11I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.G3004G3767G3361G683G2316G683G846G2992G3361G1096G1063G1473G2532G1510G2475G1537G4690G11G5443G958 2No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said,G2316G683G3756G683G846G2992G3739G4267G2228G1492G3756G5101G1124G3004G1722G2243G5613G1793G2316G2596G2474G3004 3"LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."G2962G615G4675G4396G2532G2679G4675G2379G2504G5275G3441G2532G2212G3450G5590 4And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!"G235G5101G3004G5538G846G2641G1683G2035G435G3748G2578G3756G2578G1119G896 5It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them.G3779G3767G1722G3568G2540G2532G1096G3005G2596G1589G5485 6And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.G1161G1487G5485G2089G3765G1537G2041G1893G5485G1096G2089G3765G5485G1161G1487G1537G2041G2076G2089G3765G5485G1893G2041G2076G2089G3765G2041 7So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.G5101G3767G2474G2013G3756G2013G5127G3739G1934G1161G1589G2013G1161G3062G4456 8As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear."G2531G1125G2316G1325G846G4151G2659G3788G991G3361G991G2532G3775G191G3361G191G2193G4594G2250 9Likewise, David said, "Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.G2532G1138G3004G1096G846G5132G1096G1519G3803G2532G1519G2339G2532G1519G4625G2532G1519G468G846 10Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever."G4654G846G3788G4654G991G3361G991G2532G4781G846G3577G1275 11Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.G3004G3767G3361G4417G2443G4098G3361G1096G235G846G3900G4991G1484G1519G3863G846G3863 12Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.G1161G1487G3900G846G4149G2889G2532G2275G846G4149G1484G4214G3123G846G4138 13I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,G1063G3004G5213G1484G1909G3745G3303G1473G1510G652G1484G1392G3450G1248 14for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.G1513G4458G3863G3450G4561G2532G4982G5100G1537G846 15For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!G1063G1487G580G846G2643G2889G5101G4356G1508G2222G1537G3498 16And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.G1161G1487G536G40G5445G2532G2532G1487G4491G40G2532G2798 17But some of these branches from Abraham's tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree.G1161G1536G2798G1575G1161G4771G5607G65G1461G1722G846G2532G4791G1096G4791G4491G2532G4096G1636 18But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.G2620G3361G2620G2798G1161G1487G2620G4771G941G3756G4491G235G4491G4571 19"Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me."G2046G3767G2798G1575G2443G1473G1461 20Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn't believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.G2573G570G1575G1161G4771G2476G4102G5309G3361G5309G235G5399 21For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either.G1063G1487G2316G5339G3756G5449G2798G2596G4458G3381G5339G3381G5339G3761G4675 22Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.G1492G3767G5544G2532G663G2316G1909G4098G3303G663G1161G1909G4571G5544G1437G1961G5544G1893G4771G2532G1581 23And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.G1161G1565G2532G3362G1961G3362G570G1461G1063G2316G2076G1415G1461G846G1461G3825 24You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.G1063G1487G4771G1581G1537G65G2596G5449G2532G1461G3844G5449G1519G2565G4214G3123G3778G2596G5449G1461G2398G1636 25I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.G1063G2309G3756G80G5209G50G5124G3466G3363G5600G5429G3844G1438G3754G4457G575G3313G1096G2474G891G3739G4138G1484G1525 26And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, "The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.G2532G3779G3956G2474G4982G2531G1125G2240G1537G4622G4506G2532G654G763G575G2384 27And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins."G2532G3778G3844G1700G1242G846G3752G851G846G266 28Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.G2596G3303G2098G2190G1223G5209G1161G2596G1589G27G1223G3962G1223 29For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.G1063G5486G2532G2821G2316G278 30Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.G1063G5618G2532G5210G4218G544G2316G1161G1653G3568G1653G5130G543 31Now they are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy.G3779G544G3778G2532G3568G544G2443G5212G1656G846G2532G1653 32For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.G1063G2316G4788G3956G1519G543G2443G1653G3956 33Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!G5599G899G4149G2532G4678G2532G1108G2316G5613G419G846G2917G2532G846G3598G421 34For who can know the LORD's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?G1063G5101G1097G3563G2962G2228G5101G1096G846G4825 35And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?G2228G5101G4272G846G2532G467G846G467 36For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.G3754G1537G846G2532G1223G846G2532G1519G846G3956G846G1391G1519G165G281
12And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.G3870G5209G3767G80G1223G3628G2316G3936G5216G4983G2198G2378G40G2101G2316G5216G3050G2999 2Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.G2532G4964G3361G4964G5129G165G235G3339G342G5216G3563G1519G5209G1381G5101G18G2532G2101G2532G5046G2307G2316 3Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.G1063G3004G1223G5485G1325G3427G3956G5607G1722G5213G3361G3844G5252G3739G1163G5426G235G5426G1519G4993G5613G2316G3307G1538G3358G4102 4Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,G1063G2509G2192G4183G3196G1722G1520G4983G1161G3956G3196G2192G3756G846G4234 5so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.G3779G2070G4183G2070G1520G4983G1722G5547G1161G2596G1520G3196G240 6In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.G2192G1161G5486G1313G2596G5485G1325G2254G1535G4394G2596G356G4102 7If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.G1535G1248G1722G1248G1535G1321G1722G1319 8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.G1535G3870G1722G3874G3330G1722G572G4291G1722G4710G1653G1722G2432 9Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.G26G505G655G4190G2853G18 10Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.G5387G1519G240G5360G5092G4285G240 11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.G3361G3636G4710G2204G4151G1398G2962 12Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.G5463G1680G5278G2347G4342G4335 13When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.G2841G5532G40G1377G5381 14Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.G2127G1377G5209G2127G2532G2672G3361 15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.G5463G3326G5463G2532G2799G3326G2799 16Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!G846G5426G1519G240G5426G3361G5308G235G4879G5011G1096G3361G5429G3844G1438 17Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.G591G3367G2556G473G2556G4306G2570G1799G3956G444 18Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.G1487G1415G1537G5216G1514G3326G3956G444 19Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back,"G27G1556G3361G1438G235G1325G5117G3709G1063G1125G1557G1698G1473G467G3004G2962 20Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads."G3767G1437G4675G2190G3983G5595G846G1437G1372G4222G846G4222G1063G5124G4160G4987G440G4442G1909G846G2776 21Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.G3528G3361G3528G5259G2556G235G3528G2556G1722G18
13Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.G3956G5590G5293G5242G1849G1063G2076G3756G1849G1508G575G2316G1161G1849G5607G1526G5021G5259G2316 2So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.G5620G498G1849G436G1296G2316G1161G436G2983G1438G2917 3For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.G1063G758G1526G3756G5401G18G2041G235G2556G2309G1161G3361G5399G1849G4160G18G2532G2192G1868G1537G846 4The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.G1063G2076G1249G2316G4671G1519G18G1161G1437G4160G2556G5399G1063G5409G3756G3162G1500G1063G2076G1249G2316G1558G3709G1519G4238G2556 5So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.G1352G318G5293G3756G3440G1223G3709G235G2532G4893G1223 6Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.G1063G1223G5124G1223G5055G5411G2532G1063G1526G2316G3011G4342G1519G5124G846 7Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.G591G3767G3956G3782G5411G3588G5411G5056G3588G5056G5401G3588G5401G5092G3588G5092 8Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.G3784G3367G3367G1508G25G240G1063G25G2087G4137G3551 9For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."G1063G3431G3756G3431G5407G3756G5407G2813G3756G2813G5576G3756G5576G1937G3756G1937G2532G1536G2087G1785G346G1722G5129G3056G1722G25G4675G4139G5613G1438 10Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.G26G2038G3756G2556G4139G3767G26G4138G3551 11This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.G2532G5124G1492G2540G3754G2235G5610G2248G1453G1537G5258G1063G3568G2257G4991G1452G2228G3753G4100 12The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.G3571G4298G1161G2250G1448G659G3767G659G2041G4655G2532G1746G3696G5457 13Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.G4043G2156G5613G1722G2250G3361G2970G2532G3178G3361G2845G2532G766G3361G2054G2532G2205 14Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.G235G1746G2962G2424G5547G2532G4160G3361G4307G1519G4561G1939
14Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.G770G4102G4355G1161G3361G1519G1261G12532For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.G3303G3739G4100G5315G3956G1161G770G2068G30013Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.G1848G3361G2068G1848G2068G3361G2532G2068G3361G2068G3361G2919G2068G1063G2316G4355G8464Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord's help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.G5101G1488G4771G2919G245G3610G2398G2962G4739G2228G4098G1161G2476G1063G2316G2076G1415G2476G846G24765In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.G3303G3739G2919G2250G3844G2250G1161G3739G2919G3956G2250G4135G1538G4135G1722G2398G35636Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.G5426G2250G5426G2962G2532G5426G3361G2250G2962G5426G3756G5426G2068G2068G2962G1063G2316G2168G2532G2068G3361G2962G2068G3756G2532G2316G21687For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves.G1063G3762G2257G2198G1438G2532G3762G599G14388If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.G1063G1437G5037G2198G2198G2962G1437G5037G599G599G2962G1437G5037G2198G3767G1437G5037G599G2070G29629Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.G1063G1519G5124G5547G2532G599G2532G450G2532G326G2443G2961G2532G3498G2532G219810So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.G1161G5101G2919G4771G2919G4675G80G2228G2532G5101G1848G4771G1848G4675G80G1063G3936G3956G3936G968G554711For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.'"G1063G1125G1473G2198G3004G2962G3754G3956G1119G2578G1698G2532G3956G1100G1843G231612Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.G3767G686G1538G2257G1325G3056G4012G1438G231613So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.G2919G3767G2919G240G3371G235G2919G5124G3123G3361G5087G4348G2228G4625G8014I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.G1492G2532G3982G1722G2962G2424G3754G3762G2839G1223G1438G1508G3049G5100G1511G2839G1565G283915And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.G1161G1487G4675G80G3076G1223G1033G3765G4043G3765G26G2596G622G3361G1565G4675G1033G5228G3739G5547G59916Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.G3361G3767G5216G18G98717For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.G1063G932G2316G2076G3756G1035G2532G4213G235G1343G2532G1515G2532G5479G1722G40G415118If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.G1063G1722G5125G1398G5547G2101G2316G2532G1384G44419So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.G1377G686G3767G1377G3588G1515G2532G1519G240G3619G24020Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.G1752G1033G2647G3361G2041G2316G3956G3303G2513G235G2556G444G2068G1223G434821It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.G2570G3361G5315G2907G3366G4095G3631G3366G1722G3739G4675G80G4350G2228G4624G2228G77022You may believe there's nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.G2192G4771G4102G2192G2596G4572G1799G2316G3107G2919G3361G1438G1722G3739G138123But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.G1161G1252G2632G1437G5315G3754G3756G1537G4102G1161G3739G3956G3756G1537G4102G2076G266
Dublin, OH
G2962
