. Come to Him in faithlessness, come to him in struggle.

There’s a reason Satan is called ‘the accuser’ in the Bible. He loves to sow seeds of doubt in us. He loves to make us insecure in our salvation. He wants us to question our faith in Jesus. He wants us to be unsure about our standing with God.

But, tells us what we are to do

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Satan often doesn’t try to get you to look to him directly. He tries to get us to look at ourselves. Our situation. Our sin. And by default, that takes our eyes off Jesus. An article I was reading online put perfectly the solution–

“While Satan says, ‘look at your sinfulness’, God says, ‘Look to Jesus, the AUTHOR and FINISHER of your faith.”

Keep looking to Jesus. Keep drawing near by His grace. He begun (authored) and will finish your faith.

God has the power to graft us back in again.

In our struggles and sin, we want to isolate. But God would say the exact opposite. He would say the most important time for us to be in fellowship/service is when we don’t feel like it, or are tired, or are over this faith journey. Come to Him in faithlessness.

DON’T LET TEMPORARY SET-BACKS KEEP YOU FROM THE ETERNAL SET-UP

But, tells us what we are to do

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are to look to Jesus. You see, Satan often doesn’t try to get you to look to Him directly. He tries to get us to look at ourselves. Our situation. Our sin. And by default, that takes our eyes off Jesus. An article I was reading online put perfectly the remedy–

“While Satan says, ‘look at your sinfulness’, God says, ‘Look to Jesus, the AUTHOR and FINISHER of your faith.”

Keep looking to Jesus. Keep drawing near by His grace. He begun (authored) and will finish your faith.

God has the power to graft us back in again.

Practically, aside from Sunday worship service, one grace of God might be you signing up to join a DNA group at Restoration, where small groups of people get together to encourage one another in the faith, read Scripture together, and pray for each other.

DON’T LET TEMPORARY SET-BACKS KEEP YOU FROM THE ETERNAL SET-UP

God’s Purpose (v. 25-32)

God’s Purpose (v. 25-32)

Romans 11:25–32 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.” 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.

The New American Commentary: Romans (2) The Rejection Is Not Final (11:11–24)

Contrary to much that is written, the major theme of chaps. 9–11 is less the fate of Israel than a warning to the Gentiles not to presume on their fortunate position as a wild branch that had been grafted into a historic tree of Jewish origin.

“Lest you be wise in your own sight”. Paul wants the Gentiles He’s speaking to to realize that they are in a position of mercy. They mustn’t become puffed up and think that they’ve earned salvation. We quickly start to think that we’re deserving of grace, and look down on others. But none of us deserve it. None of us earned it. That’s the beauty of grace.

Paul continues saying that the partial hardening upon Israel results in the kingdom of God expanding out to all nations. (see ‘through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles’. All who ‘continue in belief’ in Jesus, following Him with their lives, will be saved.

Paul continues saying that the partial hardening (which seems like a set-back) upon Israel results in the kingdom of God expanding out to all nations. (see ‘through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles’. All who ‘continue in belief’ in Jesus, following Him with their lives, will be saved.

There’s some disagreement as to what Paul means in verse 26 when he says, ‘in this way all Israel will be saved’. Some commentators liken ‘all Israel’ to Spiritual Israel – i.e. all who receive new life in Christ (both Jew and Gentile)– but this would be strange because of the context of chapters 9-11 – this whole time Paul has been comparing Gentiles and Jews as separate ethnic groups, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to blur the lines now in his conclusion.

Many believe that this refers to a time in the future when, after the ‘fullness of Gentiles come in’, “A redeemer would come to those in Zion (Israel) who repent of their sins” (). That when Jesus comes back, He is going to be seen by the Jewish people for who He is, and they will turn to Him in faith and be saved.

Therefore, the full family of God, believing Jews and believing Gentiles, would be joined together in faith in Jesus Christ.

Currently Israelites are ‘enemies of the gospel’ (v. 28)– i.e. they continue in unbelief, yet they are still loved by God – He holds out His hands day by day (), awaiting their repentance and return to Him. The gifts and the callings of God are irrevocable. (v. 29)– so Paul is referencing what he stated earlier in , that to Israel belongs all of the privileges of being the covenant people of God – they are the ones through which the promises were made, the law was given, the fathers of the faith existed, and through them the Savior of the world came. Those things don’t change.

The gifts and the callings of God are irrevocable. (v. 29)– Paul is referencing what he stated earlier in ,

And Paul is saying that just because God used Israel’s disobedience to show us mercy, they too will once again receive mercy through faith in Jesus.

God has consigned all to disobedience ( – both Jews and Greeks are under sin), so that he may have mercy on all peoples. There is none righteous, no not one.

Yet the beauty of the gospel is that All who turn in faith and trust in His Son will be forever forgiven.

And the purpose of this section is to see that–

What seemed like a set-back in God’s story is actually a set-up for His glory.

God is never not working. He’s never thwarted. Disobedience resulted in mercy to others. Worldwide salvation has come – note, not every single person is saved, but any individual from any group of people can be saved through repentance and faith in Jesus. And this is God’s plan from all along, to have a multitude of people from all nations praising His glorious grace.

If there ever was a time that seemed like a set-back in God’s plan, it was when His Son, Jesus, was convicted as a criminal, hung on a cross, and died. He was buried in the tomb for three days. The plan of God was literally dead.

But death could not hold Him down. Our Jesus, who died for your and my sins, ROSE from the dead. He proved that the debt of our sins was paid in full, and God’s anger was satisfied. So Jesus got out of the ground, proving that He had victory over sin and death. He is king eternal, seated at the right hand of God, granting eternal life to all who rest in Him!

Have we lost our faith in “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all?” () . Have we forgotten that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose?” That He is going to use all things to make us more like Jesus, and Has promised to finish the process ()?

I’m not sure how you’re struggling right now…What difficulties you have going on in life. What sins your enslaved to. But I know that He’s able. Won’t He do it.

If we trust Him for that, do

He will finish the good work He started in you, but we need to trust, we need to continue in His kindness, because He is worthy, and He has proven Himself worthy!

He will finish the good work He started in you, but we need to trust, we need to continue in His kindness, because He is worthy, and He has proven Himself worthy!

God is the One who can turn your seasons of struggle into songs of salvation. He is the One who can turn your stumbling in the self into strength in the Savior!

For those in Christ, the set-backs in your story are set-ups for God’s glory and your good.

If there ever was a time that seemed like a set-back in God’s plan, it was when His Son, Jesus, was convicted as a criminal, hung on a cross, and died. He was buried in the tomb for three days. The plan of God was literally dead.

But death could not hold Him down. Our Jesus, who died for your and my sins, ROSE from the dead. He proved that the debt of our sins was paid in full, and God’s anger was satisfied. So Jesus got out of the ground, proving that He had victory over sin and death. He is king eternal, seated at the right hand of God, granting eternal life to all who rest in Him!

Have we lost our faith in “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all?” () . Have we forgotten that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose?” That He is going to use all things to make us more like Jesus, and Has promised to finish the process ()?

DON’T LET TEMPORARY SET-BACKS KEEP YOU FROM THE ETERNAL SET-UP

And Paul concludes chapter eleven with a shout of praise. Chapters 1-11 are one big section in Romans, and chapters 12-16 are another. The first 11 chapters are the ‘theological’ portion – they focus on who God is, what He’s done in Christ, and explain that redemptive relationship God has with humans in Christ.

We see in Chapters 1:18-3:20 we see the total condemnation of humans, as all have sinned.

In 3:21-5:11 we see the beautiful hope of being saved from our condemnation and declared righteous before God through faith in Jesus.

Chapters 5-8 gives us principles for living the Christian life, dying to our sin and living to God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Chapters 9-11 defend God’s rightness in His dealings with both Jews and Gentiles throughout history, and His sovereign plan of salvation by grace through faith.

After working through all of this, Paul properly ends by shouting about the wonder of God. Study of God (theology) should always lead to praise of God (doxology). If we learn a million things about God, but it doesn’t move our heart to love and worship Him more and more, then our learning is in vain. Satan knows more about God than any of it, and He despises God for it. We must be moved to praise and worship Him in His wonderful grace and goodness.

On the nature of this doxology, one commentator notes –

The New American Commentary: Romans (3) The Salvation of All Israel (11:25–36)

Its power is felt more in hearing it read and reflecting upon its truth than in comments that must be made regarding its specific meaning at various points.

I love that. The guy who’s job it is to dissect and interpret the scripture says that the power of it is in hearing and reflecting it’s truth as a whole. And he meant it–his comments on this section are sparse.

So I thought it appropriate to end this long journey of eleven chapters through Romans in this manner – I will read the doxology out loud, and leave it on the screen for us to reflect and pray through it’s truth individually – and I will close with a reflective prayer that I’ve written out.

We are a church that humbly, yet unapologetically believes that God gives everything. God grace sustains everything. And God’s glory is the goal of everything.

God’s Praise (v. 33-36)

God’s Praise (v. 33-36)

God’s Power (v. 23-24)

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

God’s Purpose (v. 25-32)

God’s Praise (v. 33-36)

We God grace gives everything. Godsustains everything. And God is the goal of everything.

We are a church that humbly, yet unapologetically believes that God gives everything. God grace sustains everything. And God’s glory is the goal of everything.

Father, we come before you in worship. You are so beyond us. We could spend our whole lives gathering riches, and at the end of our lives, we would not have even scratched the surface of what is yours – because the earth and everything within it is Yours. Likewise, we could spend our whole lives trying to understand what you know, and it would be like one bucket filled from the vast ocean of your knowledge.

None have ever given you advise–all Your ways are right and good. You have never, in all eternity, had to go outside of yourself to understand something. Forgive us for the ways we try and judge You when we don’t know what You know.

Everything we have is a gracious gift from You–salvation through Jesus being the greatest gift. You have never owed anyone. Ever. Nobody could ever tell You what to do because You have never needed anyone. You are infinitely wise and powerful.

God, we are humbled, because in the midst of your wisdom and power, You delight in showing mercy. You have come down to us. You have stepped in to rescue us from the destruction of sin. You have spoken to us through Your Son.

We praise You because what we need to know, You have made known in Christ. We have tasted and seen Your grace. We praise You. We confess and trust Your goodness. Draw us deeper to You. We confess that we need You. All we have is Yours. We declare that You are glorious. Empower us to continue in Your kindness, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.