For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

For nature did not of its own accord give up to failure; it was for the sake of Him who let it thus be given up, in the hope

Not only that but this too, we ourselves who enjoy the Spirit as a foretaste of the future, even we ourselves, keep up our inner groanings while we wait to enter upon our adoption as God's sons at the redemption of our bodies.

For we were saved with this hope in mind. Now a hope that can be observed is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be seen?

But a hope that is seen is not real hope, for who hopes for what he actually sees? But if we hope for something we do not see, we keep on patiently waiting for it.

and He who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit thinks, for He pleads for His people in accordance with God's will.

Yes, we know that all things go on working together for the good of those who keep on loving God, who are called in accordance with God's purpose.

For those on whom He set His heart beforehand He marked off as His own to be made like His Son, that He might be the eldest of many brothers;

and those whom He marked off as His own He also calls; and those whom He calls He brings into right standing with Himself; those whom He brings into right standing with Himself He also glorifies.

What are we then to say to facts like these? If God is for us, who can be against us?

The one who did not spare his own Son, but offered him as a sacrifice for all of us, surely will give us all things, along with his Son, won't he?

Who can bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who declared them in right standing;

who can condemn them? Christ Jesus who died, or rather, who was raised from the dead, is now at God's right hand, and is actually pleading for us.

Who can separate us from Christ's love? Can suffering or misfortune or persecution or hunger or destitution or danger or the sword?

And yet in all these things we keep on gloriously conquering through Him who loved us.

for I could wish to be as one anathematiz'd from the christian church for my brethren, who are of the same race as my self,

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;

the patriarchs, and from them by natural descent the Christ has come, who is exalted over all, God blessed forever. Amen!

And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel;

neither are they who are the race of Abraham, all children: but 'tis said, "in Isaac shall thy posterity be called."

That is, it is not Abraham's natural descendants who are God's children, but those who are made children by the promise are counted his true descendants.

Not only that but this too: There was Rebecca who was impregnated by our forefather Isaac.

(for they being not yet born, neither having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to choice, might remain; not of works, but of Him who is calling,) it was said to her --

not by works but by the one who calls--it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger,"

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.

so, then -- not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness:

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

So you will ask me, "Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?"

On the contrary, friend, who are you anyway that you would answer back to God? Can the clay that is molded ask the man who molds it, "Why did you make me like this?"

And what if God, while choosing to make manifest the terrors of His anger and to show what is possible with Him, has yet borne with long-forbearing patience with the subjects of His anger who stand ready for destruction,

so as to make known the riches of His glory for the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in ages past to share His glory --

even us whom He has called, not only from among the Jews but from among the heathen too?

Just as He says in Hosea: "I will call a people that was not mine, my people, and her who was not beloved, my beloved,

And in regard to Israel, Isaiah exclaims. Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sands of the sea, it is but a remnant of those who shall be saved;

What are we then to conclude? That heathen peoples who were not in search for right standing with God have obtained it, and that a right standing conditioned on faith;

But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law.

And why? Simply because Israel has relied not on faith but on what they could do. They have stumbled over the stone that makes men stumble ??33 as it is written, Here I lay a stone in Sion that will make men stumble, even a rock to trip them up; but he who believes in Him will never be disappointed.

as the Scripture says: "See, I put on Zion a stone for causing people to stumble, a rock to trip them on, but no one who puts his faith in it will ever be put to shame."

For Christ has put an end to law as a way to right standing for everyone who puts his trust in Him.

for Moses doth describe the righteousness that is of the law, that, 'The man who did them shall live in them,'

But here is what the faith-way to right standing says, "Do not say to yourself, 'Who will go up to heaven?'" that is, to bring Christ down;

or "'Who will go down into the depths?'" that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.

For the Scripture says, "No one who puts his faith in Him will ever be put to shame."

But there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is over them all, because He is infinitely kind to all who call upon Him.

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

But how can people call upon One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in One about whom they have not heard? And how can people hear without someone to preach to them?

And how can men preach unless they are sent to do so? As the Scripture says, "How beautiful are the feet of men who bring the glad news of His good things!"

However, they have not all given heed to the good news, for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has put faith in what we told?"

but all do not obey the gospel. for Esaias saith, "Lord, who hath believed our report?"

Again I ask, "Did Israel not understand?" Moses was the first to say, "I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that doesn't understand."

Then Isaiah was bold enough to say: "I have been found by a people who were not searching for me; I have made known myself to people who were not asking to know me."

But about Israel he says; All the day my hands have been stretched out to a people whose hearts were turned away, and who put themselves against my word.

No, God has not disowned His people, on whom He set His heart beforehand. Do you know what the Scripture says in Elijah's case, how he pleaded with God against Israel?

But how did God reply to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have never bent their knees to Baal."

In the same way, there are at this present time some who are marked out by the selection of grace.

What follows? Israel failed to get what it sought, but those whom God selected got it.

Now if the Jews sinning meant blessings for [the rest of] the world, and their [spiritual] defection meant blessings for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness [also produce blessings]! [Note: "Fullness" here may mean either a large or the complete number of Jews who will be saved, or become completely obedient to God].

Yes, I now am speaking to you who are a part of the heathen peoples. As I am an apostle to the heathen peoples, I am making the most of my ministry to them, to see

If in any way those who are of my flesh may be moved to envy, so that some of them may get salvation by me.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you who were only a wild olive shoot have been grafted in, in place of them, and made to share the richness of the olive's root,

Do not be uplifted in pride over the branches: because it is not you who are the support of the root, but it is by the root that you are supported.

So take a look at the goodness and the severity of God; severity to those who have fallen, but goodness to you, on condition that you continue to live by His goodness; otherwise, you too will be pruned away.

for if thou, out of the olive tree, wild by nature, wast cut out, and, contrary to nature, wast graffed into a good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature, be graffed into their own olive tree?

For I want you to know this secret, brothers, so you will not become conceited: Part of the Israelites have become [spiritually] insensitive [to God], [and will remain that way] until the fullness of the Gentiles occurs. [Note: As with verse 12, concerning the Jews, "fullness" here may mean either a large or the complete number of Gentiles who will be saved].

and so all Israel shall be saved, according as it hath been written, 'There shall come forth out of Sion he who is delivering, and he shall turn away impiety from Jacob,

Now in response to the [proclamation of the] good news [about Christ], the Jews became [God's] enemies for the sake of you [Gentiles]. But concerning [God's] select people, these Jews became [God's] dearly loved ones for the sake of their forefathers [i.e, who believed God's promises regarding their descendants].

for God does not change his mind about those to whom he gives his blessings or sends his call.

For who has ever understood the thoughts of the Lord, or has ever been His adviser?

Or who has ever advanced God anything to have Him pay him back?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

For I say, through the grace that was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal a measure of faith,

so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of each other.

or ministration -- 'In the ministration!' or he who is teaching -- 'In the teaching!'

or of one who encourages others, in the field of encouragement; or one who gives his money, with liberality; or one who leads others, with earnestness; or one who does deeds of charity, with cheerfulness.

Communicate to the necessities of the saints, pursue hospitality, Bless them who persecute you;

Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them.

Practice rejoicing with people who rejoice, and weeping with people who weep.

Do not take revenge on someone who has wronged you, but leave it up to God's wrath [to take care of it], for it is written [Deut. 22:35], "The Lord says, I will pay people back [for doing wrong] because taking revenge belongs to me."

But if one who has hate for you is in need of food or of drink, give it to him, for in so doing you will put coals of fire on his head.

Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

so that anyone who resists the authorities sets himself against what God has established, and those who set themselves against Him will get the penalty due them.

For civil authorities are not a terror to the man who does right, but they are to the man who does wrong. Do you want to have no dread of the civil authorities? Then practice doing right and you will be commended for it.

For the civil authorities are God's servants to do you good. But if you practice doing wrong, you should dread them, for they do not wield the sword for nothing. Indeed, they are God's servants to inflict punishment upon people who do wrong.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God's servants to administer punishment to anyone who does wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities, not only for the sake of God's punishment, but also for the sake of your own conscience.

This is the reason why you should pay taxes also. For the authorities are God's servants who continually tend to this matter [i.e., of collecting taxes].

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other -- law he hath fulfilled,

Let us live becomingly for people who are in the light of day, not in carousing and drunkenness, nor in sexual immorality and licentiousness, nor in quarreling and jealousy.

Make it your practice to receive into full Christian fellowship people who are overscrupulous, but not to criticize their views.

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

The man who eats anything must not look down on the man who does not do so, nor must the man who does not do so condemn the man who does, for God has fully accepted him.

Who are you to criticize another man's servant? It is his own master's business whether he stands or falls, and he will stand, for the Lord has power to make him stand.

There are some who esteem one day above another; there are others who esteem all days alike; let each other be fully persuaded in his own mind.

The man who keeps a certain day keeps it for the Lord. The man who eats anything does it for the Lord too, for he gives God thanks. The man who refuses to eat anything does it for the Lord too, and gives God thanks.

For this is the reason that Christ died and [now] lives again, so that He could be Lord of both those who have [already] died and those who are [still] alive.

But you who eat vegetables only -- why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything -- why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

I know, and through my union with the Lord Jesus I have a clear conviction, that nothing is unclean in itself; that a thing is unclean only to the person who thinks it unclean.

For if your brother is hurt because of the food you eat, you are not living by the standard of love. Stop ruining, by what you eat, the man for whom Christ died.

for he who in these things is serving the Christ, is acceptable to God and approved of men.

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.