Title: The Sweet Surrender unto Sovereignty, Part Two
Last week we looked at the first part of the closing passage of Chapter 11 of Romans, which I am calling Paul’s Sweet Surrender unto Sovereignty. I argued last week that the first step a believer takes to understand and submit to God’s sovereignty is to realize how great God is.
Last week we looked at the pitfalls and consequences of worshiping a God that is not Biblical, a God that is indeed much smaller than the reality of who God is. We also talked about a sense of urgency each believer should have to worship God rightly, and that can only begin when our view of God himself is right.
Today, we will continue the discussion with this question: What causes Paul to speak so passionately about God? In verse 33, which we looked at last week, we see some of the most emotional language used by Paul as he says, “How unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out!”
Today I want to dig deeper in what would cause Paul to make such exclamations.
I. To whom does God owe?
(Read vv. 34-25)
The quotation that Paul offers as reason for his astonishment at God is from Isaiah 40:13, and two passages in Job: Job 36:22 and 41:11.
The point of Paul’s citation of the O.T. is clear: Paul asks two questions:
1. “Does God need to turn to anyone for advice?”
Now this may seem elementary, but consider your attitude when you pray. How often to you feel the need to “suggest” to God what might be a great way for the particular situation to be handled?
Also, this works another way. We often demand that God explain himself to us after He has allowed something to happen that we are not comfortable with. Again, as if our counsel is needed for him to consider.
2. “Who gave to God before God gave to them?”
Has anyone, in recorded history, reached out to God before God reached out to them? Of course not, but again, we fall into a subtle trap here as well. “Lord, you called me into missions and I have faithfully served you, so you owe me this request.”
We are not bartering with our wives here. This is not, “Honey I did the dishes for a month, please let me buy that new pickup truck.”
God owes no man, no being, no government, no nation, anything. That he gives at all is an expression entirely of his grace. Yet humanity lives with an air of entitlement…and Americans, are we not the most guilty of all concerting an air of entitlement.
We think we built this nation. We think we build our homes. We think we brush our teeth. We do nothing outside the auspices of God will and his grace.
III. All things for the King of Glory
(read v. 36)
Paul closes chapter 11 with some of the most eloquent and quoted of his words. Yet these words are so much more than merely poetic in nature. For in this one sentence Paul literally shares with us the meaning of life. And not just that, but he outlines how Christ is literally at the center of the universe.
A. “Of him…”
This is a reference to God’s sovereign will. Paul says literally “all things are of Him.” We must attribute all things are either acts of God’s effective will (like salvation) or acts allowed to exist under his permissive will (like sin.)
If we profess this, and really believe this, we are on our way to knowing God.
B. “Through him…”
This is a reference to God’s sovereign activity, or action. When people’s hearts change, it’s because God’s hand moved upon them. All things that are good, are only good, if they pass through Christ. Anything done outside of Christ is worthless to God.
The simplest way to explain this to the lost (many of whom are regular church attenders) is this: you cannot do enough good to earn favor with God. All of your life’s good, is obliterated by even the smallest sin. God’s grace is the only path to His favor. And Christ is the only path to that grace.
C. “To Him…”
This is a reference to God’s sovereign glory. All things are to him. If anyone asks you what the meaning of life is, you can look them dead in the eye and say, “All things are to Christ Jesus.”
Everything, whether good or evil, every action, whether holy or an abomination, bring glory to the throne of God, whether that is their intention or not. People will say, “How can something evil bring glory to God?” Let me be more specific, “How can a child rapist bring Glory to God?”
This is not a difficult question. The answer is, God will be glorified in perfection when his perfect justice is administered upon that situation.
“And what if that child rapist repents and is saved?”
God then will be glorified in his perfection when his perfect grace is administered upon that situation.
Everything that has ever, or will ever exist, has done so to bring Glory to God.
You will bring glory to God.
Either by submission to his grace, or submission to his justice.
Which way are you going to bring glory to God?