But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, &#8220;<i><b>Lordb>, <b>who has believed our reportb>i>?&#8221;<n id="1" />

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

<p class="bodytext">But if our unrighteousness demonstrates<n id="1" /> the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he?<n id="2" /> (I am speaking in human terms.)<n id="3" />

For if by my lie the truth of God enhances<n id="1" /> his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner?

And he<n id="1" /> who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit<n id="2" /> intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God&#8217;s will.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?<n id="1" />

But the righteousness that is by faith says: &#8220;<b><i>Do not say in your hearti>b>,<n id="1" /> &#8216;<i>Who will ascend into heaven?i>&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" /> (that is, to bring Christ down)

But what was the divine response<n id="1" /> to him? &#8220;<b><i>I have kepti>b> for myself <b><i>seven thousand peoplei>b><n id="2" /> <b><i>who have not bent the knee to Baali>b>.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The<n id="1" /> rest were hardened,

<p class="bodytext">What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, I<n id="1" /> would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else<n id="2" /> if the law had not said, &#8220;<b><i>Do not coveti>b>.&#8221;<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray,<n id="1" /> but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

Who is the one who will condemn? Christ<n id="1" /> is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.

But what does it say? &#8220;<i><b>The word is near youb>, <b>in your mouth and in your heartb>i>&#8221;<n id="1" /> (that is, the word of faith that we preach),

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Do not be conformed<n id="1" /> to this present world,<n id="2" /> but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve<n id="3" /> what is the will of God &#8211; what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.p>

Who are you to pass judgment on another&#8217;s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord<n id="1" /> is able to make him stand.p>