Welcome to Christian Family Fellowship. My name is Don Strand, and I'm your host for our sermon broadcast. In this message, from the conclusion of Romans chapter 11, Pastor Steve Wadley will show us how the Apostle Paul reveals what was formerly hidden regarding God's plan to save his elect people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. Paul then closes this chapter by breaking into doxology, amazed at and grateful for the perfect wisdom of God's saving work through Jesus Christ. What do you think when you hear the word mystery? Do you think about a favorite mystery novel? You know, like Agatha Christie? Or do you think of a mystery movie? My wife and I love to watch Hallmark mystery movies. We love that. We love to try to figure out who the guilty party is before they reveal it to us. Well today, a different kind of mystery will be revealed to us by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. It is the mystery of God's plan for his chosen people. Over the last several weeks, we've been reading Paul's explanation about what was going on regarding his countrymen, the Jews, and their rejection of Jesus, the Messiah whom God had sent, just as he had promised to. Not only had most of the Jews rejected Jesus, they also had him crucified, which was, by the way, exactly what God had planned. What a plot twist that was. Then, even though Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and ascended back into heaven as he had foretold that he would, Most of them, most of the Jews, continued to reject him. And they began to persecute those who had believed in Jesus for salvation and followed him and were telling others about him. This included some of the Jews, such as the Apostle Paul, who suffered a great deal of persecution at the hands of the Jews. because he was declaring that Jesus was the promised Messiah, that Jesus was the Savior and Lord. Now, their rejection and their persecution did not make Paul angry. It made him sad because he loved his countrymen, and he wanted them to know Jesus as he did. And he wanted them to be saved by believing in Jesus as he had. So if you remember, Paul began this section of his letter in Romans chapter 1 by acknowledging this. the great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart for those who had rejected Christ. Then in chapter 10, verse 1, he wrote this, quote, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. And then he went on to write in verses 2 through 4, For I bear witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. The Jew first, also to the Greek. Christ is the end of the law of righteousness. In other words, there's no longer a need to work our way to heaven. There's no longer a need, as if we could, to make ourselves righteous before God. Because Jesus Christ has done that for us, for everyone who believes and trusts in him. The Jews had rejected the very source of righteousness that God required, the righteousness of God's own Son, Jesus. This leads Paul to the question at the beginning of Romans chapter 11, verse one. Paul writes, I ask then, has God rejected his people? And then he responds in the strongest of terms, by no means. Now when you think about it, this is a very logical question, isn't it? If the majority of the Jews had rejected God's son, whom God sent, then did God reject them in return? Thankfully, for all of us, the answer is no. Because guess what? Each and every one of us at one time rejected Jesus or simply didn't care. Did God reject us? May it never be. Then what in the world is going on? Well, that is the mystery that the Apostle Paul will reveal the answer to in our text for today. We're gonna be in Romans 11, verses 25 to 36. All who are able, if you could please stand for the reading of our text. Romans 11, verses 25 through 36. This is the very word of God. 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 calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were once 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 may also 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. You may be seated. In this text, we will continue to see that God has a plan, that his plan will not fail, it will not change, and that his plan is according to his wisdom and knowledge, which are infinite. So let's start by looking at God's divine plan revealed. Paul began by stating, quote, lest you be wise in your own sight. Paul is still warning against any false pride among the Gentiles. In the book of Proverbs, to be wise in your own sight is a mark of fools. who think they know everything. Proverbs 12, 15 states, the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. Paul does not want his readers to be ignorant of the truth. So he shares with them what God has revealed to him on this topic. the state of the Jews, the plan of God. Now in Paul's writings, as in the rest of scripture, a mystery is a truth that at one time was not known, but has now been revealed by God through his servant, in this case, Paul. Paul uses this word mystery 17 times in his writings. 17 times in his letters. As he shares these great truths that God has revealed to him through the Holy Spirit. They were once unknown, but now he is making it known. Here he shares what God has revealed to him regarding God's divine plan for the Jews. He states that God's plan includes a partial hardening of the Jews until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way, all Israel, all the elect Jews will be saved. So there's three parts or stages to this divine plan that is revealed to us. God's divine plan began with a partial hardening of Israel. Paul began to explain this back in chapter 11, verses seven and eight, where he wrote this. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened. as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear down to this very day. Paul also referred to this truth in 2 Corinthians 3, verses 14 and 15. 2 Corinthians 3, verses 14 and 15, where Paul writes, but their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Paul is writing there regarding the Jews that their minds have been hardened, that there's a veil so that they cannot see the truth. Only in Christ is this veil taken away. Jesus referred to this same spiritual hardening or blindness in Matthew chapter 13 with reference to his parables, when he said the Jews simply could not understand these truths unless God specifically revealed it to them. Now let us remember, that is the only reason why we understand these truths. Because God, through the Holy Spirit, has revealed them to us. The idea of God hardening individual's hearts is a rather difficult concept for many. even though it is clearly taught in scripture. Let me remind you of what Paul wrote earlier in this very letter. In Romans 9, verses 16 and 18, Paul wrote this, so then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. Verse 18, so then he, that is God, has mercy on whom he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. Hardening here refers to God allowing them to remain in their stubborn unbelief and their spiritual blindness. God allows them to remain as they always have been in the same spiritual condition that we were in prior to God in his mercy and grace causing us to be born again spiritually. We too were blind to the things of God. We too were deaf to the word of God. We too had hard hearts, but God It was his mercy and his grace that caused us to be born again spiritually. He is the divine potter, as Paul spoke of, who has the right to make out of that same lump of clay, each one into a vessel according to his divine plan. It doesn't happen by chance. It happens because it is according to God's will, according to his wisdom and his knowledge of what is needed. So here we have God's divine plan revealed. So for a time, God's plan included a partial hardening of the Jews who had not been chosen by God for salvation. And this would then continue until the gospel goes forth to the Gentiles until the full number of the elect are born again and enter into the family of God. This describes the process that continues to this very day. We, God's chosen people, are called to proclaim the gospel to whoever we are able to, and God then causes those he has chosen for salvation to be born again. We are the recipients of God's grace and mercy. And God is still at work in saving all of those whom he has chosen for salvation. Paul then reveals that a third stage of God's divine plan is the subsequent salvation of all of the Jews chosen by God for salvation. Paul writes, all Israel. Now he does not mean every single person with Jewish ancestry. That would be a lot of people. He means all those Jews who were chosen by God to be saved prior to Jesus' return. And Paul backs this up by quoting from the prophet Isaiah. Look at Romans 11, 26, and 27 again. Paul here is quoting from a couple of passages from the prophet Isaiah, written hundreds of years prior about God's people, Israel. Isaiah writes, 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. Talk about a mystery revealed, right? God working through his spirit in the prophet Isaiah is foretelling hundreds of years prior that God would send a deliverer. I'll give you an idea who that is. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God sent forth a deliverer from Zion. Not Jerusalem, but heaven above. The Zion that we look forward to being a part of one day, amen? He will banish ungodliness from Jacob, or from the descendants of Jacob, if you will. And this will be my covenant with them, God says, when I take away their sins. God is the one who takes away our sins. How does he do that? He does it by placing them on Jesus, and then punishing Jesus for our sins. so that we then are credited with his righteousness. What a gift we have been given. What a gift of God's mercy and grace. So for now, Paul writes, they, the Jews, are rejecting the gospel, making them enemies of God. But in regards to election, those chosen by God for salvation, they are beloved, Paul writes, for the sake of their forefathers, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with whom God made a covenant to save their descendants. that they would be a part of the family of God. So God is not finished with them yet. That work is ongoing. Paul then drives this point home, that God's plan does not change. Look at verse 28 with me. As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. Verse 29, for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. Note that. They're irrevocable. God doesn't give and then take away. God doesn't call those to be a part of his family and then say, oh, I'm sorry, I didn't want you. His gifts and calling are irrevocable. God had set his love on the people of Israel, the Jews, And even though many had rebelled against him and his son in unbelief, the gifts promised by God are irrevocable. And God will choose some of the descendants of the patriarchs to receive those promised gifts from God. God will not go back on his covenantal promise. Our God does not change, therefore his plan does not change. Remember, Paul had stated that God had given marvelous gifts to Israel back in Romans 9, verses 4 and 5. Let me remind you of that. where Paul wrote, they are Israelites. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever, amen. God's plan does not change. God does not give his word and then go back on his word. God set his love upon them. God would bring his promises to pass. God will not go back on his covenantal promises. He has instead designed his plan history itself to display his faithfulness to his promises. Now you might be sitting there thinking, okay, pastor, what difference does that make to me that God will keep his promises given to the patriarchs? Well, the practical benefit of this for us is that we too can trust God's promises. We too can trust God's word. For those who God loves, all things work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose, Romans 8.28. That's a familiar promise, isn't it? And we took some time to study that a few weeks back, didn't we? For those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. Is that a promise from God? Does that apply to me? Absolutely. Is God going to forget about that promise at some point in my life? And terrible things are going to happen to me and God's going to, oh, I don't know what's going on there. No. God is sovereign. God is unchanging. God is good to his word. And we can be assured that his promises are sure They are yea and amen. But we also must realize that we will not always see the fulfillment of God's promises this side of glory. Remember, God promised to give to Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan. But when Abraham died, do you know how much of the land of Canaan was his? His burial cave. that he had purchased with his own money. That was it. So had God forgotten his promise to him? No, may it never be. No, but God's timing is not our timing. Did God fulfill his promise to Abraham? Absolutely. He is faithful, He is trustworthy, and He is able to accomplish His plan for us without fail. Praise God. And part of that divine plan is for God to display the glory of His mercy towards sinners like us. Look back at our text, look at verse 30. For just as you, that's speaking to you, by the way, and me, for just as you were once at time disobedient to God, but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so too, 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." Here, Paul provides a summary of the history of God dealing with the sinfulness and disobedience of mankind in these three verses. In these verses, Paul mentions disobedience four times, and he mentions mercy four times. Interesting. John Murray, in his commentary, mentions the fact that, quote, it is only in the context of disobedience that mercy has relevance or meaning. unless you realize the enormity of your own sin, you will never appreciate the greatness of the gift of God's mercy. Close quote. Isn't that the truth? So in this sweeping summary of history, there is a similarity and a difference. Both the Jews and the Gentiles are alike in that both groups were disobedient to God. But the difference is that in God's plan for history, through the Jews' disobedience, the Gentiles came to experience God's mercy. But it will be through the Gentiles' experience of God's mercy that the Jews will finally come to know his mercy as well. Now to clarify, Paul is not saying in verse 32, when he says that he may have mercy on all, he is not saying that he will save everyone. Rather, in this context, Paul is looking at the broad sweep of history and God's dealings with both Jews and Gentiles as groups of people. categories of people. So mercy on all means mercy that just as God is now pouring out his mercy on the Gentiles as a group, so in like manner in the future, he will pour out his mercy upon the Jews as a group. Remember, he controls all of history. Or as we sometimes like to say, history is his story. and he controls it to display the glory of his mercy towards sinners. In the remaining verses of this chapter, Paul is moved to worship God for his wisdom, his knowledge, his judgments, and his ways. Paul's doxology here verses 33 through 35. Let me read that to you again. It's as though he's just broken out into praise, into worship for this revelation of God's mercy. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments. How inscrutable his ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor, or who has given him a gift, given a gift to him that he might be repaid. This doxology is steeped in scriptural truths, yet the language is Paul's own. Oh, the depth That amounts to a declaration that God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge are infinite. Oh, the depth. There is no end to the wisdom and knowledge of God. Because God has a depth of riches, he is in debt to no man. People do render to God their love and their service, but that is only what he deserves, and so much more. Even in our giving to his work, to his church, we are actually only giving that which is already his. Oh, the depth of the riches of God. Oh, the depth of his wisdom and knowledge. Think about this. God knows everything at all times. and he uses his perfect knowledge perfectly, which is the very definition of wisdom. Tragedies, difficult circumstances, and disappointments may lead us to doubt God's wisdom. Instead, his wisdom should humble us. It should humble us. We know far less than we think we do, and infinitely less than God does. Remember how at the end of Job's suffering, he repented before God of his rash statements? Remember Job thought he could counsel God, Thought he could tell God what God should be doing until God spoke. And then in Job 42 verses three and six, Job said, I have uttered what I did not understand, therefore I repent in dust and ashes. God's wisdom should humble us. but it should also comfort us. It does this by knowing that God is all wise, that God has a perfect divine plan that we can trust, and that we can trust that just as he promised, all things work together for our good and for his glory. And you know this is true. because you've experienced in your own lives. Paul ends his account of God's redemptive plan and history of extending mercy, grace, and salvation to those he has chosen, he ends it with praise. Look again at verse 36. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever, amen. All things means all things, all that there is, all that exists in the universe. We glorify God because all things are from Him. He created all things that exist. We glorify God because all things are through Him, meaning He sustains, controls, and rules over all things. And, note this, all things are to Him. He is the goal of all things. All things were created by God, are sustained by God for His own glory. Make no mistake. This includes you and I. We exist for His glory. God Himself formed us in our mother's womb exactly as he wanted us to be and as he needed us to be. God himself sustained us throughout our lives and he has shaped and molded us to be who he desires us to be. God himself was patient and merciful towards us when we were living in rebellion to him. Make no mistake, that describes each and every one of us. And he was patient and merciful towards us. And God himself is the one who provided a savior for us, his own son. And he is the one who is responsible for opening our blind eyes that we would see our need for a savior. Opening our eyes to see that Jesus is that savior. He is the one who's responsible for our salvation, our sanctification, and our glorification. That is as good as done. Because that's God's plan. and His plan will never change. But all of this is for us to give Him all of our praise and all of the glory forever and ever. Amen.