Romans 11:25-36

Romans 11:25-36

25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

"The deliverer will come from Zion;

he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

27And this is my covenant with them

when I take away their sins."

28As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology (Praise to God)

33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and 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?"

35"Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay him?"

36For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Paul last week gave us all a word of caution. He cautioned us about being arrogant. This week Paul still being concerned about us in verse 25 starts us off with another caution. He cautions us about being conceited. Being conceited was a big problem with the Jews, and I would say still is for the most part, a problem that Paul himself had when he was still a Jew.

Paul through out the book of Romans is continually reminding us that it is God who is the author of everything in this world and it is God that is the author of everything in our lives. God as Paul states is our potter who has molded and shaped our lives in every way. God does this solely for His purpose.

25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

Paul here is not saying that this is a mystery to him; he is saying that he doesn’t want them to be ignorant of this thing that is a mystery to them.

God has told Paul what is going to happen, he is getting divine revelation direct from God. Paul is telling them that when God has called the last Gentile to faith in Christ, that only at that point will Israel be brought back, that they as a nation will be grafted back in to the olive tree.

Why at the point of the last Gentile? Maybe it has to do with something else that will happen I would say very close to that same time. Maybe it will be them seeing Christ as He comes down from heaven with His army.

28-29 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

We in the next couple of months are coming in to election season. We should all take part in this if we can and get out there and vote. Though I don’t think when Paul talks about election here he is talking about a voting season coming up.

When Paul is talking about election he is talking about those who God has chosen and called to come to faith in Him and Christ. That is what being one of the elect is. If you are elected to salvation as this is talking about then there is no way that you could have chosen to save yourself. If so, there is no way Paul could have said election and been correct.

Does someone who is running for public office decide for themselves that they are the right one for the office and then take the office? Not unless he owns his own town and is the only one who votes. They are elected, it is not them who decides if they are they one chosen, that falls to another means.

Paul likes to use another word sometimes for this and that is predestined, pre meaning before and destined or destiny meaning your future, your future (salvation) being decided for you, decided before your birth.

30-32 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. Expound