111 I say then , God has not rejected His people , has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite , a descendant of Abraham , of the tribe of Benjamin . 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew . Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah , how he pleads with God against Israel ? 3 "Lord , THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS , THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS , AND I ALONE AM LEFT , AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE ." 4 But what is the divine response to him? " I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL ." 5 In the same way then , there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice . 6 But if it is by grace , it is no longer on the basis of works , otherwise grace is no longer grace . 7 What then ? What Israel is seeking , it has not obtained , but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened ; 8 just as it is written , " GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR , EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY ." 9 And David says , " LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP , AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 " LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER e ."
11 I say then , they did not stumble so as to fall , did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles , to make them jealous . 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles , how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles . Inasmuch e then as I am an apostle of Gentiles , I magnify my ministry , 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world , what will their acceptance be but life from the dead ? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy , the lump is also ; and if the root is holy , the branches are too . 17 But if some of the branches were broken off , and you, being a wild olive , were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree , 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches ; but if you are arrogant , remember that it is not you who supports the root , but the root supports you. 19 You will say then , "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 Quite right , they were broken off for their unbelief , but you stand by your faith . Do not be conceited e , but fear ; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches , He will not spare you, either . 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God ; to those who fell , severity , but to you, God's kindness , if you continue in His kindness ; otherwise you also will be cut off . 23 And they also , if they do not continue in their unbelief , will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again . 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree , and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree , how much more will these who are the natural e branches be grafted into their own olive tree ?
25 For I do not want you, brethren , to be uninformed of this mystery -so e that you will not be wise in your own estimation -that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved ; just as it is written , " THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION , HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB ." 27 " THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS ." 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake , but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers ; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable . 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God , but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience , 31 so these also now have been disobedient , that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy . 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all .
33 Oh , the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways ! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE Lord , OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR ? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things . To Him be the glory forever . Amen .
121 Therefore I urge you, brethren , by the mercies of God , to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice , acceptable to God , which is your spiritual service of worship . 2 And do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind , so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect . 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think ; but to think so as to have sound judgment , as God has allotted to each a measure of faith . 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function , 5 so we, who are many , are one body in Christ , and individually e members one of another . 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy , according to the proportion of his faith ; 7 if service , in his serving ; or he who teaches , in his teaching ; 8 or he who exhorts , in his exhortation ; he who gives , with liberality ; he who leads , with diligence ; he who shows mercy , with cheerfulness . 9 Let love be without hypocrisy . Abhor what is evil ; cling to what is good . 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love ; give preference to one another in honor ; 11 not lagging behind in diligence , fervent in spirit , serving the Lord ; 12 rejoicing in hope , persevering in tribulation , devoted to prayer , 13 contributing to the needs of the saints , practicing hospitality . 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse . 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice , and weep with those who weep . 16 Be of the same mind toward one another ; do not be haughty in mind , but associate with the lowly . Do not be wise in your own estimation . 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone . Respect what is right in the sight of all men . 18 If possible , so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men . 19 Never take your own revenge , beloved , but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written , " VENGEANCE IS MINE , I WILL REPAY ," says the Lord . 20 " BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY , FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY , GIVE HIM A DRINK ; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD ." 21 Do not be overcome by evil , but overcome evil with good .
131 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities . For there is no authority except from God , and those which exist are established by God . 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God ; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves . 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior , but for evil . Do you want to have no fear of authority ? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same ; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good . But if you do what is evil , be afraid ; for it does not bear the sword for nothing ; for it is a minister of God , an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil . 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection , not only because of wrath , but also for conscience' sake . 6 For because of this you also pay taxes , for rulers are servants of God , devoting themselves to this very thing .
7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom ; fear to whom fear ; honor to whom honor . 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another ; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law . 9 For this , " YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY , YOU SHALL NOT MURDER , YOU SHALL NOT STEAL , YOU SHALL NOT COVET ," and if there is any other commandment , it is summed up in this saying , " YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF ." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor ; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law .
11 Do this , knowing the time , that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep ; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed . 12 The night is almost gone , and the day is near . Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light . 13 Let us behave properly as in the day , not in carousing and drunkenness , not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality , not in strife and jealousy . 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ , and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts .
