WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.320 So, on page 1138, Romans chapter 11. So, 1138, we're going to read from verse 11 to the end of the chapter, verse 36. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:28.320 Again, I ask, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all. Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:39.140 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring? 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:54.900 I'm talking to you, Gentiles. In so much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 00:00:54.899 --> 00:01:03.339 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:10.379 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:14.259 If the root is holy, so are the branches. 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:28.580 Well, if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others, and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. 00:01:29.460 --> 00:01:31.120 If you do, consider this. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:35.840 You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:41.240 You will say then, branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in. 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:42.439 Granted. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:47.260 But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. 00:01:47.740 --> 00:01:49.980 Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:56.900 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:02:02.140 Consider, therefore, the kindness and sternness of God. 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:09.560 Sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. 00:02:10.540 --> 00:02:13.599 Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:22.500 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:31.360 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:37.759 how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:44.560 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:52.580 Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.819 And so all Israel will be saved. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.300 As it is written, the Deliverer will come from Zion. 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:03.460 He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:09.120 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:14.200 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account. 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:19.120 But as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:23.120 For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:32.060 Just as you who are at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:43.140 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:50.840 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:54.960 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:58.700 How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out! 00:03:58.980 --> 00:04:01.000 Who has known the mind of the Lord? 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:02.860 Or who has been his counselor? 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:06.340 Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? 00:04:06.760 --> 00:04:10.340 For from him and through him and to him are all things. 00:04:10.780 --> 00:04:14.219 To him be the glory forever. Amen. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:30.859 Thanks very much, Ralph. 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:35.919 Well, we're taking out quite a large chunk this morning. 00:04:36.060 --> 00:04:38.379 We're not going to cover every single verse. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:41.439 And there may be questions that arise. 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:47.759 And so, as always, if there are questions that you have afterwards, please do talk with me. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:53.599 Well, let's pray and ask for God's help for us as we look at this together. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:05:05.620 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 00:05:07.359 --> 00:05:14.099 How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out! 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:29.840 Father, as we think about your work in this world and your plan of salvation, there is so much that we cannot get our minds around. 00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:36.540 But yet there is so much that you have revealed to us. 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:40.500 There are things that you have made clear. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:46.819 And it's to those clear things that we now turn and ask. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:52.079 That you would make them understandable to our minds. 00:05:55.480 --> 00:06:00.139 And that you would implant them deep within our hearts. 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:06.800 So that we see the wonder afresh of your amazing grace. 00:06:08.039 --> 00:06:12.419 The way in which your gospel works to save people. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:21.580 And we ask, Father, for your Holy Spirit to be at work in us all together now. 00:06:22.580 --> 00:06:23.920 In Jesus' name. 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:25.420 Amen. 00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:25.560 Amen. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:41.080 You may remember the children's story called The Magic Porridge Pot. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:43.400 Do you remember reading that when you were a bit younger? 00:06:44.200 --> 00:06:47.180 It's about a little girl who lived with her grandmother. 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:54.120 And because they were very poor, grandmother sent the little girl off into the forest to find food. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:07:01.040 And while she was there, she meets this old lady who gives her the magic porridge pot. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:03.840 And it came with two very simple instructions. 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:09.560 If you wanted porridge, you simply said, cook, little pot, cook. 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:12.340 And you got as much porridge as you wanted. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.879 And when you wanted it to stop, you said, stop, little pot, stop. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:20.000 And the porridge pot would stop cooking. 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:21.840 And everything was going well. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:27.899 Everything was fine until one day the little girl forgot how to stop the porridge pot. 00:07:28.859 --> 00:07:31.079 And the porridge overflowed into the kitchen. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:36.979 And soon the porridge began to overflow out the door and down the road. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:41.539 And no matter what she said, the porridge continued to flow. 00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:49.560 And soon every street in the village and every home, according to my little book anyway, was full of porridge. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.460 And it kept overflowing. 00:07:54.960 --> 00:07:59.280 But God's grace is like this porridge pot. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:14.559 It continues to overflow to all kinds of people in all kinds of places, especially to those who have rejected his grace. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:17.379 Look at verse 11. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:21.040 Again, I ask. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:25.920 Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:30.699 This question here is setting the big theme for the rest of the text. 00:08:31.340 --> 00:08:32.299 And it's simply this. 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.700 It's asking this question. 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:35.820 People who have gone to church. 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:38.620 People who grew up reading their Bibles. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:45.240 People who know the good news of Jesus, but have now turned their back on God. 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:48.160 Are they beyond recovery? 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:53.980 Have they fallen beyond grace? 00:08:53.980 --> 00:09:01.399 Have they put themselves out of reach of God's grace? 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:04.899 Well, look at the answer. 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:08.960 Not at all. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:14.139 No one is beyond God's grace. 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:20.080 In fact, we should never write people off as having no hope. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:31.500 God's grace continues to flow to all kinds of people in all kinds of places, especially to those who have rejected his grace. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:39.060 So we're going to look at the way in which God's grace overflows into people's lives. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:41.500 First, the attractive nature of God's grace. 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:42.860 Let's read verse 11 again. 00:09:42.920 --> 00:09:43.740 Again, I ask. 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:47.300 Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:48.560 Not at all. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:55.179 Rather, because of their transgression, because of their rejection of God's grace, 00:09:55.839 --> 00:10:00.559 salvation has come to the Gentiles, to people who were irreligious, 00:10:00.699 --> 00:10:03.739 to people who never went to church or read their Bibles, 00:10:03.939 --> 00:10:07.339 to make Israel envious. 00:10:08.599 --> 00:10:13.199 You see, God's plan for those who have rejected his grace and turned his back on him 00:10:13.199 --> 00:10:15.500 is to make them envious and jealous. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:21.659 If you remember the illustration from a couple of weeks ago, 00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:22.720 it's like the little, 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:25.820 trying to give a gift to one of your little children. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:29.860 You want them to enjoy this gift that you have prepared for them. 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:32.120 You want them to take pleasure in it, 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:35.059 to open it and to enjoy it because it's good for them. 00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:38.459 But instead of receiving it from you, 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:41.199 they reject it and throw it away in a temper. 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:47.940 So what can you do because you desperately want your child to have this good gift? 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:51.500 Well, you take it away from your child 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:55.820 and you go next door and you give it to the kid who lives there. 00:10:56.420 --> 00:11:00.100 And immediately that child sees how beautiful this gift is 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:02.980 and they receive it with joy and they open it, 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:05.800 they unpack it and they're delighted with it. 00:11:07.060 --> 00:11:13.860 And it's only then will your child see its true value and want it back. 00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:14.899 Why? 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.500 Because they have become envious. 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:20.940 They've become jealous. 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:23.240 They want the gift. 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:29.580 And that's God's purpose in making his grace known to other people. 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:31.360 Look at verse 13. 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:35.419 I am talking to you Gentiles 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:39.700 in as much as I am an apostle to the Gentiles. 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:42.100 I make much of my ministry. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:45.580 So here's Paul who's grown up with his religious background. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:47.720 But now he says, 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:52.340 look, I'm now preaching God's grace to those who are not my loved ones, 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.600 those who are not my people, 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.560 those who are not within my family. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:58.660 And here's the reason, verse 14, 00:11:58.660 --> 00:12:04.080 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:07.440 and save some of them. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:12.759 The hope is that people who grew up knowing God's grace 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:15.060 but have now turned their back on it 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:18.860 will see God's grace in the life of other people 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:20.740 and will say, 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:22.379 I want that too. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:27.379 You see, there is something deeply attractive 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:32.220 about a person who has come to experience the grace of God. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:36.480 Not only do you know God's forgiveness and love 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:38.240 in your mind and in your head, 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:42.539 but you actually are transformed and changed. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:46.920 You become incredibly forgiving and loving of other people. 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:50.879 Not only do you experience peace with God 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:52.379 and an acceptance with God, 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.899 but you become a person of peace, 00:12:55.179 --> 00:12:57.519 a person who begins to accept others 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:59.559 no matter what their background is. 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:05.459 When we experience the grace of God in our own life, 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:08.819 then grace begins to overflow from us 00:13:08.819 --> 00:13:11.099 to those around us. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:16.639 We display a character that is beautiful and attractive 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.320 and people will look at your life 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:20.800 and they'll want to know, 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:23.200 what is the difference with you? 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:25.320 Why do you behave that way? 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:27.120 Why are you so different? 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:31.240 And they will become envious and jealous 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:34.320 and will want what you have. 00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:37.360 They will want who you have, 00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.720 the Lord Jesus. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:42.100 So if you are a Christian, 00:13:43.300 --> 00:13:47.000 God's grace has overflowed into your life 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:51.040 so that God's grace can overflow from your life 00:13:51.040 --> 00:13:52.360 to other people, 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:57.600 especially to those who have rejected his grace. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:04.820 second, the humbling nature of God's grace. 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:06.100 Look at verse 17. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:13.080 If some of the branches have been broken off, 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:16.940 that is, those who have rejected God's grace. 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:19.820 If some of the branches have been broken off 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:22.800 and you, though a wild olive shoot, 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:25.580 have been grafted in among the others 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:29.200 and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.960 do not boast over those branches. 00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:35.280 If you are somebody here this morning 00:14:35.280 --> 00:14:38.940 who has experienced God's grace in your own life, 00:14:39.420 --> 00:14:42.920 don't sit back and gloat and boast. 00:14:43.660 --> 00:14:47.060 Don't think that somehow you are better or superior 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:49.860 than those who once used to sit here 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.820 or once had heard God's grace 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:53.820 but have now rejected God's grace. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:59.139 Look at the rest of verse 18. 00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:00.460 If you do, 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.820 consider this, 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.620 you do not support the root, 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:08.560 but the root supports you. 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:12.339 The picture is very clear, isn't it? 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:14.839 We've got here an olive tree 00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:18.679 and the only way that that tree is going to live 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:20.339 is because of its roots. 00:15:20.839 --> 00:15:23.159 The root gives it life. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.099 It nourishes it and it feeds it. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:29.179 And if you were to cut a branch off from that tree, 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:33.039 it will die because it's not connected to the roots. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:35.719 Well, the image is this, 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:40.759 that God's grace is the root for our life. 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.819 It gives us forgiveness. 00:15:43.079 --> 00:15:44.899 It brings us peace with God. 00:15:45.339 --> 00:15:49.059 It's the nourishing sap that feeds us. 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:53.459 But if you are cut off from God's grace, 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.860 if you are taken away from that source, 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.099 you will die. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.959 Again, look at the end of verse 18. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:03.860 You do not support the root, 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:06.780 but the root supports you. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:08.820 If you are a Christian, 00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:12.000 you are only a Christian 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.700 because of God's grace in your life. 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:17.560 We have nothing whatsoever to boast about 00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.639 or to gloat over 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.639 or somehow think I am superior 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.540 because I have God's grace. 00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:26.200 In fact, he's saying, 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.780 look carefully at the way 00:16:27.780 --> 00:16:29.720 in which God has accepted you. 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:31.519 Look at verse 17 again. 00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:34.240 If some of the branches have been broken off 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.320 and you, 00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:38.540 though a wild olive shoot, 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.620 have been grafted in among the others 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:44.800 and now share in the nourishing sap 00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:46.000 from the olive root. 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:49.560 If you have God's grace, 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.600 it's only because 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.860 you have been grafted in. 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.899 You were once outsiders. 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.200 Look at the word there. 00:16:58.200 --> 00:17:00.700 You were a wild olive shoot. 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:02.379 You belonged elsewhere, 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:04.860 but you were cut off from that 00:17:04.860 --> 00:17:08.680 and you were grafted into the tree of life, 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.640 into God's grace. 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:13.720 And now you are included and welcomed 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:16.799 and accepted as one of his children. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.799 So, 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.819 look at the end of verse 20. 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:26.359 Do not be arrogant, 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:29.500 but be afraid. 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:33.980 For if God did not spare the natural branches, 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:37.240 he will not spare you either. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.200 It's a warning. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:43.019 Don't ever become boastful. 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:45.259 Don't ever become superior. 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:47.880 Be a humble person. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:50.680 Don't ever think that you're somehow better 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.819 for knowing God's grace 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:55.220 than the person who has rejected God's grace. 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:57.120 Be careful, he is saying. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.460 Verse 22. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.940 Consider therefore the kindness 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:03.200 and the sternness of God. 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:05.000 Sternness to those who fell, 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.759 but kindness to you, 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:10.539 provided that you continue in his kindness. 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.140 Otherwise, 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:16.880 you also will be cut off. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:20.440 There is no room 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:24.580 for an arrogant and boastful Christian. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:28.100 So imagine then 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:30.120 what the community would be like 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:34.900 if we were to live humble lives. 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:38.220 Not judging and condemning those 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:40.040 who have rejected God's grace. 00:18:40.540 --> 00:18:42.180 Not pointing our fingers 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:43.640 and counting up all their sins 00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.000 and saying, 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:44.900 oh, you know what, 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:46.540 they weren't there again on Sunday. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.440 Or did you hear about 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.680 what they did last week? 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.660 Not boasting and gloating 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.900 over them all the time. 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.500 Verse 24. 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:56.940 After all, 00:18:57.220 --> 00:19:00.240 if you were cut out of an olive tree 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:02.380 that is wild by nature 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:04.500 and contrary to nature, 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.060 in other words, 00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:06.760 it was nothing to do with yourself, 00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:09.640 were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:12.340 how much more readily will these, 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.740 the natural branches, 00:19:14.280 --> 00:19:16.780 be grafted into their own olive tree? 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:21.620 By living such humble lives, 00:19:22.520 --> 00:19:26.500 God's grace will overflow from you to others, 00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:30.780 especially to those who have grown up 00:19:30.780 --> 00:19:32.100 knowing God's grace, 00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:35.020 but at present are rejecting it. 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.340 They too, he is saying, 00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:40.180 can still be grafted in. 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:45.740 So there is an attractive nature. 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:48.820 There is a humbling nature 00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:50.920 that God's grace brings to us. 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:53.140 And third, 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:55.519 the pursuing nature of God's grace. 00:19:58.320 --> 00:19:59.840 Look at verse 25. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:03.819 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.139 brothers, 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:07.419 so that you may be conceited. 00:20:08.199 --> 00:20:08.579 He says, 00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:08.759 look, 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.899 the mystery is clear. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.000 It's not hidden. 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.519 It's been made known. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:14.359 And this is what the mystery is, 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.779 that God's grace 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:18.359 overflows to all kinds of people 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:20.199 in all kinds of places. 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.580 It doesn't matter 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:23.279 whether you are black or white, 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.920 whether you are Irish or French, 00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:26.440 religious or irreligious. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:28.200 God's grace overflows 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.920 all the time, 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:32.660 irrespective of what your background may be. 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:36.700 And his grace continues to overflow, 00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.600 especially to those 00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:40.140 who have rejected his grace. 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:43.200 Look at the rest of verse 25. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.200 Israel has experienced 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.420 a hardening in part 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:50.720 until the full number 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:53.620 of the Gentiles has come in. 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.940 He's making it clear 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.799 that there were those 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.100 like those of Israel 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.559 who had grown up 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.720 knowing God's grace. 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:02.000 They'd heard the stories. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.200 They'd experienced so much. 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:06.860 And in their rejection of it, 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.420 in their rejection of Jesus, 00:21:08.580 --> 00:21:09.160 the Messiah, 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:11.240 it had now begun to overflow 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.420 to other nations 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.700 and to other people. 00:21:15.060 --> 00:21:16.300 But the point is, 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:18.680 God had not given up on them. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.860 He didn't turn his back on them. 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.960 Verse 26. 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.980 And so, 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:25.700 all Israel will be saved 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.900 as it is written. 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:29.279 The Deliverer will come from Zion. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:31.100 He will turn godlessness 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:32.300 away from Jacob. 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:34.320 And this is my covenant with them 00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:37.019 when I take away their sins. 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:41.100 God's grace will continue to overflow. 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:43.980 He doesn't give up on his people. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.039 He continues to pursue them, 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.559 to chase after them. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.759 He doesn't write people off 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.419 just because they've stopped 00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:52.199 going to church 00:21:52.199 --> 00:21:53.779 or just because they don't read 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.699 their Bibles anymore 00:21:54.699 --> 00:21:56.039 or because they've had 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.519 one big failure in their life. 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:59.219 He doesn't write them off. 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:03.660 Recently, 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:05.339 I cleared out a small box 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.200 in my study 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:08.039 and inside it, 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:09.720 I discovered a load of letters, 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.779 love letters 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:13.420 from Kirstie. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.460 Now, 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.579 I'm not going to read them all. 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.660 They'll be published 00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:19.240 in the paper someday. 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:21.259 But they were letters 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.359 of pursuit 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:24.559 at a time when I had 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.359 ignored her love 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.259 and I wouldn't write 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.900 to her anymore 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:28.319 and I thought she'd done this 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.960 and, well, 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.920 you know how it goes. 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:31.579 But in one of her letters, 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.460 I read this, 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.660 that while she hadn't 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.859 heard from me, 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:37.160 she would keep 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.420 writing to me. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.519 Her love was still there 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.859 even though I had 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.779 pushed it away. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.660 I think that's how it went anyway. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.720 You can check that later. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:49.559 But in the same way, 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.940 God continues to pursue us 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:55.299 and to chase after us 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:57.460 even though our arms 00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:59.200 push Him away 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.960 and reject His grace. 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:03.100 That is why we can say 00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:04.100 with such confidence 00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:05.279 in verse 26, 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:07.880 and so all Israel 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:09.240 will be saved. 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.519 All God's people 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.500 will be saved. 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.779 He will pursue them. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.900 He will chase them. 00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:15.579 He will bring them in. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.319 Of course, 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:21.240 here in verse 26, 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.900 Israel here is, 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.559 I think, 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:26.240 an all-inclusive term 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.960 referring to 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.480 all God's people. 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.319 Go back a minute 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.240 to chapter 9, 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.019 verse 6. 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.259 Chapter 9, 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:35.940 verse 6. 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:42.160 This is how he started 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:44.400 his whole theme out. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.560 It is not as though 00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:47.240 God's word had failed. 00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:48.400 It's not that God 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.360 has given up on His people. 00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:53.140 For not all who are 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.700 descended from Israel 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:56.280 are Israel. 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.320 You see, 00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:58.400 the true Israel, 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:00.380 the true people of God 00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.560 are defined 00:24:01.560 --> 00:24:03.019 not by nationality 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.780 or race, 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:06.759 but by their faith 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:08.019 in Christ, 00:24:08.320 --> 00:24:09.320 by their faith 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:10.540 in the Lord Jesus. 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.839 So God, 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.980 as He pursues 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.619 His people 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.420 by grace, 00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.960 we can be confident, 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.399 absolutely assured, 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.799 that He will save 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.779 all those 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:21.180 He will save. 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.019 Go back to 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.759 chapter 11, 00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.799 verse 29. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:31.220 For God's gifts 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:33.559 and His call 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:35.000 are irrevocable. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.119 those whom God 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:38.160 calls out to. 00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:41.799 God will save 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.640 and He will bring 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.119 to Himself. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.339 God's grace 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.640 overflows. 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.880 And let's not lose 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.119 the focus here. 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:55.059 Just because people 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.940 reject God's grace, 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.680 it doesn't mean 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:00.700 that He will reject them. 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.279 Look at verse 30. 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:05.039 Just as you 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:07.039 who were at one time 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.639 disobedient to God 00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:10.399 have now received 00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:11.039 mercy 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.220 as a result 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.759 of their disobedience. 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:14.980 So again, 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.700 He's repeating 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.279 the theme 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.180 that people 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.059 who had rejected 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.000 God's mercy, 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.680 it now overflows 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.759 to other people 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.099 who have accepted 00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:23.940 God's mercy. 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:24.859 But, 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.160 what about those 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.480 who did reject it? 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.359 What about them? 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:28.599 Well, 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.220 He tells us 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.079 in verse 31. 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.759 So they too 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.819 have now become 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.700 disobedient 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.799 in order 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.140 that they too 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:37.559 may now receive 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.079 mercy 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.319 as a result 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.220 of God's mercy 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.779 to you. 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:42.140 For God has bound 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.299 all men over 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.279 to disobedience 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.440 so that He may 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.079 have mercy 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.879 on them all. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.700 He saves everybody 00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:50.200 in exactly the same way. 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.879 We're all disobedient. 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.200 We've all rejected Him. 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.640 We've all rebelled on Him. 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.599 And it's only because 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.339 of His kindness 00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:57.299 and His mercy 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.900 that any of us 00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:01.640 are His children. 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.540 Let me make it 00:26:06.540 --> 00:26:07.280 very practical 00:26:07.280 --> 00:26:08.040 to us. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.800 If you are a Christian 00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:15.180 and you have friends 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.800 or family 00:26:15.800 --> 00:26:16.980 who have grown up 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:19.019 knowing all about 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.920 God's grace 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.960 and mercy, 00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:23.360 maybe you have 00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.220 a close friend, 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:27.180 maybe it's a son 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.779 or a daughter 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.660 or a spouse. 00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:31.660 But at this point 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.360 in time 00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:33.339 even though 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.000 they have 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.920 all the wealth 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.860 and all the knowledge 00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:36.860 and the understanding 00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:38.539 they are rejecting it 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.539 and pushing it away. 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:42.140 The point is this. 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:44.039 When they see 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.160 God's mercy 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.839 and grace 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.920 in your life, 00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.480 when they see 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.039 the way it 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.480 transforms your life 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.400 and changes you, 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.519 you will become 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:53.680 so attractive 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.340 to them. 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.040 When they see 00:26:56.040 --> 00:26:57.140 your humble life, 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.100 the way in which 00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:59.340 you don't point fingers 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.120 and accuse 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.759 and nag 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.420 and the way 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.240 you accept, 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.620 it will cause 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.420 their hearts 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.680 to become soft 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:08.840 and they will 00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.640 begin to see 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.259 the beauty 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.480 of God's mercy 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.440 and grace 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.580 in your life 00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:14.920 and they will say 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:16.080 that is what I want. 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.640 I need the one 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:19.519 who can make 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.359 that change 00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:21.799 in my life. 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:24.019 God's grace 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.379 overflows 00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:27.240 to all kinds 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.960 of people 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.480 especially, 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.400 especially 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:33.119 to those 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.759 who have 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.819 rejected 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.639 his grace. 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.220 As we've gone 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.639 through 00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:42.259 this section 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.839 in Romans, 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:44.980 it's raised 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.799 lots and lots 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.379 of questions 00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:46.879 for me 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.400 and I know 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:47.980 it's raised 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.660 lots and lots 00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.259 of questions 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.860 to you 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.320 with some 00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:50.540 of the 00:27:50.540 --> 00:27:51.160 conversations 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.700 that we've 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.019 had 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.540 and I don't 00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.460 pretend to have 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.340 all the answers 00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:56.220 as to why 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.480 some people 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:59.220 accept God's 00:27:59.220 --> 00:27:59.620 grace 00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:01.220 and why other 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.060 people reject 00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:02.960 God's grace. 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.460 I don't 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.100 understand 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:05.960 how God 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:07.160 chooses some 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:07.980 and yet 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.720 we are all 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.360 responsible 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:10.380 for our choices. 00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:12.200 I don't know 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.300 why I had 00:28:13.300 --> 00:28:14.060 the privilege 00:28:14.060 --> 00:28:15.120 of growing up 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.680 in a Christian 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.220 home where 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.120 I was taught 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.820 the good news 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.539 about Jesus 00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:19.259 while there 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.740 are many 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.339 thousands 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:20.939 and millions 00:28:20.939 --> 00:28:21.539 across the 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.119 world who 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.759 still haven't 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:22.919 heard. 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:23.720 I don't 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.480 understand it. 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:24.939 I can't 00:28:24.939 --> 00:28:25.259 get my 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.919 head around 00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.339 it. 00:28:28.419 --> 00:28:29.139 But yet 00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:29.559 I do 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.319 know this 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.819 and I 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.279 understand 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.220 this and 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.579 it is 00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.559 crystal clear 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.700 that God's 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.579 grace continues 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.379 to flow to 00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.039 all kinds 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.500 of people 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.359 in all 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.879 kinds of 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.259 places 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:41.059 across this 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.439 world 00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:42.460 especially 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:44.220 to those 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.679 who have 00:28:44.679 --> 00:28:45.419 rejected his 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:45.700 grace. 00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.279 He does 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.860 not give 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.259 up on 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:47.900 his people. 00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:50.680 And so 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.700 he concludes 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:53.259 verse 33 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:55.019 Oh the 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.560 depth 00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.940 of the 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.380 riches 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.720 of the 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.200 wisdom 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.200 and the 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.640 knowledge 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:01.500 of God. 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:02.920 It's 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.440 amazing 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.100 just to 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:04.660 stand 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.180 back 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:07.240 and see 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.019 how God 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.560 works 00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.779 his salvation 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:11.120 in so 00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:12.000 many places 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.940 and in 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.400 so many 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:13.839 people. 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.079 How 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:17.200 unsearchable 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.539 his 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.059 judgments 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.940 and his 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.400 paths 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:19.819 beyond 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.380 tracing 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:20.779 out. 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:21.839 None 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.259 of us 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:22.680 could 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.200 think up 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.920 this idea 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.619 this plan 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:25.359 of salvation 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.660 this overflow 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.460 of grace. 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.019 None 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.319 of us 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.859 could create 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.460 something as 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.000 wonderful 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.759 and as 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.259 beautiful 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.559 as God's 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.079 grace 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:34.019 towards us 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.740 in his 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.079 son. 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:37.920 Verse 34 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.380 Who 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.380 has known 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.079 the mind 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.539 of the 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:40.859 Lord 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:41.720 or who 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.339 has been 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:42.619 his 00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.399 counsellor? 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:45.220 Did God 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.919 ever come 00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:46.439 along to 00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:47.199 you and 00:29:47.199 --> 00:29:48.220 consult you 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.699 or me 00:29:48.699 --> 00:29:49.159 and ask 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:50.059 how do I 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.539 run the 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:50.919 universe? 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.980 Did God 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.579 ever call 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:53.980 into you 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.379 and ask 00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:55.000 for advice 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.599 about how 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.039 he should 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.559 rule the 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:56.859 world? 00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.939 So why 00:29:59.939 --> 00:30:00.419 would we 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.220 ever think 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.799 that God 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.419 would somehow 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.939 fail in 00:30:03.939 --> 00:30:05.000 his salvation's 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.819 plan or 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.159 that he 00:30:06.159 --> 00:30:06.879 somehow got 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.460 it wrong? 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.480 God 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.460 knows what 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:10.740 he is 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.099 doing. 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.420 Verse 35 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.059 Who 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.620 has ever 00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.180 given to 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:17.059 God that 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.779 God should 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.660 repay him? 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.940 The fact 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.460 that God 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.039 has saved 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.980 anyone 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:24.140 is incredible 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:26.120 and his 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:27.079 grace continues 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:28.480 to overflow. 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.019 Verse 36 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:32.059 For from 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:32.460 him 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.799 and through 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.279 him 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:35.519 and to 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:35.940 him 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.039 are all 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.640 things. 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:39.280 God is 00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:40.000 the source 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.660 of all 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.040 life. 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:42.280 He is 00:30:42.280 --> 00:30:43.280 the sustainer 00:30:43.280 --> 00:30:43.900 of all 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:44.200 life. 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.000 He is 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.860 the saviour 00:30:45.860 --> 00:30:46.620 of all 00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.420 kinds of 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.360 people in 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.400 all kinds 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.160 of places 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.220 and nobody 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.100 is beyond 00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:52.880 his limits. 00:30:53.300 --> 00:30:54.020 Nobody is 00:30:54.020 --> 00:30:54.800 so far 00:30:54.800 --> 00:30:55.380 away, 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.620 especially 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:58.460 those who 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.140 have rejected 00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.900 his grace. 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.220 To 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.680 him 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:05.019 won't 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.060 be the glory 00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:06.480 forever. 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.759 Amen. 00:31:10.060 --> 00:31:11.100 Let's 00:31:11.100 --> 00:31:11.360 pray. 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.740 Let's 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.180 pray. 00:31:13.560 --> 00:31:13.660 Amen. 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:38.779 Just take a moment or two. 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:46.500 Maybe it's to pray for yourself if you have not yet known God's grace in your own life. 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:55.940 Maybe you want to pray for a friend or someone within your family 00:31:55.940 --> 00:32:02.579 who at this moment in time is rejecting or pushing against God's grace. 00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:07.940 Pray for them. 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:10.859 That God would soften their hearts. 00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:12.859 Amen. 00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:14.859 Amen. 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:16.859 Amen. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:18.859 Amen. 00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:20.859 Amen. 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:22.859 Amen. 00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:24.859 Amen. 00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:26.859 Amen. 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.859 Amen. 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.859 Amen. 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.859 Amen. 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:31.859 Amen. 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:33.859 Amen. 00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:34.859 Amen. 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.859 Amen. 00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:38.859 Amen. 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:44.119 Father God, you are God and we are not. 00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:50.539 We have many questions about salvation and about faith. 00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:56.399 Things we just don't understand and things we just can't comprehend. 00:32:58.459 --> 00:33:00.839 But we stand back in amazement. 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:03.699 We stand back trusting you. 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:11.080 And seeing so clearly that your grace continues to overflow. 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:15.740 And we pray that by the power of your Holy Spirit, 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:21.559 your mercy and your kindness would flow to those who we know and love. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:26.319 That they would cry out for forgiveness. 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:29.900 That they would find peace with God. 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:37.519 And that, Father, you would show your grace to us afresh in a deeper way. 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:41.380 So that we become more attractive. 00:33:42.540 --> 00:33:44.759 So that we become more humble. 00:33:46.080 --> 00:33:48.640 And that from the overflow of our lives, 00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:53.000 people would see the goodness and the grace of God. 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:55.940 And come to trust in him. 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:02.079 We ask this for your honour. 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.460 And for your glory alone. 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:05.980 Amen. 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:15.000 We're going to...