2.9 KiB
Righteousness by Faith Alone
Chapter 10
-
Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.
-
I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
-
Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness.
-
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes,
-
since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.**
-
But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up to heaven?"** that is, to bring Christ down
-
or, "Who will go down into the abyss?"** that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.
-
On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.** This is the message of faith that we proclaim:
-
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.
-
One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
-
For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,**
-
since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him.
-
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.** Israel's Rejection of the Message
-
How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?
-
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 obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?**
-
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
-
But I ask, "Did they not hear?" Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to the whole earth,** and their words to the ends of the world.**
-
But I ask, "Did Israel not understand?" First, Moses said, I will make you jealous** of those who are not a nation;** I will make you angry by a nation** that lacks understanding.**
-
And Isaiah says boldly, I was found** by those who were not looking for me;** I revealed myself** to those who were not asking for me.**
-
But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.**