In Romans 9, Paul announces a paradigm shift for his Jewish contemporaries and for the growing number of Gentile believers in Rome: that our adoption into God's family "depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." (9:16).

God is working to conform us to the image of his Son (Rom 8:29), so that the loveliness of Jesus and the beauty of his character will be reflected in our lives.