The Word Brings Salvation

1Brethren, my hearty desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they may be saved. 2for I bear them witness, that they have a zeal for God, but not guided by true knowledge. 3because being ignorant of the justice which is of God, and going about to establish a justification of their own, they have not submitted themselves to that which is of God. 4for the end of the law was to bring men to Christ, that every one who believeth, might be justified.

5For Moses describes the justice that was to be had by the law, thus: "the man who performeth the things here required, shall have life thereby." 6but the justification which is by faith, speaks in this manner; "say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven, in order to bring Christ down from above? 7or, who shall descend into the deep, in order to bring up Christ again from the dead?" 8what does it say "more? the word is nigh thee, let it be in thy mouth and in thy heart:" that is the word of faith which we preach. 9for if you openly confess, that Jesus is the Lord, and sincerely believe, that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11for the scripture saith, "whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed." 12In reality there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: they have all the same Lord, who is bountiful to all that call upon him. 13"whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved."

14But how, say you, shall they call on him on whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? 15and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? as it is written, "how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

16'tis true, faith comes by preaching, and preaching is by the divine appointment. 17but all do not obey the gospel, for Esaias saith, "Lord, who hath believed our report?"

18I reply, have they not heard? on the contrary, "their voice spread thro' all the earth, and their words to the remotest inhabitants thereof."

19but still I ask, did not Israel know this? first, Moses saith, "I will provoke you to jealousy, by those that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."

20but Esaias is more express, and says, "I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest to them that asked not after me.

21and to Israel he says, "all day long I have stretched forth my hands to an incredulous and rebellious people."