October 31, 2021
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Romans 11:25-36
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exposition
Not all mysteries are fun. Sometimes the unknown causes fear and anxiety. Or it can cause some to avoid thinking about it or even to reject it. That’s how some respond to the mystery of God’s mercy. Some are apathetic about it. Some say they don’t see God’s mercy at work in the world today. Some feel they don’t need it.
When Paul uses the word “mystery,” he doesn’t mean it like the novels, movies or games mean it. It’s not something we can put on our Sherlock Holmes hats and deduce on our own. He means a divine truth previously hidden that can only be known by God’s revelation. God revealed the mystery of His mercy to Paul and in chapter 11 of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wanted believers to understand the mystery of God’s mercy towards all people, both Jew and Gentile alike. We can understand the mystery of God’s mercy.
October 24, 2021
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Romans 11:11-24
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exposition
Do you ever wonder what God is up to in the world today? Things seem to be getting worse in the world. Pandemics, natural disasters, terrorism, wars, economic turmoil… Where’s God? Have we stumbled and now God is just going to let us fall?
That’s the question Paul posed concerning Israel. Did God let them stumble because He wanted them to fall? The answer is No! Instead, God has a plan for our salvation and He wants to reveal it to us. It’s a plan of hope! In chapter 11 of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he reveals God’s plan of salvation for the world. We can understand God’s salvation plan for the world.
October 17, 2021
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Romans 11:1-10
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exposition
Most of us understand that we are saved by God’s grace, His unmerited favor, that we couldn’t save ourselves, so we needed Jesus to save us. But many of us aren’t certain that God’s grace will preserve us, keeping us right with Him. We wonder whether God might reject us someday because we don’t work hard enough to stay right with Him, that we might lose our salvation. So we are filled with doubt.
Is that you today? Either you’ve never trusted Christ Jesus for your salvation and therefore you haven’t experienced His saving grace. Or you’ve believed on Him, but now you’re plagued with doubt because you haven’t understood God’s preserving grace. You think He might save you, but then reject you because of your lack of faith or continued struggles with sin?
In chapter 11 of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he explained that God had not rejected Israel, but by His grace, had always preserved a remnant of Israel for Himself. We can trust that God not only saves us, but preserves us by His grace.