God's Sovereign Mercy: Salvation for All

 

Summary

In Romans 11:25-32, we delve into the profound mystery of God's method in salvation, which is a central theme in the Apostle Paul's writings. This passage reveals that God has intentionally allowed both Jews and Gentiles to be shut up in unbelief, not as a punishment, but as a means to demonstrate His mercy. This divine strategy underscores the universality of sin and the necessity of God's grace for salvation. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this is not a new concept but a reiteration of what he has previously stated, particularly in Romans 3, where he establishes that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The notion of judicial blindness and disobedience is introduced, highlighting that God's actions are not arbitrary but serve a greater purpose in His redemptive plan. This is not to suggest that God is the author of sin, but rather that He uses human disobedience to manifest His mercy and grace. The Apostle Paul challenges us to approach this mystery with reverence, acknowledging that God's ways are beyond our full comprehension.

The sermon also addresses the future of Israel, asserting that a time will come when the majority of the nation will turn to the gospel. This is a significant revelation, as it aligns with the overarching narrative of God's faithfulness to His promises. The Apostle Paul refutes interpretations that limit "all Israel" to a mere remnant or a symbolic representation of the elect, arguing instead for a literal fulfillment of God's promises to the nation of Israel.

In conclusion, this passage invites us to marvel at the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, recognizing that His judgments and ways are unsearchable. It calls us to trust in His sovereign plan, which ultimately leads to the glorification of His mercy and grace.

Key Takeaways:

- God's method in salvation involves shutting up all in unbelief to highlight the necessity of His mercy. This approach underscores the universality of sin and the need for divine grace, reminding us that salvation is not based on human merit but solely on God's mercy. [02:09]

- The concept of judicial blindness and disobedience serves a greater purpose in God's redemptive plan. It is not an indication of God being the author of sin, but rather a demonstration of His ability to use human disobedience to manifest His grace. [07:32]

- The future conversion of Israel is a testament to God's faithfulness to His promises. This anticipated event aligns with the biblical narrative of God's enduring covenant with Israel and His plan for their ultimate redemption. [23:40]

- The Apostle Paul challenges us to approach the mystery of God's ways with reverence and humility. Recognizing that His judgments and ways are beyond our full comprehension, we are called to trust in His sovereign plan. [09:46]

- The sermon invites us to marvel at the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, acknowledging that His judgments and ways are unsearchable. This understanding leads us to glorify His mercy and grace, which are central to His redemptive plan. [52:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Introduction to Romans 11:25-32
- [01:31] - God's Method in Salvation
- [02:09] - Universality of Sin and Mercy
- [03:19] - The Mercy of God in History
- [04:10] - Reiteration of Previous Teachings
- [05:21] - No Difference Between Jew and Gentile
- [06:31] - High Doctrine and Staggering Truths
- [07:32] - Judicial Blindness and Disobedience
- [09:46] - Reverence for God's Mysterious Ways
- [11:18] - God's Control Over Sin
- [13:07] - Sin and God's Purpose
- [17:19] - Divine Necessity and Human Freedom
- [20:09] - God's Mercy and Human Disobedience
- [23:40] - Future Conversion of Israel
- [52:17] - Marveling at God's Wisdom and Knowledge

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 11:25-32

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the Apostle Paul mean by "blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in"? How does this relate to the overall theme of God's method in salvation? [00:17]

2. How does Paul describe the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in terms of unbelief and mercy? What is the significance of this relationship in God's redemptive plan? [02:28]

3. What is the Apostle Paul's explanation for God's method of shutting up all in unbelief? How does this method highlight the necessity of God's mercy? [02:09]

4. How does the sermon describe the future conversion of Israel, and what biblical evidence does it provide to support this claim? [23:40]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "judicial blindness" challenge our understanding of God's role in human disobedience? What does this reveal about God's sovereignty and mercy? [07:32]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's ways are beyond human comprehension? How should this influence our approach to understanding divine mysteries? [09:46]

3. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "all Israel shall be saved"? What implications does this have for our understanding of God's promises to Israel? [23:40]

4. How does the sermon address the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the context of salvation? [20:24]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to understand God's plan in your life. How can the concept of trusting in God's sovereign plan, as discussed in the sermon, help you navigate similar situations in the future? [09:46]

2. The sermon emphasizes the necessity of God's mercy for salvation. How can this understanding impact the way you view your own spiritual journey and the journeys of others around you? [02:09]

3. Consider the idea of "judicial blindness" and how it might manifest in today's world. How can you remain open to God's truth and avoid spiritual blindness in your own life? [07:32]

4. The sermon suggests that God's promises to Israel will be fulfilled in the future. How does this assurance of God's faithfulness influence your trust in His promises to you personally? [23:40]

5. How can you cultivate a sense of reverence and humility when faced with the mysteries of God's ways, as encouraged by the Apostle Paul? What practical steps can you take to deepen your trust in God's wisdom? [09:46]

6. The sermon invites us to marvel at the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge. How can you incorporate moments of awe and wonder into your daily spiritual practice? [52:17]

7. How can the understanding that salvation is solely due to God's mercy change the way you interact with others who may not share your faith? How can you demonstrate God's grace in those interactions? [22:32]

Devotional

Day 1: The Universality of Sin and the Necessity of Mercy
God's method in salvation involves allowing both Jews and Gentiles to be shut up in unbelief, not as a form of punishment, but to highlight the necessity of His mercy. This approach underscores the universality of sin, reminding us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. It is a profound reminder that salvation is not based on human merit but solely on God's mercy. This divine strategy serves to demonstrate that no one can claim righteousness on their own, and it is only through God's grace that salvation is possible. [02:09]

Romans 3:22-24 (ESV): "The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you might be relying on your own merit rather than God's mercy. How can you shift your focus to fully depend on His grace today?


Day 2: God's Purpose in Judicial Blindness
The concept of judicial blindness and disobedience is introduced to show that God's actions are not arbitrary but serve a greater purpose in His redemptive plan. This is not to suggest that God is the author of sin, but rather that He uses human disobedience to manifest His mercy and grace. It challenges us to approach this mystery with reverence, acknowledging that God's ways are beyond our full comprehension. By understanding this, we can trust that even in our disobedience, God is working to bring about His redemptive purposes. [07:32]

Isaiah 29:10-11 (ESV): "For the Lord has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers). And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually blind or disobedient. How can you trust that God is using even those moments for His greater purpose?


Day 3: The Future Conversion of Israel
The future conversion of Israel is a testament to God's faithfulness to His promises. This anticipated event aligns with the biblical narrative of God's enduring covenant with Israel and His plan for their ultimate redemption. The Apostle Paul argues for a literal fulfillment of God's promises to the nation of Israel, emphasizing that a time will come when the majority of the nation will turn to the gospel. This revelation encourages us to trust in God's faithfulness and His sovereign plan for all nations. [23:40]

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Reflection: How does the promise of Israel's future conversion inspire you to trust in God's faithfulness in your own life? What promises are you holding onto today?


Day 4: Reverence for God's Mysterious Ways
The Apostle Paul challenges us to approach the mystery of God's ways with reverence and humility. Recognizing that His judgments and ways are beyond our full comprehension, we are called to trust in His sovereign plan. This understanding leads us to a place of humility, where we acknowledge that we do not have all the answers, but we can trust in the One who does. It is an invitation to marvel at the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, and to glorify His mercy and grace. [09:46]

Job 11:7-9 (ESV): "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to understand God's ways? How can you practice trusting in His wisdom and sovereignty today?


Day 5: Marveling at God's Wisdom and Knowledge
The sermon invites us to marvel at the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, acknowledging that His judgments and ways are unsearchable. This understanding leads us to glorify His mercy and grace, which are central to His redemptive plan. By recognizing the vastness of God's wisdom, we are encouraged to live in awe and wonder of His divine plan, trusting that He is working all things for His glory and our good. [52:17]

Psalm 147:5 (ESV): "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of awe and wonder for God's wisdom in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to glorify His mercy and grace today?

Quotes


It is that he shuts up in unbelief or in Disobedience all kinds and classes of men we interpreted this statement in verse 32 as saying that the all refers to Jews and Gentiles that's what he's been dealing with Jews and Gentiles Gentiles and Jews and he says that they these two great groups which between them include of course the whole world that God has shut them up in unbelief. [00:02:16]

God has chosen this method in order to bring out that great principle and he has done so plainly, clearly in the field of History so that it should be open to all in other words there is in this whole section what you may well describe as the Apostle's great philosophy of History his view of History here is a summing up of the whole of God's method in his dealings with the human race. [00:03:28]

God has deliberately shut up, concluded shut up together in unbelief in Disobedience Gentiles and Jews in order that he might show mercy upon the two groups in exactly the same way now that's the statement however we can't leave it at that for this reason obviously there is great and high Doctrine involved here. [00:06:07]

We are looking here into the action of the almighty God let us metaphorically take off our shoes from off our feet for the ground on which we are standing is Holy Ground what does this mean does it mean that God is the the author of sin that God himself is the author of unbelief or of disobedience is that what the Apostle is saying. [00:09:42]

God is not the author of evil God is the Eternal antithesis to evil it is a thought that we of necessity must reject immediately I say it with reverence God cannot create evil God could not have created sin for any purpose it is impossible sin I say is always Rebellion against God Disobedience of God the Eternal antithesis to God. [00:12:24]

He is saying that though God is not the author of sin that nevertheless it is true to say that sin is not outside God's control that's what he's saying he's not only saying that sin is not not outside God's control he is going further and he is saying that God can and has used even sin to serve and to suit his own purpose and to help to bring it to pass. [00:13:13]

God subordinates sin to his purpose but it is not a subordinate element in his purpose now I want you to get hold of that God subordinates sin even sin to his purpose but sin is not a subordinate element in his purpose you see if sin were a subordinate element in God's purpose well then it would have meant that God is the author and the creator of sin. [00:19:22]

God presses men's unbelief and Disobedience to the very point at which it becomes quite clear that nothing but God's Own Mercy can ever give us salvation now there it is the Apostle puts this same point in other places with which you are familiar here it is if you like in another form here's the statement that God takes the sin and the unbelief and the disob Obedience of mankind. [00:20:24]

The business of this activity of God is to show that we are intirely what we are because of the mercy of God Alone he has shut us up in unbelief and Disobedience we cannot get out of it the natural men receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he them because they are spiritually deserved. [00:21:47]

The Apostle in this 11th chapter of Romans is saying very plainly and clearly as Hendrickson says that everybody's got to be saved in the same way it is all by the mercy of God and nobody can claim Merit or any goodness in and of himself but when he goes beyond that to say that God is no longer interested in particular in this or that National or racial group. [00:39:03]

The Apostle is all along contrasting now and then this is how it is now then this is going to happen this is the Revelation now then that vanishes in hendrixson's Exposition all he's got is a continuation of what had already happened Paul has believed Remnant according to the election of Grace have believed they'll go on doing this in driblets right through there's no now and then. [00:50:46]

At some future time we don't know when and I hope to go into this when we resume on April the 30th but there shall be a tremendous conversion of the mass the bulk of the race of Israel and when it happens the church will be so amazed and astonished that it will veritably be like life from the Dead The Impossible has happened and there's only one explanation of it the mercy of God. [00:53:25]

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Transcript
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