Gospel Conversations Week 17

I ask, then, ^hhas God rejected his people? By no means! For ⁱI myself am anIsraelite, a descendant of Abraham,¹ a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 ^jGodhas not rejected his people whom he ^kforeknew. Do you not know what the Scripture saysof Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 ^l“Lord, they have killed your prophets,they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what isGod's reply to him? ^m“I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed theknee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is ⁿa remnant, chosen by grace. 6 ^oBut if itis by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? ^pIsrael failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but therest ^qwere hardened, 8 as it is written,

9 And David says,

Gentiles Grafted In

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, throughtheir trespass ^usalvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now iftheir trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for theGentiles, how much more will their full inclusion² mean!

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as ^vI am an apostle to theGentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and^wthus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means ^xthe reconciliation of the world,what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 ^yIf the dough offered asfirstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if ^zsome of the branches were broken off, and you, ^aalthough a wild olive shoot,were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root³ of the olive tree,18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who supportthe root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off sothat I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief,but you ^bstand fast through faith. So ^cdo not become proud, but ^dfear. 21 For if God did notspare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and theseverity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you,^eprovided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise ^fyou too will be cut off. 23 And ^geventhey, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power tograft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, andgrafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, thenatural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.