1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation. 2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.[ † ]Acts 21:20Galatians 1:14 3Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.[ † ]Romans 1:17Philippians 3:9 4For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.[ † ]Matthew 5:17Romans 7:1-4Galatians 3:24Galatians 4:5
5For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”[ † ]Leviticus 18:5Nehemiah 9:29Ezekiel 20:11-13, 21Romans 7:10Galatians 3:12 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)[ † ]Deuteronomy 30:12-14 7or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”[ † ]Deuteronomy 30:13
8But 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:[ † ]Deuteronomy 30:14 9that 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.[ † ]Matthew 10:32Luke 12:8Acts 8:37Romans 14:91 Corinthians 12:3Philippians 2:11 10For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
11It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”[ † ]Isaiah 28:16Jeremiah 17:7Romans 9:33 12For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,[ † ]Acts 15:9Romans 3:22-29Galatians 3:28Acts 10:361 Timothy 2:5Ephesians 1:7 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[ † ]Joel 2:32Acts 2:21Acts 9:14
14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?[ † ]Acts 8:31Titus 1:3 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[ † ]Isaiah 52:7Nahum 1:15
16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[ † ]Isaiah 53:1John 12:38 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.