Peter Barnes | Romans 11:30-32
SERMON NOTES
DISOBEDIENCE AND MERCY
(Romans 11:30-32)
– this is a summary of vv.11-29.
1. Israel’s disobedience has meant mercy for the Gentiles.
– 11:30; the Gentiles were far from God (Eph.2:12), but God used Israel’s failure to reach them (Rom.11:11, 12, 15, 28; see Acts 13 & 18)
– separated by distance, language, culture, pride, prejudice, and what they saw as strange Jewish customs (e.g. circumcision, food laws)
2. Mercy for the Gentiles will mean mercy for the Jews.
– 11:31; one day the Jews will see what they have missed, and embrace Christ
3. Only God’s mercy can save.
– 11:32; like Gal.3:22
– In 1796 George Hamilton told the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland that ‘Men must be polished and refined in their manners before they can be properly enlightened in religious truth.’ That is contrary to what Paul says and is to deny the power of the gospel.
– Calvin: ‘that all merit may be buried, and salvation depend on His goodness alone.’