Study Desk

For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.

For the scripture says, " Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame ."

For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved .

But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, " Lord , who has believed our report ?"

And Isaiah is even bold enough to say, " I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me ."

So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

But what was the divine response to him? " I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal ."

And David says, " Let their table become a snare and trap , a stumbling block and a retribution for them ;

Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

And even they—if they do not continue in their unbelief—will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.

For who has known the mind of the Lord , or who has been his counselor?

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.