The Word of Faith

¹ Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. ² For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); ⁷ or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach: ⁹ that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. ¹³ For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Word of Faith Comes from Hearing

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

¹⁶ But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ¹⁸ But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly,

¹⁹ But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says,

²⁰ Isaiah is very bold and says,

²¹ But about Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”