1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be!
For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of 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
pleads with God against Israel? 3 "Lord, They have killed Your prophets,
they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are
seeking my life." 4 But what is the divine response to him? "I have kept
for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a
remnant according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no
longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who
were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is
written,
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day."
9 And David says,
"Let their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 "Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever."
11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be!
But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make
them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and
their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment
be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am
an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move
to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their
rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be
but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is
also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the
branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in
among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive
tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant,
remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports
you.
19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted
in." 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by
your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the
natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the
kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's
kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut
off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be
grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off
from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to
nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the
natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so
that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening
has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
"The deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob."
27 "This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins."
28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but
from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the
fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just
as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy
because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been
disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now
be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He
may show mercy to all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For
Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
35 Or Who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again?
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the
glory forever . Amen.
Romans 11:1-33 NASB
