Study Desk

The Remnant of Israel

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!^(a) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,^(b) from the tribe of Benjamin.^(c)

God did not reject his people,^(d) whom he foreknew.^(e) Don't you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel:

"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"^[a]?^(f)

And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."^[b](g)

So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(h) chosen by grace.⁽ⁱ⁾

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(j) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(k) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^(l)

as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear,^(m) to this very day."^[c](n)

And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,^(o) and their backs be bent forever."^[d](p)

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!^(q) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(r) to make Israel envious.^(s)

But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,^(t) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(u) I take pride in my ministry

in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(v) and save^(w) some of them.

For if their rejection brought reconciliation^(x) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^(y)

If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^(z) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

If some of the branches have been broken off,^(aa) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^(ab) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^(ac)

You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(ad) Do not be arrogant,^(ae) but tremble.^(af)

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Consider therefore the kindness^(ag) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(ah) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^(ai)

And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^(aj)

After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(ak) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

I do not want you to be ignorant^(al) of this mystery,^(am) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:^(an) Israel has experienced a hardening^(ao) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^(ap)

and in this way^[e] all Israel will be saved.^(aq) As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

And this is^[f] my covenant with them when I take away their sins."^[g](ar)

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies^(as) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,^(at)

for God's gifts and his call^(au) are irrevocable.^(av)

Just as you who were at one time disobedient^(aw) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[h] receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

For God has bound everyone over to disobedience^(ax) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Oh, the depth of the riches^(ay) of the wisdom and^[i] knowledge of God!^(az) How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!^(ba)

"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"^[j](bb)

"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?"^[k](bc)

For from him and through him and for him are all things.^(bd) To him be the glory forever! Amen.^(be)

A Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you,^(a) brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(b) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Do not conform^(c) to the pattern of this world,^(d) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(e) Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is^(f)—his good, pleasing^(g) and perfect will.

For by the grace given me^(h) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,⁽ⁱ⁾

so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(j) and each member belongs to all the others.

We have different gifts,^(k) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(l) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^(m)

if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;⁽ⁿ⁾

if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(o) if it is giving, then give generously;^(p) if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere.^(q) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^(r)

Be devoted to one another in love.^(s) Honor one another above yourselves.^(t)

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(u) serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope,^(v) patient in affliction,^(w) faithful in prayer.^(x)

Share with the Lord's people who are in need.^(y) Practice hospitality.^(z)

Bless those who persecute you;^(aa) bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^(ab)

Live in harmony with one another.^(ac) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.^(ad)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(ae) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^(af)

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^(ag)

Do not take revenge,^(ah) my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"^[d](ai) says the Lord.

On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."^[e](aj)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Submission to Governing Authorities

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,^(a) for there is no authority except that which God has established.^(b) The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,^(c) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.^(d)

For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.^(e)

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.^(f)

This is also why you pay taxes,^(g) for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.

Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;^(h) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.⁽ⁱ⁾

The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet,"^[a](j) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up^(k) in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."^[b](l)

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.^(m)

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come⁽ⁿ⁾ for you to wake up from your slumber,^(o) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.^(p) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness^(q) and put on the armor^(r) of light.

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,^(s) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.^(t)

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,^(u) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.^[c](v)