The Webster Bible Church Podcast

God’s Glorious Plan - Romans 11:11-36

"Hosanna in the highest!"

 

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."
Romans 11:8 (cf. Isa. 29:10; Deut. 29:4)

 

God's Glorious Plan
Romans 11:11-36

 

Providential Strategy
Romans 11:11-16

 

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from 
the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace.
Colossians 1:6 NLT

 

Privileged Status
Romans 11:17-24

 

"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people producing its fruits."
Jesus Christ (Matt. 21:43)

 

So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:6-9 NIV

 

Promised Salvation
Romans 11:25-32

 

Praise God for his marvelous plan to save all Israel!

 

Praise-filled Summary
Romans 11:33-36

 

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 

 

 

 

 

The Remnant - Romans 11:1-10

This is what the Lord says: "Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, will I reject all of Israel's descendants because of all they have done - this is the Lord's declaration."
Jeremiah 31:37

 

God has not rejected his people, "a remnant chosen by grace."

 

"It is not fitting that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables."
Acts 6:3

 

1. Always a remnant
Romans 11:1-5a

 

"For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance."
Psalm 94:14 NLT

 

"For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself."
1 Samuel 12:22

 

In 1900, more than half the world's population (54.3%) was unevangelized. That has now fallen to 28%. - 2022 Status of Global Christianity report 

 

This year, 93 million copies of God's Word will be printed, up from 54 million in 2000 and 5 million in 1900. - 2022 Status of Global Christianity report 

 

Christianity is growing faster in Africa than any other place in the world, and more Christians live in Africa than any other continent. - 2022 Status of Global Christianity report

 

2. All of grace
Romans 11:5b-6a

 

3. Accounting for the rest
Romans 11:7-10

 

As it belongs to him to give eyes to see, and to enlighten minds by the spirit of judgment and understanding,
so he alone deprives us of all light, when he sees that by a wicked and depraved heart of the truth
we of our own accord wish for darkness.
- John Calvin

Good News For All - Romans 10:5-21

"But it is not as though the word of God has failed...." 
Romans 9:6

... They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 
1 Peter 2:8

Salvation is yours if you want it.

1. The Message of Salvation Romans 10:5-13

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, 
you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one con-fesses and is saved. 
- Romans 10:9-10

Confess with your mouth... Believe in your heart.... You will be saved. With the heart one believes... With the mouth one confesses....

2. The Messengers of Salvation Romans 10:14-15

Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages ... proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.... When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, 
because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are 
few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." 
Matthew 9:35-38

3. Those Missing Out on Salvation Romans 10:16-21

 

Believing, Not Achieving - Romans 9:30-10:4

To be right with God, you must bank on Jesus.

1. The Faith of the Gentiles (Rom. 9:30)

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Romans 3:21-22 NLT

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

2. The Failure of the Jews (9:31 - 10:3)

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his [God's] sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 

3. The Fact of the Gospel (Rom. 10:4)

To be right with God, you must bank on Jesus.

Morality and religiosity kill spiritual life unless grounded in the gospel. ... Moral and religious activity are like radiation - very dangerous unless properly contained. The gospel is the container that lets us put morality and religious deeds to good use. - Daniel Doriani

God’s Purpose Of Election - Part 2 - Romans 9:14-20

Lord, 'tis not that I did choose you; That, I know, could never be,
For this heart would still refuse you Had your grace not chosen me.

 

Salvation depends ultimately on God's sovereign choice.

 

Mercy is God's to dispense as he wills.

 

God has the final say.
Romans 9:14-18

 

We do not.
Romans 9:19-21

 

"What if ...?"
Romans 9:22-29

 

"I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and has the sand that is on the seashore."
Genesis 22:17

 

If you are a Christian, then thank God - don't judge him.

 

If you are not a Christian, then receive Christ - don't reject him.

God’s Purpose Of Election - Part 1 - Romans 9:1-13

The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship 
him. John 4:24

PAUL'S ANGUISH: Most Jews are not saved Romans 9:1-5

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree." Galatians 3:13

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-everyone-to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5,6

PAUL'S ASSURANCE: God's Word has not failed Romans 8:6-13

a. God's choice of Isaac over Ishmael (vv. 7-9)

b. God's choice of Jacob over Esau (vv. 10-13)

Salvation depends ultimately on God's calling and nothing else.

More Than Conquerors - Romans 8:31-39

1. Who can be against us? Romans 8:31-32

2. Who can bring a charge against us? Romans 8:33

3. Who can condemn us? Romans 8:34

4. What can separate us? Romans 8:35-39

 Transforming Truth: Nothing can separate believers from the love of God

From Groans To Glory - Romans 8:18-30

Our present suffering is nothing compared to our future glory.

Anger

Avoidance

Apathy

If you are suffering as a Christian, and because you are a Christian, it is one of the surest proofs you can ever have of the fact that you are a child of God. 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
2 Corinthians 4:17

the weight of glory . . .

the wait for glory . . .

1. The Groan of Creation
Romans 8:19-22

2. The Groan of Christians
Romans 8:23-25

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we 
acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14

Our present suffering is nothing compared to our future glory.

3. The Groan of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26-27

No one knows a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:11 NLT

4. The Glory That's Sure to Come!
Romans 8:28-30

a. God foreknew his people
Romans 8:29a

b. God predestined his people
Romans 8:29b

"That ungodly sinners should one day be transformed into the image of Christ by a miracle of grace is one of the most astounding truths of divine revelation."
- William MacDonald

c. God called his people
Romans 8:30a

d. God justified his people
Romans 8:30b

e. God glorified his people
Romans 8:30c

Our present suffering is nothing compared to our future glory.

 

 

 

Children Of God - Romans 8:12-17

Adoption: "An act of God whereby he makes us members of his family."

 

The Holy Spirit assures believers that we are God's children.

 

1. We are debtors to God, not to the flesh.

 

2. We must depend on the Spirit, not on ourselves.

 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not 
condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 
John 3:17-18

 

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. 
John 3:36

 

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 
Romans 8:14

 

3. We are adopted by God and are therefore heirs.

 

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." 
- Jesus Christ (John 14:18)

 

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory.... 
Romans 8:17

 

 

 

 

 

Life In The Spirit - Romans 8:1-11

Life in the Spirit entails breathtaking privileges.

 

1. No condemnation from God 
Romans 8:1-4

 

Our pattern of life is proof of our faith.

 

As far as the Christian life is concerned, everything that is a spiritual reality is also a spiritual responsibility.

 

2. The capacity to please God 
Romans 8:5-9

 

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 
Proverbs 14:12

 

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 
-Jesus Christ John 14:6

 

"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." 
-Jesus Christ John 14:23

 

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 
Philippians 2:13 NLT

 

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. 
Psalm 149:4

 

May [God] produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. 
Hebrews 13:21 NLT

 

Through their identity in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit working in their lives, a believer can live in a way that brings great pleasure to the Lord. Truly, believers will find great joy and spiritual fullness in living to glorify God.

 

3. Our coming resurrection by God 
Romans 8:10-11