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Paul's Concern for the Jews

1I speakthe truth in Christ. I am not lying. My conscience testifies for me inthe Holy Spirit2that my grief is great, and unceasing sorrowis in my heart.3For I could wish myself to be a curse, separated from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according tothe flesh,4who are Israelites, whoseis the divine adoption as sons, and the glory, and the covenants, and the lawgiving, and the service, and the promises;5whoseare the patriarchs; and from whomis Christ according tothe flesh, being God over all, blessed to the ages. Amen.

God's Sovereign Choice
(Genesis 25:19-28; Malachi 1:1-5)

6Andit is not as that the word of God has failed. For not all whoare of Israel,are these Israel.7Nor because they are seed of Abrahamare all children. Rather, “In Isaac your offspring will be named.”a8That is, the children of the flesh, theseare not children of God; but the children of the promise are regarded as offspring.9For thisis the word ofthe promise: “At this time I will come, and to Sarah there will be a son.”b

10And not onlyso, but also Rebecca, having conception by one, Isaac our father,11for they not yet having been born nor having done anything good or evil, so that the purpose of God according to election might stand,12not of works, but of theOne calling, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.”c13As it has been written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”d

14What then shall we say?Is there injustice with God? Never may it be!15For He says to Moses:

“I will show mercy to whom I may show mercy,

and I will have compassion on whom I may have compassion.”e

16So then,it is not of the willing, nor of the running, but of God showing mercy.17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this verypurpose I have raised you up, so that I might show My power in you, and that My name should be declared in all the earth.”f18So then, He shows mercy to whom He wants, and He hardens whom He wants.

The Calling of the Gentiles

19Then you will say to me, “Why then does He still find fault? For who is resisting His purpose?”20But rather, O man, who are you, answering against God?Shall the thing formed say to theOne having formedit, “Why have you made me like this?”g21Or does the potter not have authority over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel unto honor, but one unto dishonor?

22And what if God, desiring to show the wrath and to make known His power, bore with much patiencethe vessels of wrath, having been fitted for destruction,23that He might also make known the riches of His glory uponthe vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,24even us, whom He has called not only out fromthe Jews, but also out fromthe Gentiles?25As He also says in Hosea:

“I will call that whichis not My people, My people;

and her not having been loved, having been loved,”h

26and,

“It will happen that in the place where it was said to them,

‘Youare not My people,’

there they will be called

‘sons ofthe living God.’”i

27And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the sons of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea,

only the remnant will be saved.

28Forthe Lord will performthe sentence

He is concluding and bringing swiftly upon the earth.”j

29And, as Isaiah foretold:

“Ifthe Lord of Hosts had not left us descendants,

we would have become like Sodom,

and we would have been made like Gomorrah.”k

Israel's Unbelief

30What then will we say? That Gentiles, not pursuing righteousness, have attained righteousness, and righteousness thatis by faith;31but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain tothat law.32Why? Becauseit was not by faith, but as by works. They stumbled over the stone of stumbling,33as it has been written:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense;

and theone believing on Him

will never be put to shame.”l