For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,
having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved,
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.