A Remnant Chosen by Grace

I ask then, {did} God vvv reject His people? vvv Certainly not! I am an Israelite [myself], vvv a descendant of Abraham, from [the] tribe of Benjamin. 2 God vvv did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. vvv Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel, saying,[fn] 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I [am] the only one left, and they are seeking my life [ as well ]”[fn]?

4 

[And] what [was] the divine reply to him?“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who {have} not bowed [the] knee to Baal.”[fn]

5 

In the same way at the present time there is a remnant vvv chosen by grace. 6 And if [it is] by grace, [then it is] no longer by works. Otherwise, grace {would} no longer be grace. But if [it is] by works, [then] it is no longer [by] grace. Otherwise, work {would} no longer be work.[fn]

7 

What then? What Israel was seeking vvv it failed to obtain, but the elect [did]. The others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that vvv could not see,

and ears that vvv could not hear,

to this very day

9 

And David says:

“{May} their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

10 

{May} their eyes be darkened vvv vvv [so] they cannot see,

and their backs be bent vvv forever.”[fn]

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