Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that
they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal
for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the
righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did
not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness to everyone who believes.

 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the
law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
But the righteousness based on 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 abyss?’” (that is, to bring
Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near
you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith
that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is
justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the
Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to
shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the
same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on
him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?
And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are
they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they
have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has
believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing,
and hearing through the word of Christ.

 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

   “Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
       and their words to the ends of the world.”


     But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

   “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
       with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”


     Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

   “I have been found by those who did not seek me;
       I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”


     But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and contrary people.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.