I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
The Deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.
Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.
Romans 11:25-32
“The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.” This is the LORD’s declaration. “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your children’s children, from now on and forever,” says the LORD.
Isaiah 59:20-21
Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36
How would you define conceit, boastful, or arrogant? Where do you see these characteristics evident in our culture? How do conceit, boastfulness, and arrogance manifest in your own life?
In Romans 11:25 Paul says, “I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery.” What is the mystery he is referring to? How does our understanding of the truth of the Gospel of grace (that’s the mystery!) help us to avoid becoming conceited?
Romans 11:32 says, “God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that He may have mercy on all.” In what ways have you experienced the “prison” of disobedience? How have you also experienced God’s mercy as a result?
Read Romans 11:33-36. What encouragement do you find in these verses? What truth do you want to remember? Is there any part that you find difficult to believe?
Spend some time in prayerful thankfulness for God’s mercy in your lives.
