Study Desk

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God-and He is interceding for us.

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!

Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

One of you will say to me, "Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?"

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"

What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?

and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.

For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.

that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: