OUR MYSTERIOUS GOD
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”
There is something down there. If there is nothing really down there, then the riches and wisdom and knowledge are not deep. They are a delusion. No, there is something down there and it is so deep as to be unknowable immediately and thus is a mystery to us.
It is so beautiful to behold but it is not poetry, nor could a poet do justice to it. The riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God revealed in Scripture are not a human art form, and biblical theology is not a poetic product of human imagination.[i]
Paul says there is something down there. He revealed some of it. What God knows fully we know only in part. So there’s more and we have just begun to see it in Romans.
A good mystery invites us to follow the clues and yearn for the solution, to find that which is hidden from us. Such is the depth of God’s mystery that we will never find it in this life; at the same time we cannot leave it alone.
The point I want to leave you with this morning is this: When we realize the depth of God’s plan of our salvation we cannot help but be humbled by our mysterious God.
Let us delve into the mystery of Romans 11.
1. God reveals his mystery to us
We have already seen that the Gentiles were in danger of having an attitude of arrogance towards unbelieving Jews. They were “in” and the Jews were “out”; believers were grafted into the olive tree and unbelievers cut off. To think this way is based upon ignorance and not knowledge. Ignorance is the basis of arrogance; humility is based upon knowledge. As they often say in Bible College, “the more you know the more you realize you don’t know anything at all.”
This is why Paul says, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited” (11:25). He goes on to explain how the hardening of the Jews leads to the salvation of others and eventually the salvation of the Jews themselves. This is the mystery.
When pagan Greeks used the word “mystery” they referred to something revealed only to special members of a religious club. No one else was privy to such secrets. In the NT however, “mystery” refers to that which was formerly hidden and now has been revealed by God and freely declared to all. A mystery then, is that truth which mortal men would never have imagined and which they are unable and unwilling to believe, even when it is revealed to them.[ii]
God’s mystery was at one time hidden in eternity past. The mysteries of God are those plans and purposes God has planned and predestined which have not been yet made known to humankind. Some of this mystery was foretold by the prophets; it was still to come in fullness. Then when the time came the mystery was revealed and fulfilled. After this the mystery is proclaimed to all revealing what God has purposed, promised and produced.
“A mystery, at each and every phase, is a mystery: fallen men would not have predicted God’s purpose, they would not believe it when it was prophetically revealed, they cannot grasp it even when it is taking place, and they refuse to believe it when its fulfillment is proclaimed.”[iii]
The greatest mystery of all is the mystery of Christ. Can you say that you completely understand the incarnation (Jesus becoming a man) or how his death saves you? But God has given us this mystery, as Paul told the Colossians, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
Who could have imagined that God would enter this world as a helpless baby? Who could have dreamed that he would die for our sins when he himself sat in judgment of us? And who could even conceive of Christ residing in us through his Spirit? These are true mysteries.
How in the world could we grow conceited about our salvation when we had nothing to do with its planning or imagining? How can we hold our salvation over anyone’s head when we are so graciously saved? There is no way we can stand arrogantly on this faith.
2. God’s mercy is a mystery
That God is merciful to us is a mystery.
When Paul was on his missionary journeys spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ all over Asia Minor it was the Jews who opposed him the most. It is likely that because Christianity grew out of Judaism that Jews felt it was a distortion of their traditions. They were in every respect enemies of the cross of Christ.
But Paul makes clear how mysterious is the mercy of God. “As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (11:28-29).
Indeed, a key part of the mystery of God in revealing his love and truth to the world was the choosing of a particular people to represent him, the Jews. Now since the Jews rejected his fullest revelation of himself in the person of Christ, they would appear to be of no worth to God. But God’s gifts to them and his calling them to be his people are irrevocable.
I like that word “irrevocable.” It means that God is not sorry he called them; he will not repent this decision. God has no regrets in calling the Jews.
History Television has been airing a short series on the famous feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys. At one time the two heads of the families were friends and comrades in war, but after an incident with a stolen pig (among other issues) they were bitter enemies. People died in this feud: sons, brothers, friends, and even children. At one point McCoy tells Hatfield, “I regret the day I saved your life.”
God could have felt that way about the Jews for rejecting his Son. He could have felt that way about us for our sinfulness as described in Romans 1. Just read verses 30-32 in chapter 11 and we see the word “disobedience” as it refers to both us and the Jews, and then the word “mercy” lavished on us both by God. It is illogical; it makes no sense; mercy is not what we deserved. Yet God poured out his mercy on us and gave us Christ – Christ in us, the hope of glory.
3. God himself is a glorious mystery
At this point of Paul’s letter he breaks out in praise. We have reached a climax in the description of our salvation. Romans 1-11 must end with praise. Theology without praise of God is simply academics, mere head knowledge; Praise without theology is fluffy emotionalism, mere sentimentality. Theology gives us the basis for praising God. So Paul breaks out in this doxology about the mysterious God we love.
Consider Paul’s song of praise to God. Why does our God deserve praise for our salvation?
a) He knows everything – A southern gospel song declares, “Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?” Nothing surprises God. He does not wake up and think, “I just had a great idea.” God never sleeps; God does not muse. He knows everything.
This is what Paul means when he says “Oh!” It’s like looking down the gorge of the Grand Canyon and going “Wow!” only this is deeper. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (11:33a).
God’s knowledge is unfathomably deep. John Piper said, “He knows all recorded facts—all the facts stored in all the computers and all the books in all the libraries in the world. But vastly more than that, he knows all events at the macro level—all that happens on earth and in the atmosphere and in all the farthest reaches of space in every galaxy and star and planet. And all events at the micro level—all that happens in molecules and atoms and electrons and protons and neutrons and quarks. He knows all their movements and every location and every condition of every particle of the universe at every nano-second of time. And he knows all events that happen in human minds and wills—all volitional and emotional and spiritual events—all thoughts and choices and feelings.”
He knows you intimately. He knows all things past, present and future. God knows how everything will turn out and every choice we make and the repercussions of those choices. He is able to see at a glance the billions of consequences of every action, decision and thought that goes on in our finite brains. He knows all this without the least bit of strain on his mind. That’s what it means to be God.
b) His ways are above our ways – To get into the mind of God would blow our minds - literally. We could not handle the full knowledge of God. How then could we begin to understand his ways?
“How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (11:33b). You cannot help but think of Job in this instance. Job had lost all his sons and daughters to strange catastrophes, his property was destroyed, and his wife told him he was a fool to trust in God. Job also suffered illness and skin diseases. He kept his faith in God but at the same time he demanded an audience with God to get an explanation for all of these hurts. Job wanted to see God and ask, “What is the meaning of my suffering? I need an answer!”
Near the end of Job God appears out of the storm and says to Job, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me” (Job 38:2). Later the LORD asks, “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” and Job replies, “I am unworthy – how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once but I have no answer – twice but I will say no more” (40:2, 4&5). How can we begin to challenge God or God’s ways? He makes plans we cannot understand. He sees the big picture and how our little part fits into the big picture. All we can do is trust him and his infinite mercy.
c) There is no one like our God – Paul in his hymn of praise asks three rhetorical questions to which there is only one answer: “no one.”
i. Who has known the mind of the Lord? No one can explain God. Take the Trinity for instance: God in three persons. Explain how this is possible? Father, Son and Holy Spirit living as distinct yet acting in concert with one another so that one knows what the other is doing all the time…because they are one. Now consider that the Trinity lives in you…
ii. Or who has been his counselor? Who can give God advice about running the world?
Isaiah writes, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the Spirit of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:12-15).
It is absurd to think that we can tell God how to do anything. Yet our prayers are sometimes so specific in the “how to” details we must have forgotten who we are talking to. Prayer in this way is truly prayer when we bow our heads and confess in humility we know nothing.
iii. Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? Who does God owe? Is God indebted to anyone?
R.A. Torrey was in Melbourne, Australia, and one afternoon at a meeting for businessmen a note was handed to him. “Dear Dr. Torrey: I am in great perplexity. I have been praying for a long time for something that I am confident is according to God’s will, but I do not get it. I have been a member of the Presbyterian Church for thirty years, and have tried to be a consistent one all that time. I have been Superintendent in the Sunday School for twenty-five years, and an elder in the church for twenty years; and yet God does not answer my prayer and I cannot understand it. Can you explain it to me?”
Torrey read the note from the platform and replied, “It is very easy to explain it. This man thinks that because he has been a consistent church member for thirty years, a faithful Sunday School Superintendent for twenty five years, and an elder in the church for twenty years, that God is under obligation to answer His prayer. He is really praying in his own name, and God will not hear our prayers when we approach him in that way.[iv]
Again in the book of Job, God said, “Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me” (Job 41:11).
d) All glory belongs to God – Concluding Paul’s song is this amazing crescendo, “For from him and through him and to him are all things” (11:36). This is like the supreme praise of God.
i. From him – He is the source of all things: God is Revelation’s Alpha. A. W. Tozer said, “An elementary but correct way to think of God is as the One who contains all, who gives all that is given, but who Himself can receive nothing that He has not first given.” And Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry ‘MINE!’.”
ii. Through him – He is the sustainer of all things: God is involved in everything and nothing falls outside his plans and purposes. He keeps everything in balance, even though we find our world tipping at times.
iii. To him – He is the supreme purpose of all things: Just as God is the Alpha, or the Beginning, he is also the Omega, or end of all things. Everything is for his glory.
Piper said this: “The infinite depths are his, and the infinite heights are his. He is the foundation, and he is the destination of all things. There is no explanation beneath God. No matter how deep you go, there is only God. He is the last explanation whether you go down to causes or go up to purposes.”
He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2) and we know that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6). And since he is the beginning and end, the Alpha and Omega of all things, since he is the source and the finisher, then all glory belongs to him. The chief purpose of humankind is to glorify God. “To him be glory forever! Amen.”
What does this mean for us?
The mystery that has been revealed to us concerning God’s greatest revelation, Jesus Christ, is the basis for humility. Arrogance comes from a “know-it-all” attitude. When we begin to grasp the infinite depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God, we realize how little we do know. When this produces humility in us our hearts are inclined toward God to listen to him. Knowledge produces humility, and humility seeks the wisdom of God.
With this new attitude towards the life that God has given we will even see our work in a different way. I often pray for Sharon that she will see how she in her so-called secular job is doing the will of God. As an insurance adjustor she is bringing balance to the world by administering justice and fairness to those who have experienced loss.
Every occupation can be seen this way. Every job can bring glory to God whether it is pumping gas (service), fixing cars (the gift of helps), or working as an accountant (promoting stewardship). Your work is given by God to glorify him in the big picture of his masterpiece.
Second, God’s wisdom is infinitely above and beyond our knowledge or grasp, so we should expect God to accomplish His will in a way we would never have imagined. If we pray that God should do such and such in this way or that way, we come very close to limiting what God should do by our weakness. It would be better to ask God to do more than we ask or imagine according to his purpose and will leaving it open for him to answer on the basis of his promises. As one pastor stated, “I suspect most of our prayers would be substantially improved by reducing our petitions and increasing our praise.”[v]
God is still a mystery to us, even though we know him better through Jesus. God’s ways are a mystery to us, but we can have confidence in his infinite knowledge and wisdom that he is doing the right things in the right way for his own glory and power and praise. And we know that if God is glorified it will be to our benefit.
Christ, the hope of glory, is in you.
AMEN
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