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Israel’s Rejection Not Total

¹ I ask, then, has God rejected his people?^(C1) Absolutely not!^(C2) For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,^(C3) from the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.^(C1) Or don’t you know^(C2) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? ³ Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!^{(F1)(C1) 4} But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.^{(F1)(C1) 5} In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.^{(C1) 6} Now if by grace,^(C1) then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.^(F1)

⁷ What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,^(C1) but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,^{(C2) 8} as it is written,

⁹ And David says,

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

¹¹ I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(C1) to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!^(C1)

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,^(C1) I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if I might somehow make my own people^(F1)(C1) jealous and save some of them.^{(C2) 15} For if their rejection brings reconciliation^(C1) to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?^{(C2) 16} Now if the firstfruits are holy,^(C1) so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ Now if some of the branches were broken off,^(C1) and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them^(C2) and have come to share in the rich root^(F1) of the cultivated olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.^{(C1) 19} Then you will say,^(C1) “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.^(C1) Do not be arrogant, but beware,^{(F1)(C2) 21} because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. ²² Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness^(C1) toward you—if you remain in his kindness.^(C2) Otherwise you too will be cut off.^{(C3) 23} And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,^(C1) will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ I don’t want you to be ignorant^(C1) of this mystery,^(C2) brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:^(C3) A partial hardening has come upon Israel^(C4) until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.^{(C5) 26} And in this way all^(F1) Israel will be saved, as it is written,

²⁸ Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,^(C1) but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,^{(C2) 29} since God’s gracious gifts and calling^(C1) are irrevocable.^{(F1)(C2) 30} As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now^(F1) receive mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned all in disobedience^(C1) so that he may have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise