Romans 11

The Remnant of Israel

1 So, let me ask this: Did God just ditch His people, Nah, no way! I am an Israelite myself, from the tribe of Benjamin. God is not turning His back on His own.

2 God is not rejecting His people He chose from day one. You remember what the Scriptures say about Elijah, how he complained to God about Israel,

3 He was like, “Lord, they killed Your prophets, tore down Your altars, and now they are coming after me. I am the only one left!”

4 But what did God tell him, “I have got 7,000 people who did not bow down to Baal.”

5 Same thing’s happening now. There is a small group, a remnant, chosen by grace.

6 And if it is by grace, it is not by works, because if it were by works, then grace would not be grace anymore.

7 So, what is the deal, The people of Israel did not get what they were chasing, but the chosen ones did. The rest got hardened.

8 Just like it is written: “God gave them a spirit of deep sleep; eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, even to this day.”

9 And David said, “Let their table become a trap, a snare, and a stumbling block. Let it be their payback.

10 Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”

11 So, I ask, did they trip so bad they cannot get back up, No way! Their stumble opened the door for the non-Jews to get saved, and that is going to make Israel jealous.

12 Now, if their failure meant riches for the world and their loss meant riches for the non-Jews, imagine what their full inclusion is going to look like!

13 Now I am talking to you all non-Jews. Since I am an apostle to you all, I am hyping up my mission,

14 Hoping to make my people jealous and maybe save some of them.

15 If their rejection meant reconciliation for the world, what is their acceptance is going to be, Life from the dead!

16 If the first part of the dough is holy, the whole batch is holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 Now, if some branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, got grafted in among them and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

18 Do not start acting cocky toward the broken branches. Remember, you are not holding up the root, the root’s holding you up!

19 You might say, “Yeah, but those branches were broken off so I could be grafted in.”

20 True, but they were broken off because of their lack of faith, and you stand by faith. So, do not be cocky, be humble.

21 If God did not spare the natural branches, you better believe He will not spare you either.

22 Peep God’s kindness and sternness, sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, as long as you keep in His kindness. Otherwise, you will get cut off too.

23 And if they do not stay stuck in unbelief, they can get grafted back in. God has got no problem doing that.

24 If you were cut out of a wild olive tree and grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier is it for the natural branches to be grafted back into their own tree,

God’s Mercy on All

25 Listen, I do not want you all to be ignorant about this mystery, because I do not want you all getting big-headed. Israel’s hardness is temporary, and it is going to stay like that until all the non-Jews come in.

26 And then all Israel will be saved, just like it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of 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 goes, they are enemies for your sake. But as far as election goes, they are loved because of the OGs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

29 God’s gifts and calling are permanent, He is not taking them back.

30 Just like you all were once disobedient to God but now got mercy because Israel was disobedient,

31 They are disobedient now so that they too can get mercy, just like you.

32 God put everybody in a position of disobedience so He could show mercy to everyone.

33 Oh man, the depth of God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge! His decisions are unsearchable, and His ways are beyond figuring out.

34 “Who can know the mind of the Lord, Or who can give Him advice?”

35 “Who has ever given to God that God should repay them?”

36 Everything comes from Him, through Him, and for Him. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.