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asked then: Has God rejected his people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people, whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars; now I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life.” 4 But what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is also a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.
7 What then? Israel did not obtain what it was so earnestly seeking, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, 8 as it is written:
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
to this very day”.
9 And David says:
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever”.
11 I ask then: Have they stumbled so as to fall? Certainly not! On the contrary, because of their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12 But if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure brings riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring?
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 In the hope that somehow I can make my own people jealous and save some of them. 15 For if the rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered up as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 But some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, have been grafted in among them and now share in the rich nourishment of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over those branches. But if you do boast, remember that it is not you that supports the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 That is true enough, but they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you will also be cut off. 23 And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to craft them in again. 24 After all, if you have been cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature work grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you do not become conceited: Israel has experienced a partial hardening until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come from Zion;
He will banish godlessness from Jacob”.
27 “And this is My covenant with them,
when I take away their sins”.
28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account, but regarding election they are beloved on account of their forefathers, 29 for God’s gifts and His calling are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God, but now have received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient, in order that they may now also receive mercy through the mercy God has shown you. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience, He might have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments
and untraceable His ways!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counsellor?”
35 “Who has first given to God,
and has to be repaid?”
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.