Romans 11:25-36 Preview

There is much to be said about our text for next Tuesday's study, especially in light of the current Israel / Hezbollah (Lebanon) war. But the off-week preview will be a little different this time. Here is the text we will study, Romans 11:25-36:

25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins." 28As far as the Gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29for God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. 30Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 32For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all. 33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! 34"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?" 35"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

Our preview this week will be an excerpt from Dr. J.M. Boice's "What Ever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?" The excerpt (15 pages in the book / 8 or 9 pages printed out) is a quick read. You can read it on your computer screen if you'd prefer. It is an analysis of Romans 11:36, which gives us great reason to have a Christian, or Biblical, worldview and thereby give glory to God. That happens to be the theme of Romans 12-16, so it is appropriate for our study. See you next Tuesday.

Click here to open the excerpt in .pdf format. It will open in a new window, and you can save, print, or read it from there.