At the end of Romans 9 Paul concludes that Israel is not saved because 1) they heard the gospel, and 2) they understood (with their human reasoning) the gospel, and 3) having heard the gospel and understood it, they rejected it.

In light of Israel's rejection of the gospel, Paul asks if God has cast away His people because of their unbelief, to which he responds: "God forbid!" or "May it never be!"

Paul then offers four proofs that God has not finally and forever cast away the nation of Israel, even though "blindness in part" (for a limited period of time) their hearts are hardened.