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I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. |
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2
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God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: |
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“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? |
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4
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And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” |
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5
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In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. |
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6
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And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. |
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7
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What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, |
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as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” |
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9
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And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. |
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10
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May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” |
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I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. |
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12
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But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! |
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I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry |
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in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. |
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15
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For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? |
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If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches. |
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Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, |
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do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. |
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19
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You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” |
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20
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That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. |
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21
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For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either. |
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22
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Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. |
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23
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And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. |
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For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! |
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I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. |
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26
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And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. |
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27
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And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” |
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28
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Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. |
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For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. |
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30
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Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience, |
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31
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so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you. |
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32
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For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone. |
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33
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O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! |
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“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” |
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35
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“Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” |
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36
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For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. |
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