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Romans 11:25-32 (KJV)

25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31. Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

We have seen in our study of Romans 11 that Paul, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, predicts that sometime in the future the people of Israel (Jews) will come to faith in Christ in large numbers. There is disagreement as to when and how this will occur. Paul calls it a "mystery" (v.25). However, there is agreement that God has a purpose for His people. "Is God's purpose for His people by design or simply a response to their decisions?"

1. Man's Miserable Problem
   One only needs to casually read the Bible to see that man has a big problem with God.
   1. There is a natural blindness toward the glory of God (v.25).
      "The gospel is hid to them that are lost" (II Corinthians 4:3) not because of any defect with the gospel, but it is hid because of a defect within the hearer of the gospel. "Ye were once in darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8).
   2. There is a natural bitterness toward the cross of Christ (v.28).
      Paul says that the Jews in his day were "enemies of the gospel" (v.28). Paul said, "The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness" (I Corinthians 1:18).
   3. There is a natural bias toward the magnification of man (v.25).
      Every one of us tends to look within for something that would make us proud. "I've made myself right with God." "With my hands I have obtained my fortune." "Most men will proclaim to everyone his own goodness . . ." (Proverbs 20:6). Because of these three miserable problems a sinner is without hope, but for God.
2. God's Merciful Purpose
   All sinners, Jews and Gentiles, are in need of an awakening and deliverance from sin God would remain righteous and holy by judging sinners without mercy, but He has chosen to be merciful to sinners according to a plan and purpose He has designed! "Blindness in part has happened to Israel until all the fullness of the Gentiles come in" (v.25).
   1. God's merciful purpose involves election (v.28).
      Sinners would never be saved unless God chose to take away their blindness.
   2. God's merciful purpose involves gifts (v.29).
      These gifts would include regeneration, repentance, justification, and all gifts.
   3. God's merciful purpose involves a calling (v.29).
      God called you. His voice may have been a whisper or a shout, but He called.
3. Faith's Marvelous Power
   There is no need to despair over the condition of your soul. Yes, you may be a person who does not believe in Christ. You may have been bitter towards God your whole life. Join the club. Both the Gentiles and the Jews as a group, and any believer in Jesus Christ have had times of blindness and unbelief. However, God's plan is to "conclude them all in unbelief (shut them all up together), so that nobody might brag. He demonstrates His mercy to us through faith in the person and work of His Son Jesus Christ (vs. 30-32). If you are in need this Thanksgiving weekend of God's grace, I appeal to you to turn your eyes of faith toward the only Savior for sinners.