Untitled Sermon

Faith in the Unsearchable Ways of God

Romans 11:25–36 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. 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.

1. unsearchable† — marked by being impossible to find or discover the depths or the end of; therefore incomprehensible.

ἀνεξεραύνητος (anexeraunētos), adj. unfathomable; unsearchable.

Inscrutable

ἀνεξιχνίαστος -ου, ἡ; (anexichniastos), adj. inscrutable; incomprehensible. Hebrew equivalent: חֵ֫קֶר (1).1. indelineable† — marked by being impossible to plot, travel, or trace to the end of; therefore incomprehensible.MHCC-

This is the God we serve..... one who is incomprehensible , unfathomable, impossible to find or discover the depths there of.

STOP AND PRAY

God is unfathomable and incomprehensible however that is not how he is often viewed. It is also not the way the modern church responds, particularly to the judgements of God.

We debate, we challenge, we compose great words , we doubt and we build around our flesh. We who are unstable, bring our finite reasoning to the table where we parse and divide the Holy word of an unfathomable God and divide it, cut it, sew it together into a comfortable pillow where we can lay our heads, satisfied that we can comprehend the judgements of God.

How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Common in Jewish thought was the notion that God’s ways, particularly his judgments, were beyond man’s comprehension

In reading this passage of scripture I came across this commentary of Calvins that is a really good reminder that its ok to have faith and not always have or demand the understanding of the mysteries of God.

Be careful that we do not make any searchings respecting the Lord, except as far as he has revealed himself in the Scriptures, for otherwise we shall enter a labyrinth, from which the retreat is not easy.It must however be noticed, that he speaks not here of all God’s mysteries, but of those which are hid with God himself, and ought to be only admired and adored by us.

Calvin, J., & Owen, J. (2010). Commentary on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans (p. 445). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

WE OBVIOUSLY DONT UNDERSTAND SO MUCH ABOUT GOD AND HIS JUDGEMENTS as they truly are beyond mans comprehension. ITS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ARE SOME THAT WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL, GOD KNEW THOSE INDIVIDUALS PRIOR TO CREATION YET THEY ARE BORN, while he also knew His children prior to creation as we read in Ephesians 1:4-54 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. IT IS beyond mans comprehension THAT THE REASON GOD MADE PHAROH WAS FOR THE VERY PURPOSE HE FULFILLED YET WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE...... AND THAT IS OK. What do you mean its ok? I mean His ways are just what Pauls says “unsearchable, and inscrutable”.

WE SEEK CLARITY AND WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND BUT humility and FAITH are REQUIRED TO ACCEPT THE THINGS OF GOD WHOS WAYS ARE UNFATHOMABLE AND WHOS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OURS. BECAUSE IT TRULY IS BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION

LET US TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT OURSELVES AS A BODY OF BELIEVERS AND ASK OURSELVES do we seek to know and to ACCEPT!...THE incomprehensible GOD OF THE BIBLE VERSUS THE GOD OF THE CULTURE who always has a twistable explantation? There is grave danger in the latter.

You see,....WE ALL COME TO A PLACE WHERE WE DECIDE TO EITHER ACCEPT GODS TRUTH OR DENY TRUTH BY CHANGING PARTS AND PARCELS THAT WE DON’T LIKE OR PERHAPS WE DISAGREE WITH because thats “not the God I know”.. WHERE IS THE FEAR AND REVERENCE in that approach and reasoning? the answer is, there isn’t any… Its lost!

My prayer for you and for our church is that we dig in and seek his face through the context of his word. We are fast approaching what looks like a time where our Faith will be challenged and it had better be in the rock of Jesus Christ and in His word, not what someone tells you to believe that sounds very appealing by how “it makes you feel”. Feelings are not Faith..

VERSE ON SCREEN;

HIS WAYS ARE UNFATHOMABLE - I LOVE THE POETIC DESCRIPTION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEXT Passage -

Isaiah 40:12–14 (LEB)

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand

and marked off the heavens with a span,

comprehended the dust of the earth in a third of a measure

and weighed out the mountains in the scales, and the hills in a balance?

Who has measured up the spirit of Yahweh

or informed him as his counselor?

With whom has he consulted, that he enlightened him

and taught him the path of justice,

and taught him knowledge,

and made the way of understanding known to him?

Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Vol. 3, p. 217). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Since, therefore, we ought continually to strive against distrust, and since Satan attacks us by various schemes, it is of great importance that the promises of God should be believed by us, to give to his power the praise which it deserves. Now when this was written here in Isaiah , because the restoration of the people was beyond belief, it was necessary that godly minds should be raised above the world, that they might not view the grace of God as limited to human means.

STOP TELL STORY ABOUT 40 YEAR OLDS UNDERSTANDING VERSUS THAT OF A 13 YEAR OLDS UNDERSTANDING.IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO TRUST ME BEYOND WHAT HE KNEW. HOW DO YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR FATHER? TO TRUST HIM AND TRUST THAT HIS JUDGEMENTS AND HIS WAYS ARE JUST. THROUGH HIS WORD AND THE FELLOWSHIP AROUND HIS WORD WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.

Isaiah 40 in the ESV is titled as “Comfort for God’s People”.

This passage is reminding the finite minds of the sheep, or the muddy grains of clay t(AS WE ALL ARE) that there is a shepherd/potter that is unfathomable, unsearchable, unteachable, and in control. This dichotomy of his way/his will/his enduring plan versus our limited sight is meant to provide comfort for us because WE CANNOT SEE/understand his ways, therefore we must have faith and reverence concerning the GOD that measures the seas, gives them their boundaries at the shores, weighs the mountains, and whos judgments are just and perfect.

Here in Isaiah it speaks of Justice that is beyond our comprehension. With whom has he consulted, that he enlightened him and taught him the path of justice. Who could comprehend justice much less who could teach justice to the God that is perfectly just? This should bring us comfort and should build our faith as we place our faith in God and not in our inability to comprehend the justice of God.

The fact that we cant see or comprehend Justice in all of his ways and his judgement can only mean that we are unable to comprehend His ways as we read earlier in Romans. It doest mean he is unjust rather it proves he is the creator and we are the creature. “With whom has he consulted, that he enlightened him and taught him the path of justice,”

PAUSE

Justice is GOD. Justice seems to be one of those stumbling blocks that make it so easy for men to form God’s word into a meaning that satisfying to our flesh....... Oh, it doens’t really mean that, you see God is a God of love, he would never send anyone to hell thats only figurative...

WRONG! GOD is the proprietor, definer, and determiner of JUSTICE which is why it is better to have faith than to doubt his just ways and just judgements. Perhaps Calvin is right in cautioning “Be careful that we do not make any searchings respecting the Lord, except as far as he has revealed himself in the Scriptures, for otherwise we shall enter a labyrinth, from which the retreat is not easy..

I BELIEVE WE MISUSE THE DEFINITION OF QUESTIONS OR searching as it relates to the STUDY OF GOD AND WHO HE IS.

When often what we really mean OR WHAT I REALLY MEAN is I disagree with you GOD and I am going to find a way to make all of your word, including your judgements fit my narrative. “I disagree that a loving GOD would ever send someone to hell.” Its not new but it is a popular narrative being taught from pulpits in our nation to discredit and remove the concept of judgement and hell from the understanding of holy scriptures all together!” You see its because God’s judments are beyond mans comprehension that he could still be good and loving, while sending unbelievers to hell, therefore we must remove it if we cant comprehend it.

VERSE ON SCREEN

We are reminded that GOD is beyond mans comprehension in Job where there is a reality check so to speak when the Lord answers Job.

Job 38:1–7 (ESV)

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Dress for action like a man;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.

“9Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

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.

The apostle Paul knew the mysteries of the kingdom of God as well as ever any man; yet he confesses himself at a loss; and despairing to find the bottom, he humbly sits down at the brink, and adores the depth. Those who know most in this imperfect state, feel their own weakness most.

MY PRAYER IS GOD LET US BE A BODY THAT FEELS OUR OWN WEAKNESS IN THE STUDY OF YOUR HOLY WORD.... WORD FOR WORD.... MEANING FOR MEANING..... RENEW IN US A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY THAT BOWS BEFORE THE CREATOR . THE GOD THAT MEASURES THE WATERS OF THE EARTH IN HIS HAND, THAT HAS ALL POWER OVER CREATION, AND OVER ALL HELL AND DARKNESS. LET US APPROACH YOUR THROWN WITH A PRAYER OF HUMILITY IN REVERENCE OF YOUR WAYS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS. WAYS THAT ARE HIDDEN FROM US , WAYS THAT ARE UNSEARCHABLE, INSCRUTABLE AND beyond mans comprehension.

Henry, M., & Scott, T. (1997). Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Ro 11:33). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.

There is not only depth in the Divine counsels, but riches; abundance of that which is precious and valuable. The Divine counsels are complete; they have not only depth and height, but breadth and length, and that passing knowledge. There is that vast distance and disproportion between God and man, between the Creator and the creature, which for ever shuts us out from knowledge of his ways. What man shall teach God how to govern the world? The apostle PAUL adores the sovereignty of the Divine counsels. All things in heaven and earth, especially those which relate to our salvation, that belong to our peace, are all of him by way of creation, through him by way of providence, that they may be to him in their end. Of God, as the Spring and Fountain of all; through Christ, to God, as the end. These include all God’s relations to his creatures; if all are of Him, and through Him, all should be to Him, and for Him. Whatever begins, let God’s glory be the end: especially let us adore him when we talk of the Divine counsels and actings. The saints in heaven never dispute, but always praise.

Isaiah 26:4 ESV

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.