“1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness
in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my
heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,
my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth]
the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and
the service [of God], and the promises; 5 Whose [are] the fathers, and of whom
as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all, God blessed for ever.
Amen.”
“6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not
all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of
Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That
is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of
God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this [is]
the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And
not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our
father Isaac; 11 (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any
good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of
works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve
the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”
“14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then [it is] not of
him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For
the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee
up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have
mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth
he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art
thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed
[it], Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of
the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22
[What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured
with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that
he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he
had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews
only, but also of the Gentiles?”
“25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my
people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass,
[that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there
shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 Esaias also crieth
concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of
the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut [it]
short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we
had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.”
“30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after
righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is
of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not
attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not
by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that
stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and
rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans
9:1-33 AV)
© 2011-2018 Kathy L. McFarland. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy