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The righteousness that comes by faith

¹Brothers and sisters, what my heart longs for, and what I ask God for them, is that they may be saved. ²I can vouch for them that they are eager for God, but their eagerness is not guided by real understanding. ³They did not recognize the righteousness of God, and in trying to set up a righteousness of their own, they would not submit to the righteousness that comes from God. ⁴For Christ is the end of the law, bringing righteousness to everyone who believes.^{a 5}Moses writes this about the righteousness that comes from the law: “The person who does it will live by it.”^{b 6}But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down). ⁷Or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ back up from the dead). ⁸But what does it say? “The word is close to you, on your lips and in your heart.” This is the message of faith that we proclaim. ⁹If you declare with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and in your heart believe that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. ¹⁰For people believe with the heart, and this leads to righteousness; they confess with the mouth, and this leads to salvation. ¹¹For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹²Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for one and the same Lord is Lord over everyone, and he gives generously to all who call on him. ¹³For “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How will they hear?

¹⁴How, then, are they to call on him if they have not believed in him? And how are they to believe in him if they have never heard him?^c And how are they to hear without someone proclaiming? ¹⁵And how are people to proclaim it unless they are sent? As it is written, “How lovely are the feet of those who bring the good news of good things!”^{d 16}But not all have obeyed the gospel. Isaiah asks, “Lord, who has believed what we have told?” ¹⁷So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.^ef

Israel heard and refused

¹⁸But I ask, is it possible that they did not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice went out to the whole earth, and their words to the farthest parts of the world.” ¹⁹Again I ask, is it possible that Israel did not understand?^g First, Moses says, “I will stir you to jealousy through those who are not a nation, and through a nation without understanding I will provoke your anger.” ²⁰Then Isaiah dares to say, “I was found by people who were not looking for me; I showed myself to those who never asked for me.” ²¹But about Israel he says, “All day long I have stretched out my hands to a people who disobey and argue back.”