Marvel at God’s Righteous Ways – Romans 11:25–36

PRAY

In our exposition of Romans, we are now following along with Paul as he describes how God is still fulfilling his promises to Israel through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how Gentiles therefore need to respond in humility rather than thinking highly of ourselves and being wise in our own eyes. And this reflection on God’s amazing plan in salvation history leads Paul into a culminating exaltation in the glory of God.

Romans 11:25–32 ESV

²⁵ Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; ²⁷ “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” ²⁸ As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹ For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰ For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. ³² For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” ³⁵ “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” ³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

What gets you this excited and animated? What things cause a celebration to rise in you and spill out in gushing praise? What makes you react like the crazy he New York fans with the Knicks winning the NBA title? In my case, I was pretty enthusiastic about a ridiculously entertaining day of World Cup soccer this week. I mean, what are the chances, in a single day of WC soccer, of Kylian Mbape getting two goals for France, Erling Haaland getting two for Norway, and then Leo Messi of Argentina scoring a hat-trick (3 goals), with 2 of them being unbelievably gorgeous goals.

If we get so animated and even motivated by such things, how much more should we erupt in enthusiasm for the grandeur of God. Shouldn’t we appreciate and rejoice at the magnificent ways in which God is fulfilling his own gracious promises?

Today then we will aim to follow Paul’s example here as he writes. We will…

Marvel at God’s righteous ways (toward Israel) and overflow with praise.

Even though in Paul’s conclusion of Romans 9-11 he is emphasizing God’s faithfulness and mercy to fulfill his promises to Israel in particular, we can and should apply this more broadly as well. Marvel at God’s righteous ways and overflow with praise.

As we work through the flow of this text, in two parts we’ll appreciate God’s righteous ways as he fulfills his promises to Israel beyond their current rejection of the Messiah. And then our final segment will follow Paul’s eruption in praise to the glory of God for his righteous ways.  

The first part begins with what we discussed at length last time, only now our emphasis is more expositional in the momentum of the section that leads to Paul’s exuberant praise of God.

Marvel at the mystery of God saving “all Israel” in covenant faithfulness to his promises. (25-27)

Paul writes, “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.”

We focused on verses 25-26a last week, so that we could apply to ourselves the need for humility in such passages that garner disagreement among faithful believers. That message was essentially a topical excursion in the midst of our ongoing exposition in Romans. Today then I’ll just briefly summarize, and we’ll turn our attention to the scriptural quotations in the rest of 26 into 27.

Of the three orthodox views to explain this verse, the least likely is one that is historically popular but that equates “all Israel” with saved Jews and Gentiles throughout history. Textually this is problematic because Paul keeps differentiating in this entire section between Gentiles and Israel (as an ethnic group). It also doesn’t fit the context, as Paul is arguing that yes there is one people of God (the olive tree metaphor), but that does not mean that Gentile converts into the new covenant should arrogantly think they have totally replaced the Jews in God’s plans.

Two other views can at least maintain consistency with Paul differentiating between Jews and Gentiles in their responses to the gospel. That “all Israel” refers to the total number of the remnant of faith among Israel throughout history is a possibility. And another likely possibility is a future purification of Israel leading to the salvation of a representative majority. That’s the view I argued for, and if this is correct, God will intervene among them in such a way that it will be like the whole nation is repenting and turning in faith to Jesus.

We might say that this mystery, something formerly hidden but now revealed, is God using Gentile inclusion into the people of God as a means of bringing about the repentance and restoration of Israel, such that one day a representative majority of Israel will turn in faith to Jesus the Messiah. So Paul seems to be indicating that this partial hardening of Israel at this time in history is neither total nor permanent. Yes, God continues to save a remnant (even like Paul himself), and he also intends to yet do a great work in Israel someday in faithfulness to his promises, but that fulfillment will still come through faith in the new covenant in Jesus the Messiah.

We can tell Paul means this new covenant messianic salvation because of the way that he blends together and interprets two prophetic promises from Isaiah concerning Israel’s salvation. 26b-27: “as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.””

The two texts that he intertwines are from Isaiah 59:20-21(a) and Isaiah 27:9(a). What Paul does is he interprets those similar prophecies in terms of messianic fulfillment for the salvation of Israel. And that’s the key. Paul is showing that this is about Jesus the Messiah, and therefore it is this same Redeemer who will yet fulfill the promise of deliverance for Israel.

Again, Paul is interpreting these as God’s covenant faithfulness through the Messiah when he banishes Jacob’s ungodliness and takes away their sin. Jacob is a reference to ethnic Israel, as we have discussed much in this section, but Paul changes the singular pronoun for Jacob to the plural “them” and “their” to match his own pronouns in this ongoing discussion of Israel as a people.

Paul also changes “the Deliverer will come to Zion” and says he “will come from Zion.” Zion here could be Jerusalem, by which Paul would mean that this Deliverer has already proven himself in Zion at his first coming and thus now comes forth from Zion. Or Paul might mean the heavenly Zion, which is the true capital city of God’s rule and center of worship in the presence of God. In either case, with the two future tense verbs that correspond also to the future tense of “all Israel will be saved,” Paul is likely indicating a future turning in faith for salvation at or near the second coming. (Recall v. 15 declaring that Israel changing their rejection to acceptance would mean resurrection from the dead.) 

Even so, what we also know from all that Paul has taught, is that the provision for turning away ungodliness and taking away sin was accomplished by Christ in his first coming—by his perfect life, sacrificial atonement, and vindicating resurrection. So then phrases like “when I take away their sins” emphasize not only that this will happen, but also how it will happen: the people of Israel will repent and accept the gospel message of forgiveness of sin through the cross of Jesus the Messiah.

So zoom back out once more from these details. What Paul is getting at, which should humble us, is that we who are in Christ should marvel at God’s faithfulness to yet deliver Israel in the same way that he is delivering us—through faith in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

Again, if it helps, think of this like a great theatrical drama being played out in salvation history. Israel was center stage for act one of salvation history. But by her rejection of the Messiah Israel has given way to the Gentiles coming to the forefront in their invitation to be included in the people of God. Paul indicates that although this is where we are now, there will come a final act in which Israel will once again be front and center in God’s fulfillment of his promises as he brings about a great response of faith in the Messiah.

So why and how God will do this is largely what Paul elaborates as he continues, which is to…

Marvel at God’s resolution to Israel’s alienation, that they too should receive his mercy. (28-32)

We marvel at how God will resolve the problem of Israel’s alienation, that they will yet receive mercy as we Gentiles have received mercy.

There are two key movements in this paragraph. First Paul contrasts Israel’s present state with their election as a people uniquely beloved by God (albeit to the benefit of Gentile inclusion in God’s saving promises). “As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

And then Paul goes on to show God’s consistency, to be merciful to the Gentiles when they were living in disobedience, to then also be merciful to the Jews for their disobedience. The conclusion is that God has been sovereign and impartial in justly enclosing all in their disobedience to also impartially have mercy on all. “For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” [Note that “all” here can’t be every individual person but is instead all ethnicities of people, both Jew and Gentile. Some have helpfully said that this is not ‘all without exception but is all without distinction.’]

Let’s back up again a little to explain. The parallelism of verse 28 is that because of their present rejection of the gospel, they are alienated from God as his enemies, which Paul has shown benefits the Gentiles who are coming to faith and being grafted into the people of God. But because of their connection to the people group God elected out of all the families of the earth, they remain beloved (special, dear) because of their forefathers (the patriarchs). They remain a part of that group of God’s merciful selection for his purposes: “Jacob have I loved.” (Rom 9:13)

To express this special place because of God’s own choosing, Paul adds, “For irrevocable are the gifts and calling of God.” Since God made a decision to bestow his gracious blessing on this people and he called them to belong to him and bear his name, these are not things that God finally regrets and turns his back on. What Paul is arguing then is that God will fulfill his saving promises, so this majority alienation at present is not the final act.

And then he goes on to explain how God is consistent in his character when he will show them mercy even from this disobedient, devastating rejection of the Messiah. The Gentiles worldwide lived in arrogant rejection of God, but he chose a family from this world and made Abraham and his descendents “Israel,” a people to represent him on the earth. Not only did they fail along the way while God remained faithful, but they failed most miserably in rejecting their Messiah. But this was far from outside God’s plan. Although in sin they put Jesus to death, that was his plan for the salvation of our souls. So then also their majority rejection has led to the open invitation of the whole world (Gentiles) to enter into this people of God through faith by the Messiah’s saving accomplishment.

Ok, but Paul says that if God has been thus merciful to the Gentiles at present, it makes sense that he will also be merciful to Israel in order that they might repent and be saved. We are therefore understanding Paul as saying that this is something God intends to still do one day on a large scale—save a representative majority of Israel in the last days.

What Paul boils this down to is that in humility we should marvel at God’s mercy to Gentiles and to Israel, because what we all deserve is to remain shut up in the disobedient rejection that leads to destruction. But in God’s marvelous mercy, he himself provided for his justice in Jesus and offers us forgiveness and freedom to be in a right relationship with him, leading to everlasting life in his presence.

So we marvel at the way God used Israel’s rejection for our invitation, and we marvel also that Gentile inclusion will lead to a future repentance and restoration among Israel. To cap this all off, then, we marvel at the undeserved mercy God extends to us all!

And when we marvel thus at God’s righteous ways, it is right that we should overflow with lavish praise, as Paul himself does.

Let marveling at God’s righteous ways lead to exuberant praise. (33-36)

Paul gushes with praise for God’s unlimited riches, wisdom, and knowledge. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?””

I keep these three verses together because Paul’s scriptural quotations emphatically reinforce his point about the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge, reflecting them in reverse order.

The force of this communicates that compared to our limited resources, God’s character and qualities are deeper than the deepest ocean. The excellencies of God are fathomless; they know no bottom or limit. Paul reflects on the profundity of God’s riches: the abundant wealth of blessings of his grace and glory extended to those who will respond to such saving mercy. And naturally he reflects too on the perfect and infinite wisdom of God and knowledge of God, which in God work together in perfection.

Again, this is impossible to fully fathom, but imagine God’s complete knowledge of everything, from the smallest to the greatest, from start to finish. Even if AI could accumulate and access all the written knowledge from all of humanity, it would still be only a water molecule in the ocean of God’s knowledge. There is absolutely nothing in all created and uncreated things which God does not know in its entirety.

And he has perfect wisdom (the skill to apply knowledge to righteous activity), such that everything he does is the absolute best move to accomplish the highest good in perfect righteousness.

So Paul’s praise ponders our response to God’s wealth of blessings, and his perfect wisdom and knowledge. They are so deep that we, who are finite and limited, cannot search or fathom his judgments (the commands and decisions he decrees in perfect wisdom and knowledge). Nor can we plot out or truly trace his ways, which are more complete and complex than we can possibly comprehend. But that’s why God is so worthy of praise, because we know that not only should we not question his ways, but we should trust him completely that his ways are best.

Paul continues with quotations to apply this praise in a way that rightly humbles our hearts. Do we really know God’s mind? Really grasp his perfect knowledge, that we should question his moves?

Or who can possibly act as though God needs our advice, our counsel, to be making decisions that are the most eternally wise? And who should think that he has ever presented God with something that God lacks, in order that God owes him anything? It’s an impossibility. God doesn’t need us to be complete; he doesn’t need anything from us to be fully God who is worthy of all glory. And yet he therefore rightly deserves our praise—that we should glory in him like we glory in nothing else.

That is why Paul’s doxology both peaks and concludes with this, as if Paul is finishing a wonderful melody by belting out and holding the high note with all the spiritual breath he can muster. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

With all that Paul has shown us about God’s righteous ways of fulfilling his own promises, we rightly glory in God as the source, sustainer, and purpose of all things. God is the source, the initiator of all things, the wellspring of all that exists. And all of it is through him (because of him), continually sustained by the power of his existence and activity. This Biblical teaching is in direct contrast to any notion that God created things and then just kinda lets things go how they will go. He does not do this, not even in part. And finally, all things are to him or for him. God is the goal, the end, the purpose of all things. To him be the glory forever and ever. Let it be so!

Although we cannot fully comprehend God’s higher ways, it should make sense to us at least in the grand scheme of reality that God is the source of all things, the power maintaining all things, and the aim of all things. We therefore trust that God’s process of bringing saving faith to Gentiles and to Jews is just and best.

Furthermore, our own existence is most fully and best experienced in relationship to this God, from whom, through whom, and for whom all things exist. What will give you greater joy and fulfillment in life than realizing and living according to this reality? I personally struggle with chasing lesser good things that I think will bring me pleasure. But unless I’m enjoying God’s gifts God’s way, I will not really experience them in the way that is best for me (that is most fulfilling and brings greatest joy). 

[Conclusion] And so we’ve concluded the journey through this last leg of Romans 9-11 with Paul’s emphasis on us being humbled to marvel at the mystery of God’s plan to bring in Gentiles and later restore Israel. In this we also marvel at how God will resolve their alienation in showing them the same mercy he has shown us in Christ Jesus. Finally then, we desire to be like Paul and gush with exuberant praise to God as we marvel as his excellencies and higher ways. Not just once, but every day.

Of all the things that might enthrall you, the best and most worthy is to…

Be overcome with the splendor of God. Be moved to praise, to seek, to submit, to serve, and to speak.

The exalted perfection of God and the exalted ways of God should inspire and motivate us to praise him over and over, to seek him again and again, to serve him with all that we are and have, and to speak of him to others about his unique excellence and about his mercy offered to them in Christ Jesus.

PRAY

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