Today I would like you to turn
in your Bible to a Romans the book of Romans chapter 11 Romans
chapter 11 I'll be speaking to you this morning from verses
1 33 down to verse 36 of Romans chapter
11. Let's begin by reading these
verses. Verse 33, Oh the depth of the
riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable
are his judgments and his ways past finding out. For who hath
known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto
him again? For of him, verse 36, Romans
11, for of him and through him and to him are all things, to
whom or to him be glory forever and ever. Now in these closing
Verses in this chapter, the servant of God, Paul the Apostle, reminds
us again of the impossibility of the finite creature understanding
and comprehending the wisdom and knowledge and judgments of
the infinite God. In Job chapter 11 we read this,
can you by searching find out God? Can you find out the Almighty
unto perfection? It is high as heaven, what can
you do? It's deeper than hell, what can
you know? Oh the unsearchable. the unsearchable
riches of Christ. How unsearchable are his judgments
and his ways and his eternal designs and decrees. They're
past finding out. We're too finite. God is infinite
and eternal. Our sovereign God will do what
he will, with whom he will, when he will and all that he does
will be true and righteous altogether because God is pleased to do
it. My friend, God is absolutely
sovereign and rules and reigns in all things. Listen to what
the psalmist wrote in Psalm 135, whatsoever the Lord pleased that
did he in heaven and in the earth and the seas and all deep places."
My friend, God is God. Now listen to these questions
that are asked in verse 34 and 35 of Romans 11. Who hath known
the mind of the Lord? Who hath been his counselor?
Who hath first given to God and it shall be recompensed unto
him again? Who has known the mind and the
will and the purposes and the eternal purposes and heart of
God Almighty? Who has God ever consulted for
information? We read in the scriptures, no
one unto God or all, all his works from the beginning. Who
can give or add anything to God's glory, God's majesty? Certainly not a sinful, finite,
wicked creature such as all men are. Now look at verse 35, for
of him, and through Him and to Him are all things." Now this
is a verse this morning that we want to camp on for just a
few moments. Here is a glorious truth again
that echoes throughout the Word of God. Notice this phrase found
in verse 36, all things are of God. All things are of Him, that
is He is the originator, He is the cause, He is the source,
He is the planner. All things are not only of Him,
but all things are through Him in bringing them to pass. He's
working these things. He's the means whereby they come
to pass. And all things are to Him. All
things are to His glory. All things are working to an
eternal end that will glorify God. To Him be the glory forever
and ever, Paul says, Amen. Now we can apply this truth to
all things, but I want to look specifically at three. All things
are of God in creation, providence, and salvation. Now let's look
at those things. Creation, providence, and salvation. Thinking and keeping in mind
that all things are of God. Of Him, through Him, and to Him. Now all things in creation are
of Him. of Him. God Himself is the originator,
the planner, the designer of this vast creation that we behold. In that time before time, when
there was no day but the ancient of days, when there was no sun,
when all matter and space were unborn, God alone existed and
dwelt in perfect peace. When there was nothing but God,
He, according to His infinite wisdom and purpose, determined
to create all things. In Proverbs 3, 19 we read, the
Lord by wisdom has founded the earth. In creation, all things
are of God. They didn't just happen, they
didn't just evolve. God is the architect, God is
the planner. Not only are all things in creation
of him, but all things in creation are through him. He created all
things by the word of his power. Now you listen to this scripture,
Colossians 1, 16. For by him were all things created
that are in heaven, that are in the earth, visible, invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions, principalities or powers, all
things were created by him and for him. In John chapter 1 verse
3 we read, all things were made by Him, made by the Word, made
by the Lord Jesus Christ. And without Him was not anything
made that was made. All things were created through
Him. He created the universe out of
nothing. From the highest archangel to
the lowest worm upon the earth, God said, let it be, and it was. He's all things in creation are
of Him and through Him. And thirdly, all things in creation
are to Him. All things in creation work to
one righteous purpose and end, and that's His glory. Everything
must and will praise the Lord. He designed it that way. The
heavens declare the glory of God, and my friend, all creatures
must and will praise His glory. He said in Philippians 2, every
tongue shall confess. that Jesus Christ is Lord to
the glory of God the Father. They'll either serve to magnify
God's justice or serve to magnify His grace, but all creatures
will glorify God Almighty. Secondly, not only all things
in creation are of Him, but all things in providence are of Him. Now what is providence? God conceived power that sustains,
guides, directs, and controls all things according to His wise
decree. That's a good definition for
providence. And providence is of God, of
Him. There is nothing in our life
that comes to pass by luck, fate, or chance. God ruleth over all
things by His infinite purpose and eternal decrees. Listen to
Ephesians chapter 1. He worketh all things after the
counsel of His own will and purpose. He's the first cause and last
end of all things. All things in providence are
of Him. Secondly, all things in providence
are through Him. They come to pass by His execution. He said in Isaiah 46 verse 9,
I've spoken it, I will bring it to pass, I've purposed it,
God said, I will do it. He brings them to pass these
things in providence that He gloriously works. To this end,
to Him, The execution of God's decrees always work for the true
interest of God's people and to God's ultimate glory. That's what Paul said in Romans
8, 28. Turn over there to Romans 8,
28 and read this glorious verse. He says, we know that all things,
there it is again, work together for good to them that love God,
to them. who are the called according
to God's purpose. All things in creation, yes,
of him, through him, and to him. And all things in providence
are of him, through him, and to him. Let's consider salvation. All things in salvation. Here,
everything is of God. Everything of God and through
God and to Him in salvation. Everything's of God. Salvation
is of Him. Of Him. Jonah had it right. when he declared from the belly
of that fish that salvation is of the Lord. My friend, that
truth has not changed. It eternally has been the same
because God doesn't change. None but God could have devised
such a way of salvation. such as the gospel presents,
wherein God can be just and justifier of the ungodly. How? Through
Christ the substitute, through Christ living and dying in the
room in the stead of his people. The only way God can be a just
God and Savior is through our Lord Jesus Christ. Substitution,
satisfaction, redemption through the blood. This is all of God. He devised a means whereby He
could set the sinner free. He devised a means whereby He
could ransom us with His own blood. God ordained the hour
when the Savior would be born. Listen to the scripture, Galatians
4. In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, made of a
woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the
law. God sent the Savior to redeem
His people. In the fullness of time, God
sent Him. Call His name Jesus. He shall
save His people from their sin. God ordained the hour when He
would be born. God ordained the hour when He
would be crucified. Him being delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have by wicked hands
have taken and slain and crucified the Lord of glory. God ordained
the hour when he would be born, and God ordained the very moment
when the Lord Jesus Christ would be crucified as the believer
substitutes. You remember he said, my hour
has come, my hour has come. This is the hour that was ordained
and appointed of God Almighty. He was slain in God's purpose,
in God's time. Wicked men did what they wanted
to do, but they did what God determined before to be done.
God ordained the hour. You see, salvation is of Him.
When He would be born, when He would be crucified, God ordained
the hour when He would be risen and exalted. The third day He
walked out of the tomb, a glorious, glorified Redeemer. When He by
Himself purged our sins, He sat down at God's right hand. So
salvation is of Him, totally of Him. Secondly, salvation is
through Him. through Him. Redemption and the
work of redemption, God redeeming us, was through and in and by
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ came as
our high priest, as our representative, as our mediator. And He didn't
bring the typical animal sacrifice like that Old Testament priest.
He brought not the blood of bulls and goats, but He brought His
own blood. and by with his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place in the very presence of
God to obtain eternal redemption for us. He did this by himself
with himself for his glory. You see, salvation is of the
Lord and salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ. In the
accomplishment of salvation, now listen to me carefully, in
the accomplishment of salvation man has no part or lot in accomplishing
salvation. Our Lord said in John 17 in his
high priestly prayer, I have glorified thee on the earth.
I finished the work which you gave me to do. Every spiritual
blessing we enjoy is through the redeeming blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He's blessed us with all spiritual
blessings, where? In Christ, in Him. You see, salvation
is of the Lord, and salvation is through His work, through
His blood, through His power. And salvation is to that end
that glorifies God. Now let me ask you a question.
What's the grand design of redemption? You thought about it? What is
the grand design of redemption? I'll tell you what it is. It's
the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. To God be the glory, great things
He has done. That's the song of redemption
in heaven, isn't it? Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive all power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory,
and blessings. Salvation is of Him and through
Him and to this end and to this purpose, God's glory. Now in closing, let me give you
this. Salvation. The same is true in the application
of salvation. In the application of salvation. The application of salvation
is of the Lord. God who hath begun a good work
in you will finish it. You see, the application of salvation
in our heart is a work of God. Why am I saved? Good question,
isn't it? Why am I saved? Because I did
something? Because I gave something? Because
of some goodness in me? Or because God sent His grace
and sent His grace and love and affection upon me? The answer
is, salvation is of Him in its application. Listen to 1 Corinthians
1.30, "...but of Him are you in Christ, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption."
In the application of salvation, it's of the Lord. He chose us,
we didn't choose Him. He chose us in Christ in eternity. He chose us, we didn't choose
Him. He loved us, we didn't love Him. He earned His love, not
that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to
be a propitiation for us. So when the application of salvation
is of Him, and the application of salvation is not only of Him,
but through Him, by what power is a man called unto life? He
translated us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom
of his dear son. Where did faith take its birth? It's the gift
of God, not of worthless any man should boast. How are we
made new creatures in Christ? It's the spirit that quickeneth
the flesh, profiteth nothing. Spiritual work must be done by
the spirit of God. You hath he quickened who were
dead. Who made you to differ from another
in salvation? God did. The application of salvation
is through him. It's of him. and through Him,
and lastly, the application of salvation is to His glory. Those
whom God is pleased to save, to call, to redeem, humbly and
rightly give God all the glory, they sing unto Him as recorded
in Revelation chapter 1 verse 5, unto Him that loved us and
washed us from our sin in His own blood and made us kings and
priests unto God, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
Amen. Now look at that scripture again.
Romans 11 verse 36. Of him and through him and to
him are all things to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Now if you would like a copy
of this message, you write to me and I'll send it to you absolutely
free. My address is Church 6088 Zebulon
Highway, Pikeville, Kentucky, 41501.