²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,^(A) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.^{(B) 29} No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,^(C) by the Spirit,^(D) not by the written code.^(E) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.^(F)

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace^(A) and may be guaranteed^(B) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.^(C)

⁹ If you declare^(A) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(B) and believe^(C) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,^(D) you will be saved.^{(E) 10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”^{[a](F) 12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile^(G)—the same Lord is Lord of all^(H) and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord^(I) will be saved.”^[b](J)

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^[c](K)

¹³ I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(A) I take pride in my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(B) and save^(C) some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection brought reconciliation^(D) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^{(E) 16} If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^(F) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off,^(G) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^(H) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^{(I) 19} You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(J) Do not be arrogant,^(K) but tremble.^{(L) 21} For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness^(M) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(N) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^{(O) 23} And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^{(P) 24} After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(Q) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant^(R) of this mystery,^(S) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:^(T) Israel has experienced a hardening^(U) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^{(V) 26} and in this way^[a] all Israel will be saved.^(W) As it is written:

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies^(Y) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,^{(Z) 29} for God’s gifts and his call^(AA) are irrevocable.^{(AB) 30} Just as you who were at one time disobedient^(AC) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[d] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³² For God has bound everyone over to disobedience^(AD) so that he may have mercy on them all.

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform^(C) to the pattern of this world,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(F)—his good, pleasing^(G) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me^(H) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,^{(I) 5} so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(J) and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts,^(K) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(L) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^{(M) 7} if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{(N) 8} if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(O) if it is giving, then give generously;^(P) if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak^(A) and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good,^(B) to build them up.^{(C) 3} For even Christ did not please himself^(D) but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a](E)