Series: God With Us Title: Mercy for all nations
Sermon Text: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Supplemental Texts: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 and Psalm 67
SLC Preacher: Josh Kleinfeld
Memory Verse for New Series
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Is there such thing as a hopeless person or community?
Romans 11:25-36
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[f] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”[g]
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Doxology (Invite congregation to say it with me)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[i] knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”[j]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”[k]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
To be loved does not mean to be saved.
This is what Paul is wrestling with in this section on Israel. He is wrestling with the fact that God loves his people, but his people are rejecting Jesus. So they are rejecting God's loving and living offer of salvation. They are loved, but not saved.
To be loved means that God has made the first move.
God is waiting with open arms to offer us salvation in all of its beautiful mystery.
Romans 1:16-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed -- a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'the righteous will live by faith.'
Salvation in Romans is...
Justification: Being made right with God (Romans 1:16-17)
Adoption: Being made family with God (Romans 8:14-17) (Reconciliation fits here)
Regeneration: Being made new in God (Romans 8:10-11)
Deliverance: Being made free from sin by God (Romans 7-8)
Resurrection Hope: Being all those things above by God with the promise to have renewed body and world in Christ (Romans 8:11)
Salvation is mercifully offered by our Loving Father
All this is God's mercy to you. To be saved is to accept God's offering for us, to put our faith in Him and direct our lives to live like Him.
Bryan Todd says:
Justice is getting what you deserve.
Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
Grace is getting what you don't deserve.
One cannot receive God's mercy without being transformed.
One cannot be saved by God without being sanctified by God.
There are no hopeless causes
In the immediate context, Paul is saying that God has not given up on the people of Israel. But that grace God has for the Israelites comes from His heart for all people.
God can redeem anything
Now it's our turn: receive and share the good news.
Who is the good news for?
Anyone and everyone (remember Romans 10:11 and 10:13)
All the nations (look at Isaiah 56:1, 4-8)
If it's for the nations, what are we to do?
Pray...we're going to do that in a minute.
Support...here are ways you can join in
Go...maybe God wants to send you?
How do we receive the good news?
Isaiah 55: 6-7
seek the Lord while he may be found,
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord,
and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Romans 10
Confess: Jesus is Lord
Believe: God raised him from the dead
Pray for our Neighbors
Support Local Mission
Find local ways to serve at www.stillnaz.com/serve
Pray for the Nations
Support Global Mission
Give to World Evangelism Fund
Support Disaster Relief like Crisis Care Kits or WorldVision
Message Reflection Questions
Read Romans 15:13. Take two minutes to silently repeat this verse in prayer.
Read Romans 11:25-32. What does this tell you about God? About humanity?
How does Paul’s usage of the Old Testament in Romans 11:26-27 give us insight into what God does for us in salvation?
Disobedience is mentioned in this text, but not obedience. Why is the concept of disobedience/obedience important in understanding salvation and our relationship with God?
Read Romans 11:33-36 aloud (together if you’re in a group). How does this comfort you? How does it challenge you?
Read Isaiah 56:1, 4-8. What does this show us about God’s heart for the world?
Consider Isaiah 56:7. How can Stillmeadow be a house of prayer for all nations?
Why is it important to pray, support and participate in local and global missions?
Prayer Time: Who do you know that needs to know the message of the gospel? How can you share that?
Daily Readings
From June 4 — September 17, we’ll be exploring the good news that God is for us, in us and with us. Take the learning home with you and read Romans by yourself or with others. You can download the whole plan at www.stillnaz.com/pray.
As you follow the plan, consider these questions:
What does this text say God does "for" or "in" or "with" us?
What does this text invite me to be or do?
Who can I share this with?
Day 1: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13-16
Day 2: Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-12
Day 3: Romans 12:9-12, 1 Peter 1:22-25
Day 4: Romans 12:13-16, Philippians 2:1-5
Day 5: Romans 12:17-21, Matthew 5:43-48
NEED PRAYER?
We’d be happy to pray with you. Fill out the form at www.stillnaz.com/pray.
WANT TO JOIN A SMALL GROUP?
We’d love to connect you with a group of people exploring what it means to follow Jesus together. Find out more info at www.stillnaz.com/discipleship.