Embracing the Unsearchable Wisdom of God

 

Summary

In reflecting on the profound doxology found at the end of Romans 11, we are reminded of the depth and richness of God's wisdom and knowledge. This passage invites us to stand in awe of God's unsearchable judgments and ways that are beyond human comprehension. The Apostle Paul, after expounding on the mysteries of God's plan for salvation, especially concerning the future of Israel, bursts into praise, acknowledging the profound nature of God's purposes. This depth is not about complexity but about the richness of God's grace, wisdom, and knowledge, which cover every conceivable eventuality.

The sermon emphasizes the incomprehensibility of God's ways, highlighting that human efforts to fully understand God's judgments are futile. God's ways are untraceable, much like a hunter trying to track an elusive animal. This truth is crucial in understanding the divide within the Christian church today. The real division is not about doctrinal details but about our fundamental approach to the Gospel. The modern tendency to accommodate the Gospel to contemporary understanding, to engage in dialogue rather than proclamation, is a denial of the New Testament's teaching. The Gospel is not a matter of intellectual debate but a divine revelation that must be proclaimed.

The Apostle's practice, as seen in the Acts and his letters, was one of proclamation, not dialogue. This is because the natural man cannot understand the things of God; they are spiritually discerned. The necessity of regeneration is emphasized, as man in his natural state is at enmity with God. The modern approach, which seeks to learn from the unregenerate, denies the need for the new birth and the transformative power of the Gospel. God's judgments and ways are unsearchable because they are rooted in His infinite nature, while man is finite and sinful.

Ultimately, the Gospel's power lies in its divine origin, offering hope to all, regardless of human wisdom or status. It is a message that transcends human understanding, offering salvation through faith in Christ alone. This truth should lead us to rejoice, for it is the only explanation for our salvation and the guarantee of our ultimate glorification.

Key Takeaways:

- The depth of God's wisdom and knowledge is profound, not in complexity but in the richness of His grace, wisdom, and knowledge, which cover every conceivable eventuality. This depth should lead us to a posture of awe and worship, recognizing that God's plans are beyond our full understanding. [02:20]

- The incomprehensibility of God's ways highlights the futility of human efforts to fully grasp His judgments. God's ways are untraceable, much like a hunter trying to track an elusive animal, reminding us of the need for humility and trust in God's sovereign plans. [06:05]

- The real division within the Christian church is not about doctrinal details but about our fundamental approach to the Gospel. The modern tendency to accommodate the Gospel to contemporary understanding, to engage in dialogue rather than proclamation, is a denial of the New Testament's teaching. [08:49]

- The necessity of regeneration is emphasized, as man in his natural state is at enmity with God. The modern approach, which seeks to learn from the unregenerate, denies the need for the new birth and the transformative power of the Gospel. [23:30]

- The Gospel's power lies in its divine origin, offering hope to all, regardless of human wisdom or status. It is a message that transcends human understanding, offering salvation through faith in Christ alone, and should lead us to rejoice in God's unsearchable judgments and ways. [50:43]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to the Doxology
- [00:53] - The Depth of God's Wisdom
- [02:40] - The Incomprehensibility of God's Ways
- [06:51] - The Great Divide in the Church
- [08:49] - The Real Division: Approach to the Gospel
- [10:33] - Modern Denial of Apostolic Teaching
- [15:15] - Apostolic Practice of Proclamation
- [19:51] - The Necessity of Regeneration
- [23:30] - The Natural Man's Misunderstanding
- [27:58] - The Unsearchable Judgments of God
- [32:08] - The Blinding of the Natural Man
- [36:54] - The Untraceable Ways of God
- [43:15] - God's Mysterious Methods
- [50:43] - Rejoicing in God's Unsearchable Ways

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 11:33-36
2. 1 Corinthians 2:14
3. John 3:3-8

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Romans 11:33-36 reveal about the nature of God's wisdom and knowledge? How does this passage encourage a posture of awe and worship? [00:11]

2. According to the sermon, how does the Apostle Paul describe the futility of human efforts to fully understand God's judgments? What analogy is used to illustrate this concept? [05:16]

3. In the sermon, what is identified as the real division within the Christian church today? How does this relate to the approach to the Gospel? [08:49]

4. How does the sermon describe the necessity of regeneration for understanding the things of God, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:14? [19:08]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of God's unsearchable judgments and untraceable ways challenge our understanding of His plans and purposes? What does this imply about our approach to faith? [06:05]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern approaches to the Gospel might deny the New Testament's teaching? How does this impact the church's mission? [10:50]

3. How does the necessity of being "born again" in John 3:3-8 relate to the sermon’s emphasis on the transformative power of the Gospel? [21:19]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of proclamation versus dialogue in sharing the Gospel? How does this align with the Apostle Paul's practice? [16:46]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you tried to fully understand God's plan for your life. How did you respond when things didn't make sense? How can you cultivate trust in God's unsearchable judgments this week? [06:33]

2. The sermon highlights the danger of accommodating the Gospel to contemporary understanding. How can you ensure that your approach to sharing your faith remains true to the New Testament's teachings? [10:50]

3. Consider your current approach to evangelism. Are you more inclined towards dialogue or proclamation? How might you incorporate more proclamation into your interactions with others? [12:35]

4. The necessity of regeneration is emphasized in the sermon. How can you pray for and support someone in your life who has not yet experienced the new birth? [23:30]

5. How does the sermon challenge you to view the Gospel as a divine revelation rather than an intellectual debate? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the Gospel's transformative power? [50:43]

6. Reflect on a specific area of your life where you struggle to trust God's ways. What practical steps can you take to surrender this area to Him and embrace His untraceable paths? [45:40]

7. How can you rejoice in the fact that God's ways are beyond human understanding? Share a testimony of how this truth has brought hope or transformation in your life. [52:46]

Devotional

Day 1: The Depth of God's Wisdom and Knowledge
The depth of God's wisdom and knowledge is not about complexity but about the richness of His grace, wisdom, and knowledge, which cover every conceivable eventuality. This profound depth should lead us to a posture of awe and worship, recognizing that God's plans are beyond our full understanding. In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul acknowledges the mysteries of God's plan for salvation, especially concerning the future of Israel, and bursts into praise. This response is a reminder that our understanding is limited, and we are called to trust in God's infinite wisdom. [02:20]

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" (Romans 11:33, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God's wisdom and knowledge? How can you practice surrendering these areas to Him today?


Day 2: The Incomprehensibility of God's Ways
The incomprehensibility of God's ways highlights the futility of human efforts to fully grasp His judgments. God's ways are untraceable, much like a hunter trying to track an elusive animal. This truth reminds us of the need for humility and trust in God's sovereign plans. As humans, we often seek to understand and control, but God's infinite nature calls us to a different posture—one of faith and reliance on His perfect will. [06:05]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one situation in your life where you need to let go of control and trust in God's untraceable ways? How can you begin to do that today?


Day 3: The Real Division: Approach to the Gospel
The real division within the Christian church is not about doctrinal details but about our fundamental approach to the Gospel. The modern tendency to accommodate the Gospel to contemporary understanding, to engage in dialogue rather than proclamation, is a denial of the New Testament's teaching. The Gospel is a divine revelation that must be proclaimed, not debated. This calls for a return to the apostolic practice of proclamation, recognizing that the natural man cannot understand the things of God without spiritual discernment. [08:49]

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be more intentional about proclaiming the Gospel in your daily interactions, rather than merely engaging in dialogue? What steps can you take to share the message of Christ more boldly?


Day 4: The Necessity of Regeneration
The necessity of regeneration is emphasized, as man in his natural state is at enmity with God. The modern approach, which seeks to learn from the unregenerate, denies the need for the new birth and the transformative power of the Gospel. Regeneration is essential for understanding God's judgments and ways, as they are rooted in His infinite nature, while man is finite and sinful. This calls for a recognition of our need for spiritual rebirth and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [23:30]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced the transformative power of the Gospel in your life? How can you seek further regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit today?


Day 5: The Gospel's Divine Origin and Power
The Gospel's power lies in its divine origin, offering hope to all, regardless of human wisdom or status. It is a message that transcends human understanding, offering salvation through faith in Christ alone. This truth should lead us to rejoice in God's unsearchable judgments and ways, as it is the only explanation for our salvation and the guarantee of our ultimate glorification. The Gospel is not just a message to be understood but a divine reality to be embraced and lived out. [50:43]

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live out the power of the Gospel in your daily life, demonstrating its divine origin and hope to those around you? What practical steps can you take to embody the message of salvation through faith in Christ?

Quotes



The first thing that strikes him as we saw last Friday night is the depth of all this the profundity and that is something which we should constantly stress and emphasize any preaching of the Gospel or any claim to be an exposition of the Gospel that doesn't give this impression of depth and of profundity is not a true representation of the Gospel. [00:01:31]

The incomprehensibility of God's way and God's great plan and purpose of Salvation the Apostle puts that in these great words how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out now that's another way of course as I'm saying of representing this category of depth and of profundity. [00:03:12]

God's ways are untraceable or untrackable you think you you're on the scent or on got got the scent and you're on the track and you think ah now then I've only got to follow this and I'll arrive at the limit I will have arrived at an end you never will you will end your life says the Apostle still going onwards. [00:06:05]

The real division today and in a sense it's always been the case is not the division with regard to certain details or particulars that's not the real division the real division is about this our whole approach to the gospel our fundamental view of the essential character of The Gospel. [00:08:44]

The whole idea at the present time and this is the most popular prevailing teaching in the Christian church is that our starting point must always be the man of today that your whole approach your whole thinking must be governed by by the man of today and by modern knowledge. [00:13:16]

The Apostle wrote this whole section of the first epistle to the Corinthians to say that you must not bring in this philosophy and argumentation and dialogue and listen to the other side and have a debate and a discussion he says that things impossible because of the condition of the natural men. [00:19:15]

The natural men constantly misunderstand God's way of Salvation now we've seen that at Great length many times over in the epistle to the Romans take the Jews they completely misunderstood the purpose of the law men are still doing the same they think they can make themselves Christians by keeping a law. [00:25:35]

The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for their are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually deserved now the the Apostle wrote this whole section of the first epistle to the Corinthians to say that you must not bring in this philosophy. [00:19:00]

The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for their are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually deserved now the the Apostle wrote this whole section of the first epistle to the Corinthians to say that you must not bring in this philosophy. [00:19:00]

The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for their are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually deserved now the the Apostle wrote this whole section of the first epistle to the Corinthians to say that you must not bring in this philosophy. [00:19:00]

The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for their are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually deserved now the the Apostle wrote this whole section of the first epistle to the Corinthians to say that you must not bring in this philosophy. [00:19:00]

The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for their are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually deserved now the the Apostle wrote this whole section of the first epistle to the Corinthians to say that you must not bring in this philosophy. [00:19:00]

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Transcript
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