Romans 11
1 Ref I say, then, Did God cast away His people? let it not be! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin:
2 Ref God did not cast away His people whom He knew before; have ye not known -- in Elijah -- what the Writing saith? how he doth plead with God concerning Israel, saying,
3 Ref `Lord, Thy prophets they did kill, and Thy altars they dug down, and I was left alone, and they seek my life;'
4 Ref but what saith the divine answer to him? `I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'
5 Ref So then also in the present time a remnant according to the choice of grace there hath been;
6 Ref and if by grace, no more of works, otherwise the grace becometh no more grace; and if of works, it is no more grace, otherwise the work is no more work.
7 Ref What then? What Israel doth seek after, this it did not obtain, and the chosen did obtain, and the rest were hardened,