OH, THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES…OF GOD! (Outline)
September 2, 2007 -
PENTECOST 14 -
Romans 11:33-36
INTRO: The more we learn the less we understand. Our simple lives of decades ago are overshadowed by the complexities of an educated society. Even those basic components of education have been replaced. Education has progressed beyond the simple 3 R’s: reading, writing, ‘rithmetic. Today students are educated about calculators, computers, constant change. The more we learn the less we understand.
Even today’s scientists admit that life is so complex as to be inexplicable. They have analyzed DNA. You may have seen that complex, spiral chain model. To have that genetic code in each and every living cell goes beyond what science can explain. The simple cell has become complex. The more we learn the less we understand. Even creation theories have been studied and replaced. To try and explain it all scientists consider a big bang theory. We would this big bang God’s creating word – Let there be…. Faith takes what seems complex and makes it simple. "Then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it"(ECCLESIASTES 8:17).
Like the apostle Paul we stand in awe and wonder and declare:
OH, THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES…OF GOD!
I. We can’t always understand, but:
II. We can always glorify God.
I. WE CAN’T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND
A. The words of our text are a conclusion to chapter 11 of Romans. In chapter 11 Israel is an example.
1. Israel had rejected God and now his word would move on to the Gentiles. (READ chap. 11.)
2. Now Paul stands in wonder and awe – OH, he writes. This is an exclamation of wonder.
B. Verse 33a describes this wonder and awe of a believer towards God.
1. God’s knowledge and wisdom is deep. Knowledge is the facts and details known by God.
2. Wisdom is how God puts to use his knowledge. Think of creation as an example.
a. The sun rises and sets is a fact. b. This provides days and seasons as God’s wisdom.
C. Verse 33b describes how the ways of the Lord are beyond the understanding of mere mortal men.
1. God’s ways are always best – filled with divine knowledge and wisdom.
2. Who knows or can question God and his ways? Verse 34. No one advises the Lord.
D. Here lies the problem in our modern day society. Man constantly tries to put himself in the place of God. How arrogant of man to think that he has caused global warming. Even more arrogant is the fact that man thinks he can change the climate of this great planet with feeble efforts. Worse are those who think that they are in charge of life itself. Our nation suffers with the slaughter of innocent children day after day after day. On 9/11 about 3,000 people were killed. Each day about 4,000 innocent children are put to death in our country because of selfish and senseless abortions. Let us not forget mercy killings or other assisted deaths where man thinks he is god. "Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed"(JOB 14:5).
E. At times in this life we may even question God. We want to know all the answers to everything all the time. We desire to have everything spelled out for us clearly and concisely. But life is messy. We simply cannot understand all of the ways of God in this sinful, earthly life. We do know that God works out all things for the good of those who love who love him. We do know that God invites us to come before him. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him"(JAMES 1:5). God freely gives. Oh, the depth of the riches of God!
F. Truly, who can honestly, completely understand God’s great love and mercy for each one of us? We know, believe, and confess that Christ is our Savior. But the depth of the meaning of the riches of God might easily escape us. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich"(2 CORINTHIANS 8:9). None of us would do what Jesus did. We die and we go to heaven. We will never, ever have another thought concerning the sinful world we have left behind. We will certainly not want to go back. BUT this is exactly what Jesus did. Our Savior left heaven (riches) and lived here (poor) for us: For us and for everyone, even those who despised him. Oh, the depth of the riches of God! Who can understand?
OH, THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES…OF GOD!
We cannot always understand the ways of God.
II. WE CAN ALWAYS GLORIFY GOD
A. Picture Paul as he stands in awe of God’s great grace, Oh,. This man is now Paul, who once was Saul.
1. Oh, the depth of the riches of God! Paul gave us his life for the One who died for him.
2. Consider Noah, Abraham, Martin Luther. Theirs was an intense purpose to glorify God.
B. Yet, no matter the dedication, the obedience, or even self-sacrifice nothing could be repaid, ver. 35.
C. No one can ever repay God for the price is too costly. It took Jesus’ blood to take away sins.
1. Only Jesus could pay because verse 36a. All things are the Lord’s – especially salvation.
2. Verse 36b reveals that all glory belongs to God. This in man’s purpose to glorify God.
D. No one will glorify God unless and until they know the reason why. It is the same with us. We live our lives for and glorify God our Creator for the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. We live our lives and glorify God for his forgiveness – free and complete, once and for all. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us"(PSALM 103:11,12). When you keep traveling east you will never be west. Our sins have been taken away by the blood of Jesus never to meet us again!
E. Hopefully, prayerfully we are beginning to understand the meaning of the depth of the riches of God! In the midst of the darkness of this world our loving, heavenly Father has reached out to us with the love and sacrifice and forgiveness of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, the Lord considers us a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to God. Why? Is it because of our good works or our good intentions? No, rather it is because of the love and mercy and grace of our God. "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy"(1 PETER 2:10). Oh, the depth of the riches of God!
F. Every believer readily agrees – what love, what mercy, and what forgiveness is ours, by grace. This gift of salvation comes from our loving Lord. This gift is free. This gift saves forever. Our response is a life that glorifies God. Our response is a life filled with joy, peace, and hope. Our response is a life of worship – not just on Sunday, but always. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name"(HEBREWS 13:15). May others see in us a life of joy, peace, and hope. In seeing such lives others will be moved to ask us the reason for the hope we have. Then, then, we can respond with the simple truth that Jesus is my Savior, my sins are forgiven, and heaven is my home. Oh, the depth of the riches of God!
CONC.: Oh, the depth of the riches of God! We cannot always understand the whys in this world. The more we learn in this life the less we understand. Praise God that the more we learn about him and his love for the more we understand and the more we begin to glorify God! "Our Savior, Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good"(TITUS 2:14). This is the difference. In a world filled with sin, darkness, and selfishness the believer is eager to do what is good. In these last days it becomes clearer and clearer who these believers truly are. Oh, the depth of the riches of God! May each begin the day with such an inspiring thought -- Oh, the depth of the riches of God! Help us to understand that our lives may glorify God!
Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
PENTECOST 14 readings:
ISAIAH 66:18-23;
HEBREWS 12:18-24;
LUKE 13:22-30
