Who Knew? :: Romans 11:33-36

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The word guy our meditation today comes from our epistle reading where we read ...

For who has known the mind of the Lord? (v 34) ... In other words ...

WHO KNEW?

I.

Who knew that, after driving Adam and Eve out of the Garden on account of their sin and placing cherubim and a flaming sword in front of the gate, that God would actually give us an easier path to return to paradise ... salvation by grace through faith (Gen 3:24)? 

Who knew? 

Who knew that, after dispersing mankind over the face of the earth and confusing all of our languages at Babel, thereby creating division among us, that the Lord would give us one Gospel that we all could understand in our own language to unite us (Gen 11:9, Acts 2:6)? 

Who knew? 

Who knew that God would use a conniving liar and deceiver to demonstrate that the Gospel promise is not given by obligation, rights, or works. Jacob had no claim to grace, but God gave it to him to preserve for himself the faithful one (Gen 25:19-28). 

Who knew?

Who knew that ... like the brothers of Joseph ... what we intend for evil God SOMETIMES uses for good, saving many people (Gen 50:20)? 

Who knew that God would give his Word to the murderers Moses and Saul so that the righteousness of God would be manifested apart from the Law through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe (Rm 3:21)? 

Who knew that God would use a pouting prophet to save mankind? Jonah did everything he could to ignore God’s Word. He ran and hid from it. He didn’t want to share it. He withdrew into the belly of the ship, which is a picture of the church. He shook his fist at God, pouting that God was saving 120,000 people plus their cows. Jonah demonstrated that he actually cared more about a plant than people. Who knew God would love Jonah all the same?

Oh! [The] depth of riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! as Saint Paul writes in our epistle (vv 33a) 

Who knew that God truly does desire EVERYONE to be saved without any merit or worthiness of our own (Eph 2:8)? Who knew that God would give and give and give to us even while never expecting us to give anything in return? 

Who knew that though we couldn’t go to God in our sin, that God would come to us ... loving us in this way: Becoming one with us ... to die for us (Jn 3:16)? Who knew that Jesus, the Son whom God loved ... the Son who did all things well ... healing, teaching, feeding, nourishing, raising the dead ... that he would be despised and rejected by men. Who knew that he would allow himself to be beaten and bloodied by men ... to be nailed to a cross and crucified ... so that your sin ... today’s sin, yesterday’s sin, tomorrow’s sin, the sin you were born with, the sin that is destroying your body and life ... the sin that is separating you from each other ... that your jealousy, your hate and unforgiveness ... that it would all die with Jesus? 

How unsearchable are his judgments, and how untraceable are his ways! (v 33b,c)

Until Jesus said so, who knew baptism would now save you (1 Pt 3:21)? Who knew that Living God is the one who actually baptizes you in order to save you? ... that this baptism is not a one-time event (Titus 3:4-7). Who knew that through this one baptism you died and have been raised into eternal life, united with Jesus, and therefore, with other (Rm 6:3-8)?

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? (v 34)

Who knew that what appears to be bread and wine are actually the body and blood of Jesus? It doesn’t represent. It doesn’t symbolize. Who knew that the Lord’s Supper is actually a celebration that you who were dead are now alive? ... That it is not a funeral memorial meal? Who knew that all of the Lord’s disciples would learn to recognize Jesus is with us in the breaking of bread so that whenever two or three are gathered now in his name there is peace (Lk 24:35; Mt 18:20)? Who knew that through one meal God would create communion, that is, unity. He unites himself with us, and then by extension ourselves with each other. This is why he has given you the Lord’s Supper!

Who knew that he who ascended into heaven still serves us ... always remembering us, even when we forget him and what he does for us?

Yes, as Saint Paul asks, Who has given to him [expecting that] he might be repaid? (v 35)

II.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, if you thought you knew these things, it is not on your account. The wealth of God’s grace and glory are all too deep for human beings to understand ... or even begin to understand ... just as the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity we confess. 

If you don’t believe me, just listen to what the world around you says about God. They will say Jesus is just a Son, not actually God. They will say God didn’t die on a cross. They will say you are saved only by the decisions you make. They will say the bread of heaven is worthless food ... maybe even just crackers and grape juice. They will say baptism doesn’t save you. They will say you can buy the forgiveness of sins. They will even say God loves you just the way you are, even though God tells us very specifically that he doesn’t. They think they know God.

God hates your sin. He hates the sin that divides you from him. He hates all evildoers (Ps 5:5). He hates those who refuse to listen to his Word (Prv 28:9). He declares that the wages of sin is death (Rm 6:23) and that whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil (1 Jn 3:8), and that he will drive wickedness from his house (Hos 9:15). 

Therefore, in the name of Jesus, repent every one of you ... that is, mourn your sin, confess your sin, believe the absolution spoken to you comes on account of the blood of Christ. Then return to your baptism and join the celebration that unites the Father with his sons (Lk 15:28-31).

III.

Please open your [Lutheran Service Book] to page 329, and join me in confessing our faithful doctrine for a day like Trinity Sunday, beginning with Question 7 ... Who is Christ? ... How many Gods are there? ... What has Christ done for you that you trust him? ... Did the Father die also for you? ... How do you know this? 

IV.

Oh! [The] depth of riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!

We know the inspired words that are before us today form the conclusion of Saint Paul’s masterful treatment of the doctrine of grace. 

With thanks to God for the Holy Scriptures, we know grace is the forgiveness of sins on account of the blood of Jesus. We know grace shows God’s love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rm 5:8). We know God rescues you from every danger to body and soul. We know God has promised you the gifts of heaven. We know God brings salvation by grace to Jews and Gentiles alike. We know that all of God’s people will be rescued, all whose name is in the book [of life] (Dan 12:1). We know God’s grace holds sway over us. 

Behold ... in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ... your guilt is taken away; your sin is atoned for (Isa 6:7). 

So Paul concludes, For out of him and through him and into him are all things. To him is the glory into the ages (v 36) ... in the name that is above every name ... the only name we need to know ... Jesus. Amen. 

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