19You will say then, ˝Branche...

19You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.

21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

- P143

After explaining Israel’s failure to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, Paul says that, because of Israel’s transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Paul is proud to minister to the Gentiles, but he also hopes to provoke envy in the Israelites and save some of them. He ponders the great riches that can come with the full inclusion of His people finally accepting the gospel. Let us be encouraged! - P144

As God’s people today, our stumbles, struggles, and spiritual stupors cannot stop His powerful love that is capable of saving and sanctifying anyone He chooses. - P144

May we remember Israel in our prayers, and remember Christ’s sacrifice, not just for one nation, but for all of His people around the world. - P144

Heavenly Father, You love Your chosen people, both Jews and Gentiles. As You spread salvation to all of Your people, help me to do my part to bring the good news to them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P-1

24After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
- P143

Israel‘s stumble has resulted in salvation coming to the Gentiles to make Israelenvious. If Israel‘s rejection brings reconciliation, their acceptance will bringlife. Paul compares Israel to branches broken off an olive tree and Gentiles towild branches grafted in. He warns Gentiles not to boast but to continue inGod‘s kindness, or they too will be cut off.me - P143

Paul offers two analogies-dough and an olive tree-to illustrate that God‘soriginal promises to Israel‘s forefathers also apply to their descendants andto show the salvation process for both Israel and the Gentiles.  - P144

Paul remindsthe Gentile believers that it is not by works that they are saved but by thesovereign grace of God. Thus, they should not be arrogant against Israel fortheir failures. We, too, should not be prideful in comparing ourselves to theworld‘s unrighteousness.  - P144

We did not earn our way to God. It is Jesus Christwho earned our salvation for us. Therefore, let us be kind and compassion-ate to everyone as we do our part to help bring His salvation to the world. - P144

Heavenly Father, You love Your chosen people, both Jews and Gentiles. As You spread salvation to all of Your people, help me to do my part to bring the good news to them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P145

4And what was God’s answer to...

4And what was God’s answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
- P138

6And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,

8as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day."
- P139

9And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

10May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."
- P139

Paul says God has not rejected His people. Paul uses his own example andGod‘s word to Elijah to show that God has chosen a faithful remnant by grace.
If we were chosen by works, grace would no longer be grace. Paul quotesDavid and Isaiah to show the future of those who are hardened. - P139

Paul shows that God has clearly not rejected His people because Paul him-self is an Israelite who is descended from Abraham. Paul also uses the exam-ple of Elijah to show God‘s faithfulness. In a time when Israel was steepedin rebellion and idolatry, Elijah felt that he was the only one who remainedfaithful to God. However, Elijah did not realize that God had saved a rem-nant. Some of the people of Israel earnestly sought to understand Godthrough the Law, but they could not hear or understand Him. Others, likePaul, received the grace of knowing and understanding Christ.  - P140

When weare discouraged like Elijah, may we remember God‘s faithfulness and thetestimony of Paul. We can find hope in knowing that God is at work andthat He is faithfully extending His grace. - P140

Dear Jesus, thank you for Your amazing grace, which helps us to stand heretoday. Help us receive Your grace every day so that we may persevere in ourjourney of faith no matter what. In Your name, amen. - P141

17Consequently, faith comes f...

17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. - P132

Paul explains that people cannot believe without hearing. Faith comes fromhearing the message through the word about Christ. Paul says Israel has heardbut not all accepted the good news. He quotes Moses and Isaiah to show thatGod has made Himself known to those who did not seek Him, while Israelremains disobedient and obstinate. - P133

Receiving the gospel requires the ears to hear the word of Christ and the heart to believe in its message. Although this may sound simple, it requires active and diligent work on the part of believers. Paul presents some logical truths of how this endeavor is only possible when believers use their feet to go out where they are sent and when they use their mouths to preach the gospel message. Without this process, those who need salvation are not able to hear the gospel and receive the opportunity to believe in Jesus. - P134

No matter where we go, may we not hesitate to boldly live out the gospel in our actions and speak about Jesus so that others might also believe in Him. - P134

Paul references several Old Testament passages to present the condition ofIsrael: The gospel message has gone out among the Israelites, yet it has beenmet with unbelief. They have been a disobedient and obstinate people,
ignoring God as He continually holds His hands out to them. BecauseHis chosen people do not listen to Him, God provokes envy by openingthe gospel to the Gentiles. They accept Him and call the Lord their God.
Although the Gentiles were not seeking God, they were able to find Him.
- P133

There may be times when we encounter people who do not want to hearand loving, ready to share withwe can remainmain open and lothe gospel. However, we can ranyone who might accept Jesus and call Him Lord. - P133

Father, I approach You with a humble heart. I confess that I am sometimes hesitant to share the gospel. Lend me Your heavenly perspective, especially when I encounter disobedient and obstinate people, so that I may boldly speak about You. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P134

God converses with us primarily through His words in Scripture.
We can also use His words to respond to Him.
Use the following guide to pray through this week‘s memory verse.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory thatwill be revealed in us. - Romans 8:18 - P135

Petition Ask God to strengthen your hope so that you will have the right perspective on yourpresent sufferings. - P135

Paul is pleased that many Gen...

Paul is pleased that many Gentiles have responded to God‘s offer of sal-vation and are obtaining righteousness by their faith, but he laments thatmany Jews have pursued the Law as a way of righteousness. This contrastdemonstrates the importance of faith and humility before God.  - P126

When wethink that we can earn righteousness, we show that we do not understandour relationship to God. Because grace runs counter to the ways of thisworld, some stumble when they encounter Jesus: He is a stumbling stone tothose who try to achieve righteousness on their own. However, those whohumbly recognize Him as the true Lord gratefully receive His forgivenessand mercy and are declared righteous by their faith. - P126

1Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

3Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

4Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

- P128

8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:

- P129

9If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

- P129

10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

11As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."

12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

- P129

13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

- P129

Paul desires salvation for the Israelites because they are zealous withoutknowledge and seek to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God‘s.  - P129

Righteousness by faith acknowledges the Word is near us. Ifpeople declare Jesus is Lord and believe in His resurrection, they will be saved.
- P129

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. - P129

Paul’s desire and prayer is that the Israelites would be saved. He knows how zealous they are for God and how they diligently try to follow the Law, but their zeal is not grounded in their knowledge about the righteousness of God. They try to achieve righteousness by themselves, apart from Him. In failing to submit to His righteousness, they do not see that Christ is the culmination of the Law they study and that righteousness is available to all who believe in Him. - P130

We learn something through Paul’s prayer: that God values the prayers of His people and we can earnestly pray for those who have not yet been saved. We do not pray to move God’s heart; we pray because His heart moves ours.
- P130

Paul references the Old Testament truth of how God‘s Law has been nearto the Israelites in parallel with the New Testament truth that the gospel ofgrace is near to those who believe. When people hear the gospel message,
believe it with their hearts, and confess that belief with their mouths, theywill be saved. This may seem like a simple equation, but Christians knowthat this is an amazing work of God.  - P130

It is not because of superior intellectthat we understand the gospel and believe; it is because God enables us tohear His word, inspires our hearts to believe, and gives us breath to declareit with our mouths. All glory belongs to God. - P130

Dear God, I pray that more would hear the gospel message, believe it in their hearts, and declare it with their mouths. - P131

May I be Your instrument to bring the good news to those who still need to hear it. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P131

30What then shall we say? Tha...

30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;


- P125

31but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.

32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

- P125

33As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame."
- P125

Paul quotes Hosea and Isaiah to show that God includes people who were notoriginally His and preserves a remnant for Israel. Gentiles gained righteousnessby faith, but Israel, pursuing the Law, did not. They stumbled over the "stone"
God placed in Zion. But the one who believes in this stone, Jesus Christ, willnever be put to shame. - P125

Paul uses the reference to Hosea to remind the people of God’s faithfulness. The prophet Hosea was unwaveringly committed to his adulterous wife, representing God’s continual faithfulness to His idolatrous people. The Lord repeatedly demonstrated His loving kindness to Israel, culminating in the atoning death of His Son. - P126

Because of Jesus, we are now included as the children of the living God. The reference to the book of Isaiah is also profound. Although Israel was unfaithful to God, a remnant was saved. - P126

When we recognize the depths of our sin, we realize that we should have received judgment like Sodom and Gomorrah. Instead, we experience the depths of God’s incredible grace.
- P126

Dear Lord, I confess that I am in desperate need of Your mercy. I cast away my own crowns once again and look to You, the rock of my salvation. I rejoice that, because of You, I am a child of the living God. In Your name I pray, amen. - P127