Romans chapter 11
and there's some pens being given out
and some sheets if you'd like to take notes
and turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 11
which is on page 1137
Romans chapter 11
starting in verse 1
I ask then, did God reject his people?
By no means.
I am an Israelite myself,
a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.
God did not reject his people whom he foreknew.
Don't you know what the scripture says
in the passage about Elijah,
how he appealed to God against Israel?
Lord, they have killed your prophets
and torn down your altars.
I am the only one left and they are trying to kill me.
And what was God's answer to them?
I have reserved for myself 7,000
who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works.
If it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then?
What Israel thought so earnestly it did not obtain,
but the elect did.
The others were hardened, as it is written.
God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so that they could not see,
and ears so that they could not hear to this very day.
And David says,
may their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.
Thanks, Kirsty.
Well, let's pray and ask for God's help
as we look at this together.
Father God, we ask that you would
pour out your spirit to us.
We pray that our eyes will be opened
and our ears unblocked spiritually
so we may hear your truth,
that it may penetrate our lives,
that we may have understanding of our minds,
but that it would travel to our hearts,
shaping us and changing us,
and causing us to see the wonder
of your amazing grace,
your saving plan for our lives
and for this world.
And we pray above all that it will encourage us
and fill our lives with hope.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
I had a problem recently.
You might be thinking,
I've got lots of problems.
I do, but...
A problem with a laptop.
It wouldn't turn on properly,
and when it did,
things didn't work as they were meant to.
So we went to the shop,
brought it back to the people we'd got it from,
pointed out to the customer service
that we had bought it in this shop,
that it was still under guarantee,
and that they should fix it.
Went off and had a chat to his manager,
came back,
politely said,
sorry sir,
there's nothing we can do for you.
But you made a promise.
You promised.
And now you're telling us that you can do nothing for us.
We left frustrated and angry.
Felt let down and cheated.
Disappointed.
Now we can often feel that same disappointment with God.
God has made a promise.
He's promised to save his people.
He's given his guarantee.
Look back at chapter 10, verse 13.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
This is a great statement on the back of God's promise
to save his people.
But it all seems like a waste of time.
Because we all have friends
and we all have family
who are still not Christians.
And so it leaves us with this one question.
Can God save?
Look at chapter 11, verse 1.
After all these great promises of God coming to save,
he asked this question in verse 1 of chapter 11.
I asked then,
did God reject his people?
Has God gone back on his promise?
Did God promise to do something
he's just not able to do?
And so we begin to wonder,
is God not able to save my friend?
Is God not powerful enough to save my family?
You see, the problem is,
God is the only one who can save people.
But yet so often we seem to think
he just can't do it.
And we feel let down.
We feel cheated.
And in our cries to God,
we're disappointed.
Well, in response to our disappointments,
God wants us to see that his grace
is more powerful than we thought
and much greater than we could ever imagine.
Three things we're going to learn this morning.
First,
God's grace is more powerful
than we thought.
Look at verse 1 again.
I asked then,
did God reject his people?
By no means.
I am an Israelite myself,
a descendant of Abraham
from the tribe of Benjamin.
If you think God has gone back on his promise,
look at me,
says Paul.
Look at my life.
I grew up knowing all about God's promises of salvation.
I can even trace my family line
all the way back to Abraham,
the one through whom God made these great promises.
But the point is,
Paul actually ignored God's promise.
Have a look at 1 Timothy.
Keep your finger in Romans 11
and go to 1 Timothy.
It's on page 1191.
1,191.
1 Timothy.
Chapter 1.
Here's the man
who grew up
with the greatest privilege,
having all the promises of God.
And here's what we learn about him.
Paul is telling us his story
of faith,
what he was like
before he became a Christian.
Let's read from chapter 1, verse 12.
I thank Christ Jesus,
our Lord,
who has given me strength,
that he considered me,
that's Paul,
faithful,
appointing me to his service.
Even though I was once a blasphemer.
In other words,
he hated Jesus.
And he was a persecutor.
He used to take Christians,
round them up,
and put them in prison.
And he was a violent man.
He was responsible
for stoning people to death.
I was shown mercy
because I acted in ignorance
and unbelief.
The grace of the Lord Jesus
was poured out on me abundantly,
along with the faith and love
that are in Christ Jesus.
He's telling us,
I was a complete rebel.
I turned away from God's promise.
I turned away from his Christ.
Verse 15.
Here is a trustworthy saying
that deserves full acceptance.
Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners
of whom I am the worst.
He's saying,
would you look at my life?
If there is anybody
that should not be a Christian,
it's me.
If there's somebody
who God should not have shown grace to,
it's me.
I had every opportunity
that I could possibly have,
but I turned my back on it all
and I pushed it away.
Verse 16.
But for that very reason,
I was shown mercy
so that in me,
the worst of sinners,
Christ Jesus might display
his unlimited patience
as an example
for those who would believe on him
and receive eternal life.
if God's grace
can save me,
the worst of sinners,
then God's grace
is powerful enough
to save anyone
who will believe.
Go back to Romans 11.
You see,
you may have a friend
who's grown up in the church.
You may have a loved one,
someone within your own family,
perhaps a son
or a daughter
or a mother
or a father.
They've been raised
within a Christian home
and all their life
they have heard
the promises
of God's salvation
and people have explained it to them,
people have prayed for them,
but today
they show no interest
and perhaps
they do everything possible
to distance themselves
from God
and you're wondering,
can God save them?
Well, look what it says
in Romans 11,
verse 1.
I ask then,
did God reject his people?
Verse 2.
God did not reject his people
whom he foreknew.
You see,
God has made a promise,
a promise to save his people
and those God promises to save,
he will save
and nothing and no one
is going to stop him.
There was a story
in the Independent
in the paper a while back
about a father.
His name was Richard Quarry
who had rescued
his adopted son
called Ethan.
Richard came home one day
to discover
that his son
had been taken
by his estranged wife
and taken all the way
to Zambia.
Immediately,
he made a promise
to himself
that he would do
what it would take
to get his son back.
And the story tells
of a nine-month journey,
having travelled
two and a half thousand miles
across country,
crossing borders,
paying off border guards,
he did everything
and he brought
his son home safely.
Nothing was going to stop him
getting his adopted son back.
You see,
God knows
who his children are.
He knows
who his children are
from before
the creation
of the world
and by his grace
he will not
stop
until all
his children
are home
safely
in his arms.
He will break
every barrier
and he will remove
every obstacle
until
his people
are saved.
God's grace
is more powerful
than we ever thought.
The second big
message
is this,
that God's grace
is much greater
than we imagined.
Look at the second part
of verse 2.
Don't you know
what the scripture says
in the passage
about Elijah
Elijah
and how he appealed
to God
against Israel?
This is the story
of Elijah the prophet
at the time
of King Ahab.
It was the most
darkest
and bleakest period
in the history
of God's people.
Ahab was
described
as the king
who did more
evil
in the eyes
of the Lord
than any of those
before him.
Ahab.
And the history
was a terrible history.
They had all gone
in their evil ways
but he was
top of the pile.
Ahab had led
the people of God
away.
He had set up
all kinds of idols
and involved in
all kinds of
different worship
and with the help
of his notorious
wife Jezebel
they murdered off
any of God's prophets.
And so we read
this in verse 3
as Elijah
cries out to God
Lord
they have killed
your prophets
torn down
your altars
and I am the
only one left
and they are
trying to kill
me.
As far as
Elijah was concerned
he was the
only Christian
left in the
whole of the
nation.
Everybody else
had turned away
from God
or had been
killed
when there was
the opportunity
to show
themselves
they weren't
there.
And so angry
and disappointed
with God
he's crying out
in his frustration
and in his
disappointment
what about
your promises
to save people
God?
What about
all those people
who you said
you would save?
And here I am
I'm the only one.
And Elijah
wants to give up
he thinks it's
all a waste
of time.
verse 4
and what was
God's answer
to him?
I have
reserved
for myself
7,000
who have not
bowed the knee
to Baal.
You think
that I failed?
You think
that I can't
save people?
Elijah
I have done
something much
greater
than you could
ever imagine.
I have saved
7,000
that you know
nothing about.
You see
we can feel
like Elijah.
I'm the only
Christian in my
family.
I'm the only
Christian in my
class
or in my
year at
college.
Maybe you go
to work
every day
and you're
the only
Christian in
your workplace
and you're
wondering
has God
broken his
promises?
Is God
able to
save those
around me?
Well look at
verse 5
grace.
So too
at the
present time
there is
a remnant
chosen
by grace
and if
by grace
then it is
no longer
by works.
If it were
grace
if it were
grace
would no
longer
be grace.
You might
be the only
Christian
at present
in your
family.
You might
be the only
Christian
amongst your
friends.
but do
not think
that God
has ever
forgotten
his
promises.
I will
save those
who I
have chosen
by my
grace.
In fact
the number
that God
saves
may be
greater
than we
ever
imagined.
In
1858
a missionary
from Scotland
by the name
of John
Patton
travelled
with his
wife Mary
to the
South Sea
Islands
known today
as the
New
Hebrides.
The
islanders
were
cannibals
ate
their
defeated
enemies
they
practiced
infanticide
and
widow
sacrifice.
Two
people
had gone
in the
years
before
but
they
had
only
been
there
a few
minutes
when
they
were
butchered
and killed
and only
a few
months
after
John
arrived
on the
island
his wife
and newborn
son
had died.
The only
Christian
on the
island
and he
was
eventually
driven off
after four
years
of brutal
treatment
and no
sign of
any
conversion
nothing.
Thirty
years
later
having
returned
to the
island
he
was
able
to
record
in
his
journal
that
12,000
had
come
to
faith.
A
hundred
and
thirty
three
had
been
trained
up
and
sent
out
to
the
other
islands
with
the
gospel.
At
times
you
might
feel
like
you
are
the
only
Christian
and
that
God
has
forgotten
but
God's
grace
is
greater
than
we
could
ever
imagine.
And
the
third
big
message
is
this
that
God's
grace
is
more
dangerous
than
we
expected.
Look
at
verse
seven
what
then
what
about
all
those
who
are
not
saved?
Why
are
they
not
saved?
Well
he gives
the
answer
what
Israel
sought
so
earnestly
it
did
not
obtain
because
they
sought
to get
it
by
works
but
the
elect
did
because
it
was
by
grace.
In
other
words
he's
saying
you
cannot
earn
your
salvation
it's
always
going
to
be
by
God's
grace.
But
the
question
is
still
there
why
are
some
still
not
saved?
Well
look at
the
answer
at
the
end
of
verse
seven
the
others
were
hardened
the
point
is
simple
but
very
sobering
rejecting
God's
good
grace
leads
to
a
hard
heart
and
two
examples
are
given
for
us
here
the
first
one
comes
in
verse
eight
and
the
context
here
is
all
about
God's
gracious
rescue
God
in
his
grace
had
rescued
his
people
from
slavery
in
Egypt
that
was
their
history
he
had
provided
for
them
he
had
kept
them
all
through
their
wanderings
in
the
desert
he
had
brought
them
eventually
to
the
promised
land
as
he
said
he
would
but
the
people
turned
their
back
on
God
they
walked
away
from
him
and
so
their
hearts
were
hardened
and
we
read
in
verse
eight
as
it
is
written
God
gave
them
a
spirit
of
stupor
eyes
so
they
could
not
see
ears
so
that
they
could
not
hear
to
this
very
day
they
had
experienced
God's
grace
but
they
rejected
God's
grace
the
second
example
comes
in
verse
nine
and
ten
and
the
context
here
is
about
God's
gracious
rule
over
his
people
because
God
in his
grace
had
given
them
a
king
they
had
always
got
their
own
kind
of
king
but
God
gave
them
a
king
after
his
own
heart
king
David
who
was
going
to
shepherd
his
people
a
king
to
care
for
them
and
to
provide
for
them
but
they
rejected
this
good
king
they
turned
against
him
they
fought
against
him
they
wanted
him
dead
their
hearts
in
response
were
hardened
and so
David
says
in verse
nine
may
their
table
become
a
snare
and
a
trap
a
stumbling
block
and a
retribution
for
them
and may
their
eyes
be
darkened
so that
they
cannot
see
and their
backs
be bent
forever
they had
tasted
God's
grace
but they
rejected
God's
grace
can you
see
that grace
is more
dangerous
than we
expected
if we
reject
grace
if we
continue
to push
it away
and hold
it at
arm's
length
it will
lead to
a hard
heart
and it
works
both
ways
the more
we reject
God's
grace
the more
we say
no
the more
God
hardens
our
heart
because
look at
verse
eight
it was
God
who
gave
them
a
spirit
of
stupor
it was
God
who
gave
them
eyes
so
that
they
could
not
see
but
the more
that
God
hardens
our
hearts
the more
we will
in turn
reject
his
grace
yes
God
is
involved
yes
we
are
involved
but
we
are
without
excuse
it's
like
having
a
heart
disease
and
we
need
to
take
medication
we
need
to
take
our
cholesterol
pills
to
make
it
right
and
if
we
take
our
pills
then
the
arteries
are
going
to
be
unblocked
and
our
hearts
are
going
to
be
healthy
but
if
we
don't
take
those
pills
then
our
hearts
only
get
more
disease
and
eventually
our
bodies
become
immune
to
the
medication
so
that
they
no
longer
work
and
that's
what
it's
like
with
God's
grace
if
we
continue
to
push
against
it
and
reject
it
our
hearts
only
that
we
become
immune
to
it
now
the
thing
is
we
have
all
experienced
God's
good
grace
we
learned
this
right
at the
very
beginning
of
Romans
if
you
want
to
flick
back
to
Romans
chapter
1
we
have
all
experienced
God's
good
grace
Romans
chapter
1
verse
20
we
see
God's
grace
in
his
creation
around
us
Romans
chapter
1
verse
20
for
since
the
creation
of
the
world
God's
invisible
qualities
his
eternal
power
and divine
nature
have been
clearly
seen
being
understood
from
what
has
been
made
so
that
men
and
women
are
without
excuse
the
very
fact
that
we
can
look
out
at
creation
tells
us
there
is
a
God
there
God
in
his
grace
has
made
himself
known
not
just
in
creation
but
also
in
our
conscience
chapter
2
verse
15
since
they
show
that
the
requirements
of
the
law
are
written
on
their
hearts
their
consciences
also
bearing
witnesses
and
their
thoughts
now
accusing
now
even
defending
them
the
very
fact
that
we've
got
a
conscience
that
we
know
this
is
right
and
this
is
wrong
God
in
his
grace
has
planted
that
conscience
within
each
one
of
us
so
not
only
have
we
got
creation
not
only
have
we
got
conscience
but
above
all
of
this
God
has
shown
his
grace
supremely
in
giving
to
us
his
son
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
one
who
came
into
the
world
who
came
to
rescue
us
from
the
greatest
slavery
possible
from
slavery
to
sin
rescuing
us
from
death
through
his
resurrection
from
the
grave
he
has
become
the
risen
and
eternal
king
who
continues
to
pour
his
goodness
out
upon
us
each
and
every
day
a
good
and
caring
king
who
has
promised
to
bring
us
to
his
eternal
kingdom
where
there
will
be
no
more
death
or
suffering
or
pain
or
evil
ever
again
God
in
his
grace
has
given
this
to
us
through
his
son
Jesus
and
if
we
keep
rejecting
his
grace
if we
keep
pushing
it
away
it
will
lead
to
a
slow
progressive
hardening
of our
hearts
God
God's
grace
is
more
dangerous
than
we
first
expected
but
let us
be
surprised
by
God
you
see
at
first
we
might
be
disappointed
but
as
we've
seen
with
God's
grace
it
is
more
powerful
than
we
thought
and
much
greater
than
we
imagined
if he
can
save
the
worst
of
sinners
like
Paul
then
he
can
save
people
like
you
and
me
because
if
you
are
a
Christian
it
is
a
miracle
and
God
can
do
that
miracle
in
someone
else's
life
if
he
can
save
the
7000
that
Elijah
knew
nothing
about
then
he
can
save
your
friends
and
your
family
God's
grace
is
always
surprising
it
works
in
people
and
it
works
in
places
we
never
thought
possible
he
is
a
generous
and
a
good
God
do
not
reject
his
grace
and
become
hard
hearted
let's
pray
father
we
admit
that
we
struggle
at
times
we
struggle
with
the
fact
that
we
are
the
only
Christian
in
our
college
in
our
work
perhaps
even
within
our
family
and
we
cry
out
to
God
and
as
we
cry
out
we
are
reminded
of
your
amazing
grace
and
your
power
to
save
and
so
we
ask
father
God
that
you
would
continue
to
do
your
work
that
you
would
give
us
a
heart
that
keeps
on
praying
that
you
would
give
us
a
mouth
that
keeps
on
talking
and
gently
explaining
the
good
news
of
Christ
and
praying
father
God
that
you
will
bring
people
into
your
kingdom
we
trust
you
to
do
this
for
we
cannot
and
we
pray
that
people
would
receive
your
grace
and
not
reject
it
amen
we're
going
to
sing