His Ways Are Past Finding Out
A Sermon on Romans 11:33-36
Originally preached May 21, 1965
Scripture
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35Or who hath first given to him, …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Romans 11:33–36 titled “His Ways Are Past Finding Out,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones talks about something that no amount of words can adequately explain. God’s ways are so immense that they cannot be traced out. There is a great divide of Christianity; not in regard to particular details, but rather “our whole approach to the gospel.” Is the Christian called to proclamation or to dialogue? When one looks at the apostolic method and message, do the apostles start with modern humanity to make their declarations for the gospel? People must be born again of water and spirit to enter the kingdom of God. The natural person constantly misunderstands the whole of God’s way. God is absolute, infinite, and holy in every respect. The listener is encouraged to look of humanity’s limited nature in a way that may have never been considered. The gospel is hid to those who are lost and in their natural state; all humans are sinners and ignorant of who God truly is. Look upon the grace of God and stand in awe. His ways are far beyond finding out, but it is here that one gains assurance for salvation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul bursts forth in praise of God's wisdom and knowledge in Romans 11:33-36.
- Paul illustrates God's depth, wisdom and knowledge in three ways: the riches of His grace, the wisdom displayed in His plan of salvation, and God's knowledge which covers every eventuality.
- Paul divides this doxology into four sections. The first emphasizes the depth and profundity of God's wisdom and knowledge. The second section follows logically and discusses the incomprehensibility of God's ways and judgments.
- Paul says God's judgments and ways are unsearchable and untraceable. In another translation, "His ways are past finding out". Our efforts to understand them will never bring us to full comprehension. They are unfathomable and inscrutable.
- Paul uses two words to describe God's incomprehensibility: unsearchable, meaning inscrutable or beyond searching out; and untraceable, meaning unable to be tracked or traced out. We can never reach the end or limit of understanding God's ways.
- The modern teaching that we should have dialogue and discussion with unbelievers contradicts the Bible's teaching and the practice of the apostles. The apostles proclaimed and declared the Gospel. They did not suggest dialogue or discussion.
- The Bible teaches that natural man cannot receive or understand spiritual things. Unbelievers prove this by misunderstanding, ridiculing and rejecting the Gospel.
- God's ways and judgments are incomprehensible because God is infinite and eternal while man is finite and sinful. Man's faculties are fallen and imperfect. Natural man is at enmity with God and blinded by the devil.
- God's judgments refer to His decisions, thoughts and plans. His ways refer to His methods, dealings, paths and plans. Both are beyond our understanding.
- We should rejoice that God's ways are past finding out because the Gospel is God's power, not man's. It offers hope for all. And it guarantees our ultimate glorification despite opposition.
- Those who understand that God's ways are past finding out, like Paul, rejoice and praise God for His amazing grace in saving them.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on God's Unsearchable Ways and Modern Evangelicalism
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the key phrase in Romans 11:33-36 that creates a divide in Christianity today?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the key phrase that creates the fundamental divide in Christianity is "How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out." This statement about the incomprehensibility of God's ways establishes a clear line between true evangelical Christianity and modern approaches that deny this truth. Lloyd-Jones sees this not as a minor theological difference but as the "great divide which I believe is dividing the christian church at the present time, and will do so more and more in future months and years."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the biblical approach to the unsaved with modern religious dialogue?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the biblical approach of proclamation with the modern approach of dialogue. He quotes the Archbishop of Canterbury who said the Christian approach to the secular world should be "not of proclamation, but of dialogue." Lloyd-Jones firmly rejects this, pointing to the apostolic practice in the New Testament where they declared and proclaimed the gospel rather than engaging in dialogue. He argues that the biblical approach recognizes that unregenerate people cannot understand spiritual truths without regeneration, so Christians must proclaim truth to them rather than learn from them.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe God's ways must be unsearchable according to Scripture?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones believes God's ways must be unsearchable because: 1. God is infinite, eternal, omniscient, and holy while man is finite and limited 2. Man is a sinful creature whose faculties have been corrupted by the fall 3. The natural mind is "enmity against God" and cannot be subject to God's law 4. The devil has "blinded the minds of them that believe not" 5. Scripture repeatedly affirms this truth (Romans 11:33-34, Job's testimony, Isaiah's statement that "thou art a God that hidest thyself")
What examples does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give of God's unsearchable judgments?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several examples of God's unsearchable judgments: 1. God allowing evil to exist in the world 2. God tolerating manifestations of evil before the flood 3. The plan of salvation through faith alone rather than works 4. The doctrine of election - that not everyone will be saved 5. God choosing the Jews as His special people 6. God choosing Jacob over Esau despite Esau appearing more admirable 7. God choosing "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble" 8. God choosing Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor, to become the greatest apostle
According to the sermon, why should Christians rejoice that God's ways are unsearchable?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christians should rejoice that God's ways are unsearchable for these reasons: 1. It means the gospel is God's power for salvation, not man's invention 2. It provides hope for all people, not just philosophers or the intellectually elite 3. It can be taken to anyone anywhere (from Congo to Cambridge) with the same effect 4. It explains our own salvation - "It's the only explanation of my being what I am" 5. It guarantees our ultimate glorification despite opposition from the world 6. It ensures the church will not fail or collapse because it depends on God's mysterious ways, not human understanding
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.