Letters to the Churches

So take a good look at God’s kindness and his severity: on the one hand, severity toward those who fell off; but, on the other hand, God’s kindness toward you — provided you maintain yourself in that kindness! Otherwise, you too will be cut off!

Moreover, the others, if they do not persist in their lack of trust, will be grafted in; because God is able to graft them back in.

For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!

For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won’t imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra’el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness;

and that it is in this way that all Isra’el will be saved. As the Tanakh says, “Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Ya‘akov

and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins.”

With respect to the Good News they are hated for your sake. But with respect to being chosen they are loved for the Patriarchs’ sake,

for God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable.

Just as you yourselves were disobedient to God before but have received mercy now because of Isra’el’s disobedience;

so also Isra’el has been disobedient now, so that by your showing them the same mercy that God has shown you, they too may now receive God’s mercy.

For God has shut up all mankind together in disobedience, in order that he might show mercy to all.

O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments! How unsearchable are his ways!

For, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has been his counselor?’

Or, ‘Who has given him anything and made him pay it back?’

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you.

In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.

For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust.

For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function;

so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others.

But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust;

if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching;

if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully.

Don’t let love be a mere outward show. Recoil from what is evil, and cling to what is good.

Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect.