Christian Transformation

¹ I say then, Hath God cast away his people [the Israelites]? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
² God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not [Don't you know] what the scripture saith of Elias [Elijah]? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
³ Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [1 Kings 19:10]
⁴ But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [1 Kings 19:18]
⁵ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant [small amount remaining] according to the election of Grace [who God has chosen - the 'elect'ion].
⁶ And if by Grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise Grace is no more Grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more Grace: otherwise work is no more work.

⁷ What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election [seven thousand] hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
⁸ (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. [Isaiah 29:10]
⁹ And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. [Psalms 69:22-23]
¹¹ I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall [Is salvation hopeless for them]? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
¹² Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
¹⁴ If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
¹⁵ For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

¹⁶ For if the firstfruit be Holy [God's first fruits are the Israelites, or the olive trees], the lump [the entire tree] is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
¹⁸ Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
¹⁹ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off [rejected], that I might be grafted [fitted] in.
²⁰ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
²¹ For if God spared not the natural branches [the Jewish people], take heed lest he also spare not thee.
²² Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
²³ And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
²⁴ For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness [hardness, stubbornness] in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in [until the Time of the Gentiles is complete].

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

²⁷ For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
²⁸ As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. [Deuteronomy 7:8]

²⁹ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
³⁰ For as ye in times past have not believed God [during the Time of the Jewish people], yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief [in Jesus]:
³¹ Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
³² For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.
³³ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
³⁴ For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor [Who can give God advice]?
³⁵ Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? [Job 41:11]
³⁶ For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.