Romans
10
- Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer
to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
- For I can testify about them that they
are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
- Since they did not know the righteousness
that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit
to God's righteousness.
- Christ is the end of the law so that there
may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
- Moses describes in this way the righteousness
that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."
- But the righteousness that is by faith
says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'"
(that is, to bring Christ down)
- "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'"
(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
- But what does it say? "The word is
near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of
faith we are proclaiming:
- That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus
is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
- For it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
- As the Scripture says, "Anyone who
trusts in him will never be put to shame."
- For there is no difference between Jew
and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call
on him,
- for, "Everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved."
- How, then, can they call on the one they
have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have
not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them
?
- And how can they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring
good news !"
- But not all the Israelites accepted the
good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message
?"
- Consequently, faith comes from hearing
the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
- But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course
they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to
the ends of the world."
- Again I ask: Did Israel not understand?
First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."
- And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found
by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for
me."
- But concerning Israel he says, "All
day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."
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