Roma 11 (EVD)

God Has Not Forgotten His People

1So I ask, “Did God throw out his people?” No! I myself am an Israelite (Jew). I am from the family of Abraham, from the family group of Benjamin.

2God chose the Israelites to be his people before {they were born}. And God did not throw out those people. Surely you know what the Scripture says about Elijah. The Scripture tells about Elijah praying to God against the people of Israel. Elijah said,

3“Lord, the people have killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am the only prophet still living. And the people are trying to kill me now.”

4But what answer did God give Elijah? God said, “I have kept for myself 7,000 men that still worship me. These 7,000 men have not given worship to Baal.”

5It is the same now. There are a few people that God has chosen by his grace (kindness).

6And if God chose his people by grace, then it is not the things they have done that made them God’s people. If they could be made God’s people by the things they did, then God’s gift of grace would not really be a gift.

7So this is what has happened: The people of Israel (the Jews) tried {to be right with God}. But they did not succeed. But the people God chose did {become right with him}. The other people became hard and refused to listen to God.

8Like it is written {in the Scriptures}: Isaiah 29:10

9And David says: “Let those people be caught and trapped at their own feasts. Let those people fall and be punished.

10Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see {the truth}. And let them be troubled forever.” Psalm 69:22–23

11So I ask: When the Jews fell, did that fall destroy them? No! But their mistake brought salvation to the non-Jews. This happened to make the Jews jealous.

12The Jews’ mistake brought rich blessings for the world. And what the Jews lost brought rich blessings for the non-Jewish people. So surely the world will get much richer blessings when enough Jews become the kind of people God wants.

13Now I am speaking to you people that are not Jews. I am an apostle to the non-Jews. So while I have that work, I will do the best I can.

14I hope I can make my own people (the Jews) jealous. That way, maybe I can help some of them to be saved.

15God turned away from the Jews. When that happened, God became friends with the other people in the world. So when God accepts the Jews, then surely that will bring to people life after death.

16If the first piece of bread is offered to God, then the whole loaf is made holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, then the tree’s branches are holy too.

17{It is like} some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off, and the branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to that first tree. You non-Jews are the same as that wild branch, and you now share the strength and life of the first tree (the Jews).

18So don’t boast about those branches that were broken off. You have no reason to boast. Why? You don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you.

19You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree.”

20That is true. But those branches were broken off because they did not believe. And you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Don’t be proud, but be afraid.

21If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, then he will not let you stay {if you don’t believe}.

22So you see that God is kind, but he can also be very strict. God punishes those people that stop following him. But God is kind to you, if you continue following in his kindness. If you don’t continue following him, you will be cut off {from the tree}.

23And if the Jews will believe in God again, then God will accept the Jews back again. God is able to put them back where they were.

24It is not natural for a wild branch to become part of a good tree. But you non-Jews are like a branch cut from a wild olive tree. And you were joined to a good olive tree. But those Jews are like a branch that grew from the good tree. So surely they can be joined to their own tree again.

25I want you to understand this secret truth, brothers and sisters. This truth will help you understand that you don’t know everything. The truth is this: Part of Israel has been made stubborn. But that will change when enough non-Jews have come to God.

26And that is how all Israel will be saved. It is written {in the Scriptures}: “ The Savior will come from Zion; He will take away all evil from the family of Jacob.

27And I will make this agreement with those people when I take away their sins.” Isaiah 59:20–21; 27:9

28The Jews refuse to accept the Good News, so they are God’s enemies. This has happened to help you non-Jews. But the Jews are still God’s chosen people. So God loves them very much. God loves them because of {the promises he made to} their fathers.

29God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them. And God never takes back his call to the people.

30At one time you refused to obey God. But now you have received mercy, because those people (the Jews) refused to obey.

31And now the Jews refuse to obey, because God showed mercy to you. But this happened so that they can also receive mercy from God.

32All people have refused to obey God. God has put all people together as people that don’t obey him, so that God can show mercy to all people.

Praise to God

33Yes, God’s riches are very great! God’s wisdom and knowledge have no end! No person can explain the things God decides. No person can understand God’s ways.

34Like the Scripture says, “ Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give God advice?” Isaiah 40:13

35“ Who has ever given God anything? God owes nothing to any person.” Job 41:11

36Yes, God made all things. And everything continues through God and for God. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

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