The Kindness & Severity of God

September 11, 2024

Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, September 8, 2024.

Sermon text: Romans 11:1-24


This week Paul opens with a question and answer that has been repeated in previous chapters. Has God rejected Israel? And Paul, again says, "By no means." And he gives 4 reasons for how God has not rejected Israel:

  • Paul says, "I am an Israelite."
  • God has determined ahead of time to draw Jews to Himself.
  • Elijah wasn't the only one left who believed in God.
  • There is a remnant chosen by grace.


He goes on to explain that Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking (a right standing with God), because they were seeking it wrongly (good works while rejecting Jesus). And the result is explained with verses from Isaiah and Deuteronomy... "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day... let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see , and bend their back forever." 


So there is not a hopelessness, but there is a failure, and it is a failure that comes with consequences. When you put all of that together you see a fitting retribution (punishment inflicted as vengeance) where those who have rejected Christ are given what they want, and the result is stupor, darkness, and heavy burdens that bend their backs forever.


1.) Freedom sought apart from Christ is slavery. 

Paul is highlighting failure. God's Word has not failed. But you know who has failed? Israel. In rejecting righteousness from Christ and seeking to establish their own, they failed. And they were hardened, and made foolish, and burdened by the very thing they put above God. 

So we have some in Israel that have failed, and some that have obtained a right standing with God through Jesus. And in verse 11, Paul introduces another question... "Did they stumble in order that they might fall?" The thing that they want has become a stumbling block. It has caused them to stumble. And Paul is asking, "Is this final? Is the stumbling so that they would actually fall and not recover? Are they both down and out?" And it is interesting, because his answer as you might guess is, "By no means!" But then he reveals a process and strategy that seems to pull the curtain back a bit and say, "Look at what God is doing!" We are talking about world-wide scale Gospel movement... the opening of a way for every nation to come to God... those who were strangers to the covenants and promises are now made heirs... 

"Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous." 

Keller: "This is fascinating. Paul means that, though many Jews believed, there was a lot of hostility to Christianity among the majority of Israel. If this had not happened, the early Jewish Christians could have easily concluded that the gospel was only for ethnic Israel; and there would have been little impetus to preach the gospel to anyone else. "

Israel's large scale rejection of the Gospel is the the thing that kept the Gospel from being only offered to ethnic Israel. It diversified and decentralized the Gospel. By making themselves unavailable to Christ, Christ was made available to us... accessible to us... And as we begin to live in the fulfillment of God's promises as His children, there will be ethnic Israelites looking on from the outside, and very real people will have very real feelings in their very real hearts... and aching... a longing... a jealousy. 

v.12 "Now if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean?" 

What the heck is this "full inclusion"? At the very least it seems to be opposite of failure. There is something that happens in the jealousy that leads to something that means more than their failure. The riches for the Gentiles in Christ is no small amount of riches! We are talking "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms". This full inclusion of ethnic Israelites will somehow mean more? 

To clarify, he turns his attention directly to the Gentile believers in the Roman church in verses 13-15. [Read Aloud] 

  • Jewish jealousy will lead to Jewish salvation for some
  • Their rejection = reconciliation of the world
  • Their acceptance = life from the dead

So in the same way that Gentiles, who were dead in their trespasses and sins, could be given life from the dead, so too those ethnic Israelites who were dead in their trespasses and sins, would be given life from the dead. Why is that a bigger deal? Because not all of those who were down and out were really down and out!


2.) Grace replaces hopelessness.

When it comes to the salvation of others, God's people do not entertain hopelessness. Whether it is your own children, a wayward family member or friend, or an unreached remote tribe, we do not operate according to hopelessness. Life from the dead is a certainty for those in Christ. There is not a single moment in Israel's history where God was not actively moving His people toward Him. And Paul is challenging the Gentile part of the church with this... 

Keller: "Paul wants the non-Jewish Christians in the church in Rome to understand that God has not given up on his ancient people; neither has Paul; and neither should they. There is an implicit challenge to the Gentile Christian community, and to Christian communities today: Are we creating a community that is the fulfillment of what God had called Old Testament Israel to be? Would a devout Jew look at our church and be aroused to envy, and give the gospel a hearing?"


3.) We don't make the Gospel more attractive.

The role of the church is not to take some old tired truth and make it seem relevant to a progressive people. It is relevant. It is attractive. In the same way that marriage was not our idea and we should not play fast and loose with the meaning and purpose of it, so also church is not our idea and we are not allowed to make it whatever we want. The church is a people who belong to God.. the pillar and buttress of the truth... and the bride of Christ. We live in a culture that actively takes the timeless truth of God, and believes that they can somehow make those truths more relevant. They are relevant! We are not polishing something that is dull. We are getting out of the way, submitting ourselves to God's ways, and promoting the glory of God over the glory of ourselves, because Christ is mighty to save! 

Paul then gives 2 illustrations:

  • If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump.
  • If the root is holy, so are the branches.

The holy firstfruits and root are the patriarchs who were given the promises and the covenants. So let's lean into this illustration of the Olive Tree. Healthy roots and a healthy trunk are made up of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac... and the natural branches are ethnic Israelites who trust God and accept Jesus. Those ethnic Israelites who reject Jesus produce no fruit, and are broken off. In their place are wild olive shoots which are Gentiles. And this grafting in isn't stapling branches to a trunk. It is becoming part of the tree. v. 19-24 [Read Aloud]... 



4.) Humbly note the kindness and severity of God.

As we look at how God has dealt with and is dealing with ethnic Israelites, and how God has dealt with and is dealing with Gentiles, we see that there is not a single human being in all of human history that God doesn't deal with. Nobody gets to opt out. Nobody gets an exemption. 

There is a severity of God, unlike any severity you will find with anyone else. As you look at that Olive Tree, on the ground underneath it, will be very real branches, representing very real people, broken off because of their unbelief. That is severity. It is a conclusion that is final. Some of the broken off branches will represent people who said they were part of God's people, but did not continue... proving that they never were. Heed Paul's warning. Note the severity of God. If you do not continue to believe, it does not matter what your ethnicity or heritage or upbringing is, you will be cut off. That is why he says to the Gentiles, "so do not become proud, but fear". You won't be spared by your good intentions. Note the severity of God.

However, there is a kindness of God, unlike any kindness you will find with anyone else. Some of those branches that were wild olive shoots and some that were broken off because of unbelief, sit in a pile together on the ground underneath the Olive Tree, dead. And God, in His kindness, picks them up, and He goes to work. He carefully and completely grafts them into the olive tree. He prunes and prepares and softens and mends. It does not matter what your ethnicity or heritage or upbringing us, you will be loved. 



Discipleship Questions:

  1. Why does Paul keep repeating that God has not rejected Israel?
  2. How did Israel fail and what was the result? 
  3. How is the church designed to provoke jealousy in ethnic Israelites?
  4. Discuss some ways that we wrongly try to make the Gospel "more attractive".
  5. What is the severity of God and why is it important?
  6. What is the kindness of God and why is it important?

Everything We Need

July 29, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:3-4 We have everything we need for a godly life. Sentence has: 68 words 9 prepositional phrases 5 dependent clauses God called us. “By His divine power” The word here is summon Like Lazarus, come forth. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. By revealing Christ to us. “Through the knowledge of Him” Side note, ambiguity: The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We need to note that this comes to us by grace, but also that we have a part to play here. Effort is not a 4 letter word. You have no excuse for: Pornography- You have everything you need. Substance Abuse- You have everything you need. Pride- You have everything you need Laziness- You have everything you need Anger- You have everything you need. Prayer and Scripture Reading- You have everything you need. Evangelism- You have everything you need. He’ll go on to mention supplementing He has given us what we need for godliness now, and He promises us even greater things to come. We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature 2 Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature Unusual word… The “divine nature” (Theos) appears only here and in Acts where Paul addresses the Areopagus an odd work choice and would have appealed to his pagan readers. Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. Redefining what it means to become like God. Christ shared in our nature that we might share in His. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. In 1:3, it’s through the knowledge of Christ that we are called to Him. Here, we see that a fuller revelation of Christ will conform us even more fully into His likeness. How so? Purity Immortality Restoration to Eden Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, We have everything we need for a godly life. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Purity Immortality Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable.’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. Discipleship Questions: 2 Peter 1:3 says we’ve been given everything we need for life and godliness… Do you find that verse encouraging, challenging or both? Are there any areas of your walk where you struggle to believe that you already have everything you need for success? Do you ever make excuses to yourself or others for a lack of godliness? If yes, explain. How much work does it take to live as a Christian? What does it mean that we will be “partakers in the divine nature”?

The Genuine Gospel

July 21, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:1-2  Peter is warning us about counterfeit teaching and false teachers The genuine gospel came from Jesus through His apostles —servant (humility and honor) —apostle (called, unique, sent) The genuine gospel is just as precious to us today —received and believed “How does someone become a Christian? One person might say, ‘Because I believe,’ and another, ‘Because God chose me.’ According to Peter, both ways of stating it are correct. On the one hand, we believe. It is a fundamental definition of a Christian that he or she is a ‘believe-er’; that he or she ‘has faith’ But Peter also knows that it is not our feeble faith that holds us close to God. It is God who does all the holding, and that is the reality behind the word received.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel is centered on the person and work of Jesus —God —Savior —Christ —Lord “This fourfold description of Jesus is important because it puts him at the focal point of human history. As God, he guarantees that his words and his works cannot be replaced or revoked; as Christ, he fulfills all the Old Testament promises; as Savior, he died on the cross for our salvation in the past, present and future; and as Lord he claims the right to our individual love and obedience—notice how Peter calls him our Lord.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel transforms us as we grow in knowledge of Jesus —grace and peace multiplied Discipleship Questions: Why is false teaching so dangerous? How does remembering and focusing on the true gospel help us stand against false teaching? In what ways is the gospel just as precious to us as it was to the apostles? How do you relate to Jesus as God, Savior, Christ, and Lord? What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him?

The God of All Grace

July 16, 2025
Notes from Zach Snow's sermon on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:8-14 Why is the lion roaring? Wouldn’t it be a better strategy to be quiet…subtle…sneaky, in an attempt to “devour” Christians? I think that Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, was very intentional with his description here of the devil being a roaring lion. Went into a rabbit hole on a lion's roar…there are some spiritual applications to these: Can reach up to 114 decibels…almost as loud as a jet engine taking off They roar for social reasons (territory, create bonds, locate other members of their pride) as well as for purposes of intimidation. One of the primary purposes of the lion's roar is to strike fear in the heart of their prey. The lion will always start with a psychological advantage Fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred - these things can absolutely paralyse you spiritually The lion is not necessarily trying to kill you, but to destroy your faith Prayer: Be sober-minded - Have a clear and self disciplined mind - Titus 2 Exercise self control in thoughts, words, and action this is the 3rd time Peter has said this to us in 1 Peter - 1:13, 4:7 - it’s a call to remain alert and focused Being sober-minded means waging war against the things that are detrimental to the mind: fear, hatred, anxiety, depression, anger I believe these are specific things the enemy uses to derail our mental health and cause us to take our guard down Be watchful - this is the same word that Jesus used in the garden before he was arrested and crucified - this is a call to pray Prayers for others - Eph. 6:18 - Ephesians 6:18 - [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Prayers for yourself - James 1:5 - 5 j If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. So here’s the question… Do you believe in prayer? How much do you trust that God can do the things that you are not able to do? Do you trust God with the big stuff AND the small stuff? Discipleship Questions: 1.) In your personal life, what does being sober minded and watchful look like to you? 2.) Who are the people who help you stand firm in your faith the most? 3.) As a CG look at each of the points of the Theology of Suffering and find Scripture to support each one of those statements: God is ALWAYS good God is ALWAYS enough God will ALWAYS love you 4.) Discuss ways that the God of all grace has restored, confirmed, strengthened, and established you.
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