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Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. |
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For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. |
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For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God. |
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For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. |
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For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, 'The one who does them will live by them.' |
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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); |
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or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)' |
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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: |
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that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
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For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. |
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For the scripture says, 'Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.' |
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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. |
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For, 'Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.' |
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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? |
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And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!' |
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But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our report?' |
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So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. |
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But I say, didn't they hear? Yes, most assuredly, 'Their sound went out into all the earth, Their words to the ends of the world.' |
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But I ask, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, 'I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding I will make you angry.' |
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Isaiah is very bold, and says, 'I was found by those who didn't seek me. I was revealed to those who didn't ask for me.' |
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But as to Israel he says, 'All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. |