Church at the Cross : Sunday Messages Church at the Cross

This sermon explores Romans 11:25-32, emphasizing that theology should lead us to doxology (praise) and devotion (godliness). It underscores the wonder and worth of God, the wisdom and ways of God, and the wealth and works of God, acknowledging that while God can be truly known, He cannot be fully comprehended. 

Scripture: Romans 11:25-32
Key Takeaways:

“As I often tell my students, theology is for doxology and devotion—that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness...Theology is at its healthiest when it is consciously under the eye of the God of whom it speaks, and when it is singing to his glory.”
-       J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs.

+ Theology is for Doxology and devotion.
+ The Wonder and Worth of God.
1 Kings 10:23 (CSB)
 1 Kings 10:4–8 (CSB)
+ The Wisdom and Ways of God
-       God can be truly known but not fully known.
Deuteronomy 29:29 (CSB)
Psalm 56:8–9 (CSB)
+ The Wealth and Works of God.
Psalm 50:12 (CSB)
Colossians 1:16–17 (ESV)

Scripture: Romans 11:25-32
Key Takeaways:
God has a heart for the Jewish people and so should we.
Salvation is of God so be humble.
1 Corinthians 1:28–31
God lets us fall into and feel our sin so we might marvel at His mercy.

Scripture: Romans 11:11-24
Key Takeaways:
Main Idea: "God has always wanted a people to reveal his glory to and display his glory through.
 
Three Parts of God's Plan
Genesis 12:2–3
Ephesians 3:6  
Ephesians 3:9
 
“The restoration of Israel is an easier process than the call of the gentiles” - John Stott
 
Two Ways to Respond
 
Romans 10:3-4
 
One Hope for us All
 
Isaiah 49:6
Revelation 7:9
 
“One cannot help but wonder what the remarkable result would be if this mass of lay people could be spiritually released from their servitude in the American success system and reoriented to channel their major energies toward building the Kingdom of God” - Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life
 
1.          Continue in God’s Kindness
2.         Fear the Lord
3.         Be Stubbornly Hopeful

Scripture: Romans 10:13-11:11
Key Takeaways:
 
Even when it looks like unbelief is winning the day, God is at work saving a people for himself.   
 
1 Peter 3:18
 
“At the turn of the 20th century, Africa was home to less than 10 million Christians, fewer than any other region except Oceania. By 2000, the Christian population in Africa had exploded to more than 383 million. In 2020, more Christians lived in Africa than any other region of the world. By 2050, with a Christian population of more than 1.28 billion, more Christians will call Africa home than the next two most populous regions—Asia and Latin America—combined.” - Aaron Earls, Lifeway Research.   
 
God has a purpose in every tragedy, even the tragedy of unbelief.  
Romans 1:16
Acts 13:46
Acts 18:6
Acts 28:24–28
Matthew 21:42–43
Acts 2:22–24
Romans 8:28
2 Corinthians 1:8–11
 
The Gospel has the power to give you an enviable life.  
 
1 Peter 3:15

Scripture: Romans 10:5–17
Key Takeaways:
 
A Person is saved solely by faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus, apart from works.
Apart from personal, conscious, saving faith in Jesus people will experience eternal judgment.
 
Romans 2:5
Ezekiel 18:23
Ezekiel 33:11
John 3:16–17
 
Universalism
 
Mark 9:42–48
Matthew 25:46
Revelation 20:14–15
 
“Hell is a dreadful reality. To speak of it lightly proves we do not grasp its horror. I know of no one who has overstated the terrors of hell. We can scarcely surpass the horrid images Jesus used. We are meant to shudder. Why? Because the infinite horrors of hell are intended by God to be a vivid demonstration of the infinite value of his glory which sinners have belittled…When people repeat the centuries old objection that an eternal punishment is disproportionate to a finite life of sinning, they disregard the essential thing…The essential thing is that degrees of blameworthiness come not from how long you offend dignity, but from how high the dignity is that you offend.” John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad.
 
Inclusivism
 
Luke 24:45–49
Acts 4:7–12
Acts 10:1–6
Acts 10:38–43
Acts 10:47
Acts 11:13–14
 
The task of every Christian is to get the Gospel to all peoples who have yet to hear it.
 
Revelation 7:9–12
 
The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more intensely missionary we must become. - Henry Martyn
 
If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervor at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate lukewarmness, it is in the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world. - Charles Spurgeon

Scripture: Romans 9:30-10:4
Key Takeaways:
 
God did not promise salvation to every ethnic Israelite, but only to those he sovereignly chose to be recipients of his saving love (Romans 9:6-29).
 
Israel did not respond to Jesus in faith (Romans 9:30-10:21).
 
John 5:39-40
John 6:35-45
 
Because the Gospel is so shocking, many people are offended by it and stumble over it.
 
Philippians 3:4-9
 
Because the Gospel is so shocking, it takes a work of God to believe it. 
 
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
 
To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them. — John Calvin