Romans 11; Romans 12; Romans 13
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 the 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 is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be
grace. 7What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not
obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8 as it
is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not
see and ears so that they 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 fullness bring! 13 I am talking to you Gentiles.
Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of 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 is the reconciliation of 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 boast over those 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 be afraid. 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! 25 I do not want you to be ignorant of
this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has
experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come
in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from
Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away
their sins." 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they
are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are
loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts and his
call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time
disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so
they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive
mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 32 For God has bound
all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. 33 Oh,
the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!34 "Who has
known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who
has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For
from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory
forever! Amen.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is
your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to
the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good,
pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say
to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but
rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of
faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body
with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so
in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace
given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his
faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him
teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is
leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling
to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly
love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in
zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share
with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.14 Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice
with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in
harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with
people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay
anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of
everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my
friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to
avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something
to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently,
he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For
rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do
you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right
and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you
good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the
wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the
authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of
conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the
authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give
everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue;
if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Let no debt
remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who
loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments,
"Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not
steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may
be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as
yourself." 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor.
Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this,
understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your
slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The
night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of
darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave
decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual
immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather,
clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to
gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
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