WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.620 So Romans 11, I'm starting at verse 11. 00:00:05.620 --> 00:00:09.200 And I'm going to the end, which is verse 36. 00:00:14.339 --> 00:00:15.179 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:41.280 Now, if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:45.640 how much more will their full inclusion mean? 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:49.539 Now, I am speaking to you Gentiles. 00:00:49.539 --> 00:01:00.939 Inasmuch then, as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:03.840 and thus save some of them. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:08.659 For their rejection means the reconciliation of the world. 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:13.719 What will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:19.799 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:24.019 And if the root is holy, so are the branches. 00:01:25.099 --> 00:01:31.000 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:38.060 were grafted in among the others, and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:42.560 do not be arrogant towards the branches. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:50.540 If you are, remember it's not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you. 00:01:51.520 --> 00:01:56.120 Then you will say, branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. 00:01:56.960 --> 00:01:57.859 That is true. 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:01.620 They were broken off because of their unbelief. 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:04.340 But you stand fast through faith. 00:02:05.740 --> 00:02:09.280 So do not become proud, but fear. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:16.180 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 00:02:17.420 --> 00:02:21.219 Note then, the kindness and the severity of God. 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:30.780 Severity towards those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:34.259 Otherwise, you too will be cut off. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:43.020 And even if they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:46.520 For God has the power to graft them in again. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:57.320 For if you are cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:04.760 how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree? 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:14.039 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers. 00:03:14.799 --> 00:03:21.699 A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.819 And in this way, all Israel will be saved as it is written, 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:45.060 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:51.340 But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:55.919 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:04:04.579 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God, but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:14.279 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you, 00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:18.180 they may also now receive mercy. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:25.759 For God has consigned all to disobedience that he may have mercy on all. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:32.640 O the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:39.939 How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:44.540 For who has known the mind of the Lord? 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:48.860 Or who has been his counsellor? 00:04:49.660 --> 00:04:54.420 Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? 00:04:55.899 --> 00:05:02.439 For from him and through him and to him are all things. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:05.019 To him be glory forever. 00:05:05.719 --> 00:05:06.240 Amen. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:14.259 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:05:18.100 --> 00:05:22.040 Wasn't that a hard song to sing with integrity? 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:30.300 You've got to have a very big view of God's goodness to trust him to choose our lot. 00:05:32.400 --> 00:05:34.580 We're going to see his goodness in our passage today. 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:37.460 Will you pray with me as we come to God's word? 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:38.060 Let's pray. 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:52.519 Father, I pray that you would bring us all with a humble spirit under your word. 00:05:53.720 --> 00:06:02.399 I pray that you would make your word clear to us and make your grace, your mercy clear to us. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:05.599 So that we might be praising you like Paul does. 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:06.979 In Jesus' name. 00:06:07.239 --> 00:06:07.560 Amen. 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:14.179 Well, your prior expectations can, as you know, 00:06:14.659 --> 00:06:19.299 expectations can powerfully determine how you interpret something. 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:25.979 Like a teenager going on a family holiday overseas, expecting it to be boring. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:31.560 They often make it boring because they expect it to be. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:38.019 Or a young married couple assuming the model they saw in their own parents' marriage. 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:45.180 Your expectations change how you interpret a situation. 00:06:46.980 --> 00:06:52.740 God's word to us today is God's plans for the descendants of Abraham. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:58.540 So I just want to ask as we start, what are you expecting from God's word today? 00:06:58.540 --> 00:07:04.860 Perhaps you've already decided to tune out because you can't see the relevance. 00:07:06.900 --> 00:07:10.220 I would advise against that, but I'm going to have to convince you. 00:07:10.400 --> 00:07:12.000 Well, God's word will convince you. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:15.640 Perhaps you're curious and you've got your guard up. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:22.259 Just the political strain, even this week, between Australia and Israel. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:28.219 But the thing about the pulpit is I'm not entitled to an opinion. 00:07:31.219 --> 00:07:34.300 I'm constrained to say what God's word says. 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:37.759 I don't have the right to share my opinion with you. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:42.099 So if that's your expectations, I'm going to let you down. 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:43.519 I'm not speaking into that space. 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:50.839 Perhaps you're a bit fearful, expecting this passage to be complex and controversial. 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:52.959 All Israel will be saved. 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:55.659 It will stretch our minds. 00:07:55.660 --> 00:08:02.180 We can take some assurance from 2 Peter 3 that even Peter says of Paul's writings, 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:05.340 there are some things in them that are hard to understand. 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:07.180 Even Peter's saying that. 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:09.160 So we're in good company. 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:13.360 But there really is quite a simple point in this passage. 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:15.760 God hasn't given up on his people. 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:19.540 We've got to look into the details of what that means. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:20.980 But he's not given up on his people. 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:27.759 And us non-Jews, if you're not a Jew, then we should be amazed that we can call ourselves God's people. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.300 It's really quite a simple overall point. 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:40.279 If you're expecting having to defend your view of eschatology, end times, 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:47.340 could we just agree to put our armour down, our defences down? 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:53.120 Because your full belonging in this church and the mutual respect and affection 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:57.600 is not based on our doctrine of end times. 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:02.420 It is entirely based on the gospel of grace alone. 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:05.680 So can we just put our armour down? 00:09:09.780 --> 00:09:13.300 Let's come to this passage expecting to learn something new. 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:17.699 Whether it's the first time or you've studied this in depth, 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:19.699 let's come expecting to learn something new. 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:22.059 And we should expect to end where Paul does. 00:09:22.199 --> 00:09:27.559 If we really get into the mind of Paul here, we should arrive where Paul does. 00:09:29.139 --> 00:09:35.219 He is humbled and his heart is so full of wonder at the mercy of God. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:39.059 You're going to wish that I hurry up and finish the sermon because you just want to sing. 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:45.619 That would be a good expectation in this passage. 00:09:47.699 --> 00:09:53.339 So here's where we're headed to see God's salvation plan. 00:09:53.479 --> 00:10:01.779 In verses 11 to 15, there's a three-stage process in God's salvation plan. 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:08.659 Then in verses 16 to 24, part of that process, looking at the non-Jews, 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:14.939 humbling for us nations that we are grafted into his holy people. 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:20.839 Then we'll look at, in this way, all Israel will be saved. 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:26.319 And like I've already said, we should be finishing where Paul finishes. 00:10:26.539 --> 00:10:29.980 We should be humbled and just praising God's mercy. 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:31.120 So that's where we're headed. 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.120 Please have your Bibles open. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.000 So from verse 11. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:43.879 We saw last week in verses 1 to 10 that within ethnic Israel, there are two groups. 00:10:44.060 --> 00:10:49.379 There's God's chosen, the elect remnant, chosen by his grace. 00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:53.320 And they've put their hope in Jesus and are saved. 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:59.060 And then there's the rest, many who are hardened in their unbelief. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:09.840 It would seem that those hardened who are insensitive to God's message of salvation in Jesus, 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:15.760 who are stumbling over the message, can it really just be by faith? 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:18.040 They're stumbling over that message. 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:22.559 It would seem that they've got no hope for the majority of Israel. 00:11:25.839 --> 00:11:29.599 Verse 11 is asking the question, 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:36.620 has hardened Israel fallen without any hope of recovery? 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:42.440 Like a runner who's tripped over and they've just hit the ground so hard, 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:45.259 they're just permanently out of the race. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:47.519 Have they fallen that hard? 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.399 They've got no hope. 00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:58.419 When I'm saddened by individuals who've turned away from Christ, 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.180 there's a thought that helps me. 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:05.460 It's not necessarily the end of their story. 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:12.820 Not because unbelief for individuals isn't deadly. 00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:13.620 It is. 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:20.480 If Israel remain in unbelief, that's serious. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:27.539 But because God is incredibly patient and he's faithful to his covenant promises, 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:28.539 there is hope. 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:33.960 So in what way is there hope? 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:36.200 Paul immediately says, by no means. 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:38.779 There is hope. 00:12:39.060 --> 00:12:39.759 So in what way? 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:43.519 So here we come to that three-stage process. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.539 Verses 11 to 15. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:51.340 And it's not only in verses 11 to 15. 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:54.600 He's laying down, he's describing the process, 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:58.500 and then the rest of the chapter, we see the process all throughout. 00:12:58.620 --> 00:12:59.120 So here it is. 00:12:59.179 --> 00:12:59.679 Stage one. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.720 Through their trespass. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:04.660 So the majority of Israel rejected their Messiah. 00:13:04.660 --> 00:13:05.540 There's stage one. 00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:08.300 They've not believed. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:17.019 But through that, stage two, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to the nations. 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:21.199 But then there's stage three. 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:34.179 So as to make Israel jealous, where that jealousy prompts repentance and faith in Christ to be saved. 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:40.259 Now please leave to one side, like how many are going to be saved, okay? 00:13:40.359 --> 00:13:42.159 I'm not going to answer the quantity. 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:43.879 We're not coming to that yet. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.219 Just can we focus on the process for a second? 00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:48.219 Verse 12, we've got it again. 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:52.200 Their trespass means riches for the world. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:56.259 Their failure means salvation, riches for the world. 00:13:56.680 --> 00:13:58.019 That's stages one and two. 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:04.139 How much more will their Israel fullness mean? 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.879 There we've got stage three. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.920 Then verse 13 and 14. 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:20.679 Paul's approach to his own ministry, his personal goal, even though he's the apostle to the Gentiles. 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:25.259 Yet Paul always went to the synagogues first. 00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:26.519 He made a priority of that. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:30.399 And we get an example of this in Acts 13 in Antioch. 00:14:30.459 --> 00:14:31.519 He preached in the synagogue. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:32.379 He's rejected. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:33.519 And then he says, 00:14:33.519 --> 00:15:03.019 God's salvation plan is like Stephen Bradbury, 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:04.600 ice skating at the Olympics. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.179 Can you remember that? 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:11.360 In the speed ice skating, he's way behind. 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:20.579 And the three skaters out in front, they wipe each other out so that Bradbury just glides right through to win gold. 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:25.319 If you're a Gentile, that's how you're saved. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:30.360 It's because the Israelites wipe themselves out. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.500 We just get to glide in. 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:47.100 As much as Paul was excited about the nations coming to Christ, 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:53.279 his desire and his expectation was stage three. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.439 So have a look at verse 14. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:05.019 In order, in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous and thus save some of them. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:11.980 He sees this three-stage process even in his own day and age, in his own ministry. 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:17.139 Verse 15, we see it again. 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:20.920 God's rejection of Israel, stage one, because of their unbelief. 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:24.340 Stage two, the reconciliation of the world to God. 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:26.580 But then he expects stage three. 00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:32.320 There, Israel's acceptance by God will mean life from the dead. 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:35.259 Now, that is a puzzling phrase, life from the dead. 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:45.419 Some people think maybe that's tied to when Jesus comes back and we're all raised, life from the dead. 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:46.759 Some people think that. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:50.100 It could just be spiritual resurrection. 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:54.779 When you come to Christ, you are born again. 00:16:55.740 --> 00:17:05.079 He could have Ezekiel 37 in mind, where it's a valley of dry bones and it's the word of God and the spirit of God that brings new life. 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:08.680 It's a puzzling phrase, okay? 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:11.480 But he's expecting it. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.360 He's expecting this process. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:20.220 Paul is saying about Israel's unbelief, it's not the end of the story. 00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:25.340 God's not done with ethnic Israel. 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:27.360 You ain't seen nothing yet. 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.660 He's excited. 00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:32.299 Something is exciting him here. 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:40.299 Now, we see this three-stage process as we continue in the olive tree metaphor. 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:43.779 Natural branches are broken off, stage one. 00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:46.740 Us Gentiles are brought into the people of God. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.619 We're grafted in, stage two. 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:54.960 But then if they don't continue in their unbelief, Israel can be re-grafted in. 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:58.659 So we've got that three-stage process all through here. 00:17:58.659 --> 00:18:01.319 And you go to verses 30 and 32. 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:07.200 It's Israel's disobedience that means us Gentiles can come in. 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:11.159 But then Israel see the mercy given to us Gentiles. 00:18:12.139 --> 00:18:13.879 And then they receive mercy. 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:16.619 So I'm laboring the point, I know. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:22.740 But all throughout this passage, Paul is excited by this three-stage process. 00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:27.159 Now, how does this process of jealousy work? 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:38.360 I'm not sure I've fully got my head around it, but I think the only way for it to work is if Jewish people see something wonderfully different. 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:48.299 They've got to see something in Christians and in churches that makes them stop and think. 00:18:50.939 --> 00:18:52.599 I belong to God's chosen. 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:54.119 It's probably something along these lines. 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:59.839 I belong to God's chosen children from all the families of the earth. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:06.899 But I see in you, Christian and church, a closer relationship with God of my scriptures than I have. 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:08.299 What is going on? 00:19:09.939 --> 00:19:12.279 And the difference, you just believe in Jesus. 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.720 It's got to be something like that. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:23.539 On the website, Jews for Jesus, there's the story of Jenny Sue Vertheim. 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:26.519 Here's part of what she writes. 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.839 I'll tell you a lot of her story, but there's even more to it. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:38.660 She says, as a child in the synagogue, the rabbi spoke mostly about how Jews should fulfill the law and do what is right. 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:44.360 And he chided the congregation for not doing what they should do to honor God. 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:46.779 And I felt that he was pointing the finger at me. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:53.159 She asked her dad one time, why do people fast on Yom Kippur? 00:19:54.459 --> 00:19:57.099 We fast for forgiveness of sins, he told me. 00:19:57.740 --> 00:20:01.240 And I remember asking, when you fast, do you know that God has forgiven you? 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:08.119 My dad looked at me and with a sad smile said, I really hope that he has. 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:13.319 And I wondered, if dad doesn't know, how will I ever know? 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:16.919 But I try not to think about it too much. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:24.740 In my freshman year of high school, my friend Karen, who wasn't Jewish, watched her parents go through a bitter divorce. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:27.719 And she was devastated at first. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:31.039 But I began to notice some differences in Karen. 00:20:31.179 --> 00:20:33.139 She seemed peaceful, even joyful. 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:39.500 I saw that she was carrying a Bible with her school books and reading it in between classes. 00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:44.759 I asked her what was going on and she said, well, I'm a Christian. 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.040 Now I'm a Christian. 00:20:46.340 --> 00:20:50.340 I told her that was fine, but I'm Jewish and Jews don't believe in Jesus. 00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:52.800 And she looked at me and said, I don't see why not. 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:55.780 She opened her Bible to Isaiah 53. 00:20:55.779 --> 00:21:00.399 She handed it to me and said, this is one of the promises from your Bible. 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:05.539 I was stunned, angry and unsettled. 00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:11.920 Karen and I remained friends, even though we disagreed. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:16.680 Whenever I mentioned a particular problem, she prayed for me. 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:22.140 She suggested that I read the New Testament for myself. 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:25.680 And as I read, everything Jesus said and did seemed so Jewish. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.640 He was loving and compassionate and he did things only God could do. 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:32.620 And then this memory came to her. 00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:41.220 A local boy, Tommy, out of racism, once made her brother's nose bleed. 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:46.559 And she said, I ran to Stuart's room, grabbed his baseball bat and ran downstairs. 00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:54.279 Tommy was standing in front of our house and I was so furious and full of hatred that I wanted to beat him with a bat until he was dead. 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:58.940 And once it hit me, I was a sinner. 00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:07.559 I'd wanted to murder Tommy and I realised that I truly did need Yeshua's forgiveness. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:11.619 Because my hatred had offended a holy God. 00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:19.440 I asked Yeshua, Jesus, to take my sin away and I acknowledged him as my Messiah and Lord. 00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:25.099 I felt a remarkable sense of peace, like a warm blanket covering me. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:29.960 And the uncertainty I had as a child about whether God forgave me was gone. 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:40.440 That jealousy brought her to repentance and faith. 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:58.000 Well, in verse 16 to 24, Paul is speaking to non-Jews. 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:03.019 Throughout this passage, notice the you language. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:03.960 You. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:10.620 We're talking about Israel, but if you're not a Jew, it's non-Jews who need to hear this. 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:15.840 The pastoral issue in the Roman church was pride. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:27.319 He uses the metaphor of a cared for, a cultivated olive tree to address that pride and saying, 00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:30.079 remember the roots of your salvation. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:35.619 Verse 16, he lays the principle down. 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:43.579 He gives a quick metaphor of offering the first part of a dough of your harvest. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:46.279 It has a knock-on effect to the rest of your harvest. 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:49.899 If it's holy to God, that impacts the whole thing. 00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:52.220 But he sticks with the olive tree metaphor. 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:58.299 And I think that's a picture of who are God's people, who are God's covenant people. 00:23:58.299 --> 00:24:08.319 And we saw earlier in our time in Genesis this year that God's salvation plan for the world centers on Abraham and his promises. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:15.299 So I think the root here is the promises to Abraham, the promises to the patriarchs. 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:30.740 The natural branches, his physical descendants, they are holy if they remain connected to those promises by sharing the faith of Abraham. 00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:38.639 Otherwise, because they rejected Jesus and didn't have faith in the fulfillment of those promises, they've been broken off. 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:50.100 But don't for a minute start thinking that God then looked around the world and saw you and thought, 00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:53.460 hmm, that would be someone great to have on my team. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.560 Look at their potential. 00:24:58.460 --> 00:25:00.400 We're a wild olive shoot. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:04.100 Don't picture something special here. 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.720 Picture this. 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:10.340 Picture a small, scraggly bush that produces nothing useful. 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:14.280 You want to just put it in the green bin. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.200 We're a weed. 00:25:19.040 --> 00:25:21.100 I think you say, we were weeds. 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:36.679 By God's mercy alone, he took me a weed and made an incision in the tree, grafted me in to his covenant promises to Abraham by faith in Jesus. 00:25:41.199 --> 00:25:42.740 So remember your roots. 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:52.200 There is a danger if you've been in the church for a long time and you feel quite comfortable in the church. 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:55.160 You can start to think, God needs me. 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:59.140 No, he doesn't. 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:02.620 We have the privilege of serving him. 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:07.279 This ministry needs me. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.279 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:16.420 It does our faith a world of good to remember. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:18.480 I was once a weed. 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:22.660 It's not that I support the word of God. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.599 It's not that I support the church. 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:26.180 It's the other way around. 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.779 It's the church. 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:31.599 It's the word of God that nourishes our faith. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:41.799 He moves on to another potential attitude in verse 19. 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:47.200 Well, those natural branches are broken off so that I might be grafted in. 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:48.700 And he's saying, yes, that's true. 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:50.899 That is God's salvation plan. 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:59.180 But don't for the second think that that was a comparison thing, that we're somehow more special. 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:10.759 How we speak of Israel's failures in the Old Testament and the Pharisees in Jesus' day, 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:14.420 we can speak about the Pharisees' attitude. 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:21.380 I think we've got to be careful of a feeling of superiority that I would never think that way. 00:27:22.340 --> 00:27:23.620 I would never do that. 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:31.719 There can be a prideful attitude that we're not like them. 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.739 That's dangerous. 00:27:35.439 --> 00:27:36.839 It's really dangerous. 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:43.959 Because it's that prideful attitude that led those natural branches to unbelief and being broken off. 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:48.899 What keeps us in the tree is faith. 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:54.439 Not some prideful comparison that I'm more deserving than that person. 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:57.699 It's just faith alone that you stand firm. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:10.600 So verse 22, note then the kindness and the severity of God. 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:21.860 Severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:28.559 That word, and is really important. 00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:41.219 God's people will hear this warning and will keep repenting of our prideful attitude. 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:44.679 I think my default is to keep going back to pride. 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:49.599 And God's word and his warning humbles us afresh. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:54.980 God wants us to keep us in his kindness. 00:28:55.259 --> 00:29:00.879 And one way he does that is to shake us up, going, you're getting proud again. 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.019 Come back. 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.099 Stay in my kindness. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:12.879 Now, if you're conscious of your failings this morning and you're hearing this feeling dread, 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:18.500 the warning's not to you because you're conscious that you need grace. 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:24.220 The warning is if you're getting a bit proud. 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:30.500 A sense of entitlement that I deserve God's love. 00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:34.320 I'm pretty special in this church. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:37.440 The warning's for the proud. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:52.180 So why is it good for our faith to not simply focus on God's abundant, unlimited generosity, 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:54.080 even when we don't deserve it? 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:59.059 Why do we need to think of his severity as well? 00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:07.539 Well, I think something has helped me this week is to remember the parable of the unmerciful servant. 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:16.480 The servant, as you remember, owed the king an enormous mountain of debt he could not pay. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:20.220 The king had every right to be severe. 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:22.159 Pay me what you owe. 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.879 But he didn't. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.639 The king bore it himself. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:32.940 He bore the cost and gave mercy to that servant. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:39.480 But then that servant went to someone who owed him 50 bucks and choked him and said, 00:30:39.600 --> 00:30:40.500 pay me what you owe. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:50.680 When the king hears about this, he throws him in prison until he pays what he owes. 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:56.539 Severity doesn't mean God is mean. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:00.539 It's just what I deserve to receive. 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:11.820 To remember God's severity keeps us from being casual or flippant about what he's given us. 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:19.179 We should be continually amazed at the riches of his mercy and forgiveness to us. 00:31:25.179 --> 00:31:27.619 And we shouldn't put limits on his kindness. 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:36.699 He is ready to graft those natural branches who are broken off. 00:31:37.919 --> 00:31:43.379 If they turn and believe, he's ready and how easily he can do it. 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:47.319 So we've got to keep those. 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:50.839 God's severity and his kindness. 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:55.839 We understand his kindness in light of his severity. 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:05.839 Well, that keeps us non-Jewish people humble and remember the privilege. 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.879 We are the people of God now. 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:11.720 And he wants us to remain in his kindness. 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:18.059 Well, coming then to verse 25 to 27. 00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:21.680 All Israel will be saved. 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:24.220 Can we just agree it's pretty straightforward? 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:29.420 Shall we just skip these verses and everyone okay with that? 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.680 Poor attempt at a joke. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.700 All right, verse 28 to 29. 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:44.420 Just for context, as regards the gospel, they, Israel, are enemies for your sake. 00:32:44.580 --> 00:32:49.080 But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:53.500 The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. 00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:59.000 Some take this as election to salvation. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:03.180 But they're enemies of the gospel. 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:05.759 If they're enemies of the gospel, they're enemies of God. 00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:13.620 This is just saying they are the chosen family of Abraham. 00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:19.360 The context, the natural branches have been broken off. 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:25.420 They're outside of salvation, despite being ethnically Jewish. 00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:29.200 Chapter 11, verse 7. 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:36.740 Listen, Israel failed to obtain a right relationship with God by works of the law. 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:39.440 Only the elect obtained it. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:43.960 All of chapter 9 has given evidence since chapter 9, verse 6. 00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:52.460 Not all who are descended from Israel belong to God's Israel, God's saved people. 00:33:53.580 --> 00:33:56.420 We've got the vital links in chapter 10 that we looked at. 00:33:56.420 --> 00:34:01.779 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:06.300 You can't be saved unless you call on Jesus. 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:11.940 There are not two ways to be saved. 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:17.039 Believing the gospel or being ethnically descended from Abraham. 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:19.099 It can't mean that. 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.900 It can't. 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:25.139 So that leaves us with three main options for verse 26. 00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:30.240 What does it mean in this way all Israel will be saved? 00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:33.840 Let me just lay out the options and then we'll go through some of the details. 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:41.579 Option 1, does all Israel in verse 26 mean spiritual Israel? 00:34:41.700 --> 00:34:45.519 Kind of like what we've seen in the tree, that it's made up of Jews and Gentiles. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:51.079 So is Israel just God's people? 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:53.039 Gentiles included. 00:34:54.880 --> 00:35:03.559 Option 2 is near the end of history there's going to be a mass revival of ethnic Jews putting their trust in Jesus. 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:20.279 Option 3 is over the course of history God has his remnant, the elect that he's going to bring in every generation and the full number will come in. 00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:25.680 So is all Israel the church, Jews and Gentiles? 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:27.600 Is all Israel a mass revival? 00:35:28.060 --> 00:35:31.980 Or is all Israel all the remnant has come in? 00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:39.280 Now these few words, they're so debated. 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:53.960 I don't understand why people get in such a huff about this. 00:35:53.960 --> 00:36:11.960 It would go against the thrust of this passage, which is saying be humble to not be humble based on this issue. 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:17.740 Here's why I don't understand why we get in a huff about it. 00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:22.300 Because all three positions say that you need faith in Jesus to be saved. 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:25.480 We all believe that's absolutely necessary. 00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:32.120 We all believe ethnic Jews will make up a significant number of God's people. 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:34.360 It will be saved. 00:36:34.680 --> 00:36:38.900 We all believe that God continues to offer salvation to Jews. 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:47.860 Now if there is a mass revival of ethnic Jews one day, there will not be a single person folding their arms going, 00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:52.280 We're going to be cheering, aren't we? 00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:58.280 Even if you're not convicted, that's what the passage is saying. 00:36:58.360 --> 00:37:00.300 We're all going to be cheering if that's the case. 00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:03.060 We'll be praising God's mercy. 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:10.120 So I just don't understand why some people get uptight. 00:37:10.720 --> 00:37:12.400 Anyway, I've got to be careful with my language. 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:13.300 That's not in my script. 00:37:13.300 --> 00:37:28.380 If someone thinks this passage means we should all be committed to the revival of Israel, 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:35.920 I think heat comes into this debate if someone makes the next step of mixing politics into this. 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:46.880 Because if we took that three-stage process seriously, that it's jealousy that provokes Israel to be saved. 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:54.660 I don't think the way you demonstrate believing this passage is political backing. 00:37:55.240 --> 00:37:57.180 You should become a missionary to Gaza. 00:37:58.539 --> 00:38:03.640 Save by preaching the gospel as many Palestinians as you can. 00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:07.780 And Israel will look over the border and get jealous and get saved. 00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:17.820 I don't think any of us should be dogmatic. 00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:20.760 These verses are really hard to understand. 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.620 I'm going to need to be brief here. 00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:26.600 So I'm going to straw man the arguments, okay? 00:38:26.760 --> 00:38:28.280 I am. 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:29.380 I'm really sorry. 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:35.080 But let's look at a few of the details and then I'm going to bring it all together. 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:38.000 The term mystery. 00:38:38.380 --> 00:38:42.159 Mystery sounds like a divine prophecy of the future. 00:38:42.679 --> 00:38:52.719 But other uses of mystery in the New Testament and at the end of Romans in chapter 16 is the mystery of the gospel. 00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:57.039 So what was hidden in the Old Testament is now revealed in the gospel. 00:38:57.920 --> 00:39:00.039 So it could be future prophecy. 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:04.460 But more often it's about the gospel has revealed. 00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:13.960 So Augustine talks about the Old Testament as a fully furnished room but it was dark. 00:39:14.319 --> 00:39:17.559 Everything was there but it was just hard to see it. 00:39:17.799 --> 00:39:21.900 But then Jesus comes and the light, he switches the light on. 00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:22.739 We can see it. 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.920 That's what mystery is about. 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:27.980 It's more about what was hidden in the Old Testament. 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:31.159 It was there but it was shadowy. 00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:32.739 But now it's revealed. 00:39:32.739 --> 00:39:37.000 So that's the main use of mystery. 00:39:39.399 --> 00:39:43.599 In verse 25 we get stages 1 and 2 again. 00:39:44.859 --> 00:39:49.679 A partial hardening has come upon ethnic Israel. 00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:54.759 But is that partial the number of people? 00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:57.519 So not all Israelites are hardened. 00:39:57.819 --> 00:39:58.980 There is a remnant. 00:39:59.139 --> 00:40:00.559 There is an elect part. 00:40:01.759 --> 00:40:04.059 Or is it partial in a time sense? 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:08.000 It's going to be hardened for a while but then one day that's going to change. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:12.159 That's hard to work out. 00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:17.659 Until the fullness of the Gentiles have come in. 00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:24.579 The fullness of the Gentiles, I haven't heard anyone who disagrees with this yet. 00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:31.079 I think we all interpret that as the full number of the elect Gentiles. 00:40:31.179 --> 00:40:32.699 The full number of those who believe. 00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:35.039 It's not every single person. 00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:37.299 That would be... 00:40:37.299 --> 00:40:39.480 I haven't heard anyone who disagrees with that. 00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:43.420 So it's the same word there as back in verse 12. 00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:46.420 So ESV translates it full inclusion. 00:40:47.380 --> 00:40:48.880 But you've probably got a footnote there. 00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:49.860 It's fullness. 00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:53.360 So Israel's fullness, Gentiles' fullness. 00:40:55.539 --> 00:40:59.920 I think there's good reason to interpret that as the same. 00:41:00.139 --> 00:41:01.820 The full number of the elect. 00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:05.500 Then you've got until. 00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:08.659 That does seem like... 00:41:08.659 --> 00:41:10.200 It is a time reference, isn't it? 00:41:10.380 --> 00:41:10.780 Until. 00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:11.019 Until. 00:41:12.720 --> 00:41:16.019 Now it sounds like something's going to happen after that until. 00:41:16.519 --> 00:41:17.220 And maybe it is. 00:41:18.280 --> 00:41:22.420 But you've also got examples in the New Testament of like 1 Corinthians 11. 00:41:22.940 --> 00:41:27.900 When we share the Lord's Supper, we're proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes. 00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:31.420 That until has nothing... 00:41:31.420 --> 00:41:33.740 It's not saying something's going to happen after that. 00:41:34.500 --> 00:41:38.400 It's just talking about what we're doing until the end of history. 00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:42.639 So again, it's really hard to decide. 00:41:43.639 --> 00:41:49.160 Is this partial hardening happening until the end? 00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:53.440 Or is something going to happen after that? 00:41:54.039 --> 00:41:54.639 It's really... 00:41:54.639 --> 00:41:55.720 It's hard to decide. 00:41:55.719 --> 00:42:06.480 So will stage 3 of Israelites provoke to jealousy come to faith in a mass revival after the Gentiles have come in? 00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:13.919 Or is stage 3, Jews becoming jealous and coming in, is that happening all the time? 00:42:14.459 --> 00:42:16.139 Right up until the end of history. 00:42:16.139 --> 00:42:22.819 Paul, at least, thought it's happening in his day. 00:42:23.799 --> 00:42:25.000 He wanted to provoke. 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:31.340 You got the quotes from Isaiah there. 00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:35.159 They definitely speak about a wonderful restoration of God's people. 00:42:36.519 --> 00:42:38.239 But the surrounding... 00:42:38.239 --> 00:42:45.900 Again, it's tricky because the surrounding context in Isaiah, there is judgment for the injustice done within Israel. 00:42:45.900 --> 00:42:51.780 It also includes, in those contexts, the Gentiles coming in. 00:42:53.160 --> 00:42:55.019 The deliverer is Christ. 00:42:55.260 --> 00:42:56.579 We all agree on that. 00:42:56.920 --> 00:42:59.660 But is his coming, the deliverer will come. 00:43:00.740 --> 00:43:03.380 Is that his first coming or his second coming? 00:43:03.380 --> 00:43:10.940 Will he one day take away sins? 00:43:12.380 --> 00:43:20.780 Or is he already getting rid of ungodliness, taking away sins in the new covenant to the Jews who believe? 00:43:23.380 --> 00:43:28.380 I'm guessing I'm provoking about a thousand more questions than providing answers here. 00:43:29.500 --> 00:43:30.780 Partly that's my point. 00:43:30.780 --> 00:43:34.240 Let's be humble as we sit under God's word. 00:43:34.780 --> 00:43:36.500 Then we've got in this way. 00:43:36.940 --> 00:43:38.640 So verse 26, in this way. 00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:42.140 I think that's best understood in this manner. 00:43:43.740 --> 00:43:45.880 All Israel will be saved. 00:43:46.680 --> 00:43:47.220 What manner? 00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:49.740 What we've been looking at. 00:43:49.860 --> 00:43:52.280 The three-stage process since verse 11. 00:43:53.920 --> 00:43:57.140 The mystery that was in the Old Testament. 00:43:57.139 --> 00:44:00.799 We've got a quote in chapter 10, verse 19 from Moses. 00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:04.679 So Moses even spoke about this process of jealousy. 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:08.119 That's the mystery. 00:44:08.799 --> 00:44:09.859 I think that's the mystery. 00:44:09.860 --> 00:44:21.500 Jews were not expecting God to be so lavish and free to the Gentiles to bring them in. 00:44:21.920 --> 00:44:22.620 But it was there. 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:32.640 And who would have ever thought that Israelites would be saved by depending on Gentiles? 00:44:32.639 --> 00:44:34.799 No one was expecting that. 00:44:36.239 --> 00:44:40.679 So I think the mystery there is this three-stage process. 00:44:41.679 --> 00:44:45.679 You can probably see where I'm at based off my comments. 00:44:45.819 --> 00:44:47.239 But just to bring it all together. 00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:48.599 And here's where I'm personally at. 00:44:49.099 --> 00:44:53.940 And I think I don't know where my fellow elders are at since Tuesday night. 00:44:53.940 --> 00:44:56.800 But there's disagreement even in the elders, okay? 00:44:56.900 --> 00:44:58.920 So let's keep talking over morning tea. 00:44:59.400 --> 00:45:00.400 This is just where I'm at. 00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:03.220 Like, I've got to have an opinion by... 00:45:03.220 --> 00:45:03.559 Oh, wow. 00:45:03.619 --> 00:45:04.200 It's past 11. 00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:04.500 Sorry. 00:45:04.639 --> 00:45:05.200 Stay with me. 00:45:06.840 --> 00:45:15.139 I struggle to accept that Israel in verse 26 means something different to verse 25. 00:45:15.380 --> 00:45:17.880 I think it is talking about ethnic Israel. 00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:27.539 And to say that Gentiles make up God's true Israel, I don't think answers the question of verse 11. 00:45:28.220 --> 00:45:29.160 Has he given up? 00:45:29.260 --> 00:45:30.180 Is there any hope? 00:45:31.960 --> 00:45:35.579 I don't see that as a satisfying answer to the question. 00:45:36.440 --> 00:45:39.539 Now, I'm excited by the idea of a mass revival. 00:45:41.400 --> 00:45:42.760 I hope there is. 00:45:42.760 --> 00:45:55.120 But in chapter 9, Paul was at pains to show that God's promise to Abraham was not based off ethnic identity. 00:45:56.040 --> 00:45:59.200 Not all Israel will be saved. 00:45:59.340 --> 00:46:01.400 He was at pains to show us that. 00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:05.400 It's those chosen within Israel. 00:46:05.400 --> 00:46:15.720 It would be a little strange for him then to go, oh, by the way, based off ethnic identity, I am going to save it all. 00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:18.519 There's just a bit of inconsistency, I think. 00:46:21.220 --> 00:46:26.380 I think Paul seems to be saying Israel's hardening is only in part. 00:46:26.840 --> 00:46:27.980 It is not total. 00:46:28.099 --> 00:46:29.019 It's not permanent. 00:46:29.019 --> 00:46:37.900 He's excited that generation after generation, his fellow Jews are going to, the elect are going to come in. 00:46:38.000 --> 00:46:39.880 They're going to come in and come in and come in. 00:46:40.159 --> 00:46:42.000 And the full number are going to be in. 00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:44.340 And he's excited by that prospect. 00:46:48.539 --> 00:46:51.780 I think that view pushes us to gospel witness now. 00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:56.539 It's another reason I think it's a good view to hold. 00:46:56.539 --> 00:46:59.380 But if you disagree with me, let's talk over morning tea. 00:47:03.119 --> 00:47:08.219 Verses 28 to 32 give the theological reason for this three-stage process. 00:47:10.440 --> 00:47:16.880 So what good is it for us today to understand that this is God's process of salvation to the world? 00:47:19.480 --> 00:47:26.239 I don't think it's to try and interpret the times and seasons we're in. 00:47:26.539 --> 00:47:27.539 In history. 00:47:28.539 --> 00:47:30.440 We're meant to go where Paul goes. 00:47:31.460 --> 00:47:38.300 He's humbled and he's just in awe of God's mercy to him and to the world. 00:47:40.300 --> 00:47:46.440 In these verses, notice there's a surprising interdependence that humbles everyone. 00:47:46.440 --> 00:47:52.159 So us nations before Christ, we were disobedient. 00:47:53.200 --> 00:47:54.960 Without God, we had no hope. 00:47:56.579 --> 00:48:05.559 But the gospel coming to us depends, like the Bradbury, it depends on Israel disobeying. 00:48:05.559 --> 00:48:17.019 That simply by faith in the cross, we weeds might now be called sons of the living God. 00:48:17.019 --> 00:48:32.059 And then who'd have ever imagined that Israel would then in a strange way depend on unchosen, unclean, unfit nations for their salvation? 00:48:32.059 --> 00:48:42.679 When they see the mercy given to the nations and then they're humbled, they get jealous and they come to faith. 00:48:44.380 --> 00:48:49.000 They realise it's not salvation by works, it's salvation by faith. 00:48:51.299 --> 00:48:52.779 Now why is God doing this? 00:48:52.880 --> 00:48:53.960 Why has he done it this way? 00:48:53.960 --> 00:49:23.940 Why is God doing this? 00:49:23.940 --> 00:49:53.920 Why is God doing this? 00:49:53.940 --> 00:49:58.840 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. 00:49:59.220 --> 00:50:03.539 How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. 00:50:04.119 --> 00:50:06.340 For who has known the mind of the Lord? 00:50:06.980 --> 00:50:08.860 Or who has been his counsellor? 00:50:09.619 --> 00:50:13.320 Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? 00:50:13.320 --> 00:50:19.559 For from him and through him and to him are all things. 00:50:19.700 --> 00:50:22.320 To him be glory forever. 00:50:23.539 --> 00:50:24.059 Amen. 00:50:24.059 --> 00:50:30.400 Well, may we all be praising his mercy afresh to us. 00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:31.440 Will you pray with me? 00:50:31.659 --> 00:50:32.039 Let's pray. 00:50:32.039 --> 00:51:02.019 Father, we confess that there's something in our minds and hearts that wants to hang on to some sort of merit that you saw in us potential or something about us that means we deserve it. 00:51:02.039 --> 00:51:03.039 Father, I pray that you would help us. 00:51:03.039 --> 00:51:08.320 Father, I pray that you would help us see that we owe our salvation. 00:51:08.519 --> 00:51:09.300 We owe everything. 00:51:09.460 --> 00:51:10.579 We owe every breath. 00:51:10.579 --> 00:51:16.599 We owe belonging to your people totally to your mercy. 00:51:17.739 --> 00:51:26.559 Father, I pray that we would praise your mercy so that we would be people of mercy and be a light in this world. 00:51:26.679 --> 00:51:31.079 That we would be a church that is characterised by mercy through and through. 00:51:31.639 --> 00:51:32.920 For your glory, I pray. 00:51:32.920 --> 00:51:33.880 Amen. 00:51:33.880 --> 00:51:33.960 Amen.