Responding to God’s Plan

^[1] I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. ^[2] God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what 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; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? ^[4] And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ^[5] So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. ^[6] And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. ^[7] What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, ^[8] 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.” ^[9] And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. ^[10] May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” ^[11] Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. ^[12] But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! ^[13] I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry ^[14] in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. ^[15] For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ^[16] If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. ^[17] If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ^[18] 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. ^[19] You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ^[20] Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. ^[21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. ^[22] Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ^[23] And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ^[24] 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, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.