The Main Idea: God Reveals the Mystery of Salvation in Christ to Cure Conceit.

*The Big Question: What’s the cure for conceit?

*The Central Point: Understand the Mystery of How God Works to Save in Christ:

1.) ELECTION AND REPROBATION (vv. 25-27) – (Application: God only sees two kinds of people: MAKE SURE YOU’RE “IN ISRAEL” [in other words: IN CHRIST].) (LAST WEEK)

2.) SOVEREIGNTY AND RESPONSIBILITY (vv. 28-32) – (Application: God’s mercy can only be extended to a disobedient people: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SIN AND RECEIVE JESUS.) (TODAY)

a. Curing Conceits by Removing Confidence in Self (vv. 28-29)

b. Curing Conceits by Acknowledging No Other Hope Except in Jesus (vv. 30-32)

3.) WISDOM AND WORSHIP (vv. 33-36) – (Application: God’s way of salvation in Christ is beyond our imagination: STAND IN AWE.) (NEXT WEEK)

The Main Idea: God Reveals the Mystery of Salvation in Christ to Cure Conceit.

*The Big Question: What’s the cure for conceit?

*The Central Point: Understand the Mystery of How God Works to Save in Christ:

1.) ELECTION AND REPROBATION (vv. 25-27) – (Application: God only sees two kinds of people: MAKE SURE YOU’RE “IN ISRAEL” [in other words: IN CHRIST].)

a. Curing Conceits by Submitting to God’s Electing Work (v. 25)

b. Curing Conceits by Trusting in God’s Saving Work (vv. 26-27)

2.) SOVEREIGNTY AND RESPONSIBILITY (vv. 28-32) – (Application: God’s mercy can only be extended to a disobedient people: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SIN AND RECEIVE JESUS.) (NEXT WEEK)

3.) WISDOM AND WORSHIP (vv. 33-36) – (Application: God’s way of salvation in Christ is beyond our imagination: STAND IN AWE.) (WEEK AFTER NEXT WEEK)

The Main Idea: God’s WRATH will catch up with “his people” if they continue in UNBELIEF.

*The Big Question: Why should we seek to rid ourselves from a PRESUMPTIVE FAITH?

*The Central Point: Because of three VALUES the elect should cultivate:

1.) FEEDING (v. 16) – (Application: Your identity is with the HOLINESS of Christ, so seek NOURISHMENT from that root.)

2.) HEEDING (vv. 17-18) – (Application: You’re ELECTED by God, not the other way around, so stay humble.)

3.) WEEDING (vv. 19-24) – (Application: You’re CALLED by God, so cultivate a REVERENT FAITH, not a presumptive faith.)

The Main Idea: God’s FAITHFULNESS Drives the Strategies He Uses to Save His People.

*The Big Question: What strategies does God use to save his people?

*The Central Point: God Brings the Gospel to Them and Then:

1.) USES ISRAEL’S REJECTION TO GATHER ELECT GENTILES (vv. 11a, 12a, 15a) – (Application: God’s plan IN ACTION is meant to fill you with GRATITUDE to him!)

2.) USES GENTILE ACCEPTANCE TO MAKE ISRAEL JEALOUS (vv. 11b, 13-14a) – (Application: God’s WILLINGNESS to make Israel jealous is meant to fill you with TRUST in him!)

3.) USES ISRAEL’S JEALOUSY TO GATHER ELECT ISRAEL (vv. 12b, 14b, 15b) – (Application: God’s FAITHFULNESS to gather all the elect is meant to fill you with AWE of him!)

The Main Idea: Don’t Worry… God Saves His People.

*The Big Question: Is God true to his word about SAVING his people?

*The Central Point: YES! GOD’S GOT A REMNANT:

1.) PAUL: PRESENT LIVING PROOF (v. 1) – (Application: God can save you or ANYONE ELSE you’re concerned about!)

2.) ELIJAH: PAST LIVING PROOF (vv. 2-6) – (Application: God SAVES you no matter what you go through.)

3.) PROPHETS: ETERNAL LIVING PROOF (vv. 7-10) – (Application: God NEVER stops reaching out to SAVE you.)

The Main Idea: God’s covenant grace provides clear revelation of SAVING faith in Christ vs. DECEPTIVE faith.

*The Big Question: How do we receive righteousness from God?

*The Central Point: BY SAVING FAITH IN THE GOSPEL which is:

1.) NOT BASED ON THE LAW OF GOD (vv. 5-13) – (Application: Make sure that what you CONFESS with YOUR MOUTH about Christ is really, truly ABOUT CHRIST!) (2 WEEKS AGO)

2.) BUT BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD (vv. 14-17) – (Application: Make sure you are HEARING the WORD of CHRIST and NOBODY ELSE, including your own voice!) (LAST WEEK)

3.) AND VOICED OUT OF THE GRACIOUS HEART OF GOD (vv. 18-21) – (Application: Make sure you have NO EXCUSES, because God has called out CLEARLY to EVERYONE, including YOU!)

a. God Reveals Himself Clearly (vv. 18-19)

b. The Gospel Is Clearly Driven by God’s Irresistible Grace (vv. 20-21)

The Main Idea: God’s covenant grace provides clear revelation of SAVING faith in Christ vs. DECEPTIVE faith.

*The Big Question: How do we receive righteousness from God?

*The Central Point: BY SAVING FAITH IN THE GOSPEL which is:

1.) NOT BASED ON THE LAW OF GOD (vv. 5-13) – (Application: Make sure that what you CONFESS with YOUR MOUTH about Christ is really, truly ABOUT CHRIST!) (LAST WEEK)

2.) BUT BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD (vv. 14-17) – (Application: Make sure you are HEARING the WORD of CHRIST and NOBODY ELSE, including your own voice!)

a. God Commissions the Church with the Gospel (vv. 14-15)

b. Therefore the Gospel Is to Be Heard and Obeyed (vv. 16-17)

3.) AND VOICED OUT OF THE GRACIOUS HEART OF GOD (vv. 18-21) – (Application: Make sure you have NO EXCUSES, because God has called out CLEARLY to EVERYONE, including YOU!) (NEXT WEEK)

The Main Idea: God’s covenant grace provides clear revelation of SAVING faith in Christ vs. DECEPTIVE faith.

*The Big Question: How do we receive righteousness from God?

*The Central Point: BY SAVING FAITH IN THE GOSPEL which is:

1.) NOT BASED ON THE LAW OF GOD (vv. 5-13) – (Application: Make sure that what you CONFESS with YOUR MOUTH about Christ is really, truly ABOUT CHRIST!)

a. Do Not Be Arrogant about Saving Faith (vv. 5-10)

b. Because GOD’S the One Put Saving Faith There (vv. 11-13)

2.) BUT BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD (vv. 14-17) – (Application: Make sure you are HEARING the WORD of CHRIST and NOBODY ELSE, including your own voice!) (NEXT WEEK)

3.) AND VOICED OUT OF THE GRACIOUS HEART OF GOD (vv. 18-21) – (Application: Make sure you have NO EXCUSES, because God has called out CLEARLY to EVERYONE, including YOU!) (2 WEEKS FROM NOW)

The Main Idea: God’s covenant grace provides a secret to attaining successful righteousness with him.

*The Big Question: How do we attain righteousness in God’s eyes?

*The Central Point: AS A GIFT FROM HIM, not by works, but by:

1.) NOT PURSUING IT (vv. 30-31) – (Application: Be SURPRISED by God’s KINDNESS to you in Christ!)

2.) PURSUING IT (vv. 32-33) – (Application: Be RECEPTIVE to God’s KINDNESS to you in Christ!)

The Main Idea: God enacts his SOVEREIGN covenant grace in Christ WITHOUT FAIL.

*The Big Question: What is one thing that God CANNOT do?

*The Central Point: GOD CANNOT FAIL. The Apostle Paul gives us three reasons why GOD CANNOT FAIL to save HIS people in Christ:

1.) BECAUSE OF HIS ULTIMATE AUTHORITY (vv. 6-13) – (Application: God’s got a record ultimate and EARNED authority… SO BANK ON HIS WORD TO SAVE YOU IN CHRIST!)

2.) BECAUSE OF HIS ULTIMATE SOVEREIGNTY (vv. 14-26) – (Application: God’s ALWAYS been about his business of reclaiming… SO BANK ON HIS DETERMINATION TO SAVE YOU IN CHRIST!)

3.) BECAUSE OF HIS ULTIMATE GRACE (vv. 27-29) – (Application: God’s covenant of grace includes ALL the elect in the TRUE ISRAEL… SO BANK ON HIS POWER TO SAVE YOU IN CHRIST!)