Nov 23 - Romans 10-12
Romans
1Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.2I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.3For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.6But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)7or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).8But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.13For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.18But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."19But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."20Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."21But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."
1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?3"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."4But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."5So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.6But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.7What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,8as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."9And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;10let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."11So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.12Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry14in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.15For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?16If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,18do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.19Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."20That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.21For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.22Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.23And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.24For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.25Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.26And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";27"and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins."28As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.30Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,31so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.32For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!34"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"35"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."20To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.