Part 11

45:010:021 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

45:011:001 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

45:011:002 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

45:011:003 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

45:011:004 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.

45:011:005 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

45:011:006 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.

45:011:007 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

45:011:008 (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.

45:011:009 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

45:011:010 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

45:011:011 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

45:011:012 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?

45:011:013 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

45:011:014 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

45:011:015 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?

45:011:016 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

45:011:017 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

45:011:018 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

45:011:019 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

45:011:020 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

45:011:021 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

45:011:022 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.

45:011:023 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

45:011:024 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

45:011:025 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

45:011:026 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:

45:011:027 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.