Romans 11
God has not rejected his people, Israel, as there is a remnant that has been saved by God's choice of grace. The rest of Israel has been blinded to the truth, as written in Scripture, and their offense has led to salvation for the Gentiles. However, this does not mean Israel has fallen completely, as their return would be like life from death. Gentiles who have been grafted onto the olive tree of faith should not boast, but rather be afraid, as God can also cut them off if they do not remain in faith. Ultimately, all of Israel will be saved when the fullness of the Gentiles has arrived, and God's gifts and call are without regret.
Therefore, I say: Has God driven away his people? Let it not be so! For I, too, am an Israelite of the offspring of Abraham, from the tribe of BenjaminGod has not driven away his people, whom he foreknew. And do you not know what Scripture says in Elijah, how he calls upon God against Israel"Lord, they have slain your Prophets. They have overturned your altars. And I alone remain, and they are seeking my life.But what is the Divine response to him? "I have retained for myself seven thousand men, who have not bent their knees before Baal.Therefore, in the same way, again in this time, there is a remnant that has been saved in accord with the choice of graceAnd if it is by grace, then it is not now by works; otherwise grace is no longer freeWhat is next? What Israel was seeking, he has not obtained. But the elect have obtained it. And truly, these others have been blindedjust as it was written: "God has given them a spirit of reluctance: eyes that do not perceive, and ears that do not hear, even until this very day.And David says: "Let their table become like a snare, and a deception, and a scandal, and a retribution for themLet their eyes be obscured, so that they may not see, and so that they may bow down their backs always.Therefore, I say: Have they stumbled in such a way that they should fall? Let it not be so! Instead, by their offense, salvation is with the Gentiles, so that they may be a rival to themNow if their offense is the riches of the world, and if their diminution is the riches of the Gentiles, how much more is their fullnessFor I say to you Gentiles: Certainly, as long as I am an Apostle to the Gentiles, I will honor my ministryin such a way that I might provoke to rivalry those who are my own flesh, and so that I may save some of themFor if their loss is for the reconciliation of the world, what could their return be for, except life out of deathFor if the first-fruit has been sanctified, so also has the whole. And if the root is holy, so also are the branchesAnd if some of the branches are broken, and if you, being a wild olive branch, are grafted on to them, and you become a partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive treedo not glorify yourself above the branches. For though you glory, you do not support the root, but the root supports youTherefore, you would say: The branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted onWell enough. They were broken off because of unbelief. But you stand on faith. So do not choose to savor what is exalted, but instead be afraidFor if God has not spared the natural branches, perhaps also he might not spare youSo then, notice the goodness and the severity of God. Certainly, toward those who have fallen, there is severity; but toward you, there is the goodness of God, if you remain in goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut offMoreover, if they do not remain in unbelief, they will be grafted on. For God is able to graft them on againSo if you have been cut off from the wild olive tree, which is natural to you, and, contrary to nature, you are grafted on to the good olive tree, how much more shall those who are the natural branches be grafted on to their own olive treeFor I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery (lest you seem wise only to yourselves) that a certain blindness has occurred in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has arrivedAnd in this way, all of Israel may be saved, just as it was written: "From Zion shall arrive he who delivers, and he shall turn impiety away from JacobAnd this will be my covenant for them, when I will take away their sins.Certainly, according to the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But according to the election, they are most beloved for the sake of the fathersFor the gifts and the call of God are without regretAnd just as you also, in times past, did not believe in God, but now you have obtained mercy because of their unbeliefso also have these now not believed, for your mercy, so that they might obtain mercy alsoFor God has enclosed everyone in unbelief, so that he may have mercy on everyoneOh, the depths of the richness of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable are his waysFor who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselorOr who first gave to him, so that repayment would be owedFor from him, and through him, and in him are all things. To him is glory, for all eternity. Amen
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