Romans 9:1-13 - Israel's Rejection
1 I am speaking the truth as one in union with Christ; it is no lie; and my conscience, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, 2 Bears me out when I say that there is a great weight of sorrow upon me and that my heart is never free from pain. 3 I could wish that I were myself accursed and severed from the Christ, for the sake of my Brothers-my own countrymen. 4 For they are Israelites, and theirs are the adoption as Sons, the visible Presence, the Covenants, the revealed Law, the Temple worship, and the Promises. 5 They are descended from the Patriarchs; and, as far as his human nature was concerned, from them came the Christ-he who is supreme over all things, God for ever blessed. Amen.
6 Not that God's Word has failed. For it is not all who are descended from Israel who are true Israelites; 7 Nor, because they are Abraham's descendants, are they all his Children; but-'It is Isaac's children who will be called thy descendants.' 8 This means that it is not the children born in the course of nature who are God's Children, but it is the children born in fulfillment of the Promise who are to be regarded as Abraham's descendants. 9 For these words are the words of a promise-'About this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.' 10 Nor is that all. There is also the case of Rebecca, when she was about to bear children to our ancestor Isaac. 11 For in order that the purpose of God, working through selection, might not fail-a selection depending, not on obedience, but on his Call-Rebecca was told, before her children were born and before they had done anything either right or wrong, 12 that 'the elder would be a servant to the younger.' 13 The words of Scripture are-'I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.'