1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they would be saved.
2 For I witness for them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they are ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.
4 Because Christ completed The Law, bringing acceptance to God for everyone who believes on Him.
5 For Moses describes the righteousness which is from The Law, "That the man who does those things shall live by them."
6 But the righteousness which comes from faith speaks like this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down from above)
7 "Or, 'Who will go down into the deep?' (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)"
8 But what does it say? "The word is near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart," that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
9 That if thou will confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Boss, and will believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou will be saved.
This is the formula for salvation right here: verbally declare that Jesus is boss and believe that He rose from the dead and you WILL be saved. You don't have to have certain bloodlines, keep special rules, perform certain rituals. You have to accept Jesus as boss and really believe He rose from the dead. That's it.
10 For with the heart humans believe, which puts them right with God, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be ashamed."
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the non Jew, The same God is Boss over everyone and is generous to all that call on Him.
13 For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
14 But how can they call on Him if they don't believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him if no one (preaches, proclaims) Him?
15 And how can they preach, except they are sent out? Just like it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
Isaiah 52:7 "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
Nahum 1:15 "Look to the mountains--the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off."
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the word of God.
18 But has Israel actually heard the gospel? Of course! "Their message has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world..."
Psalms 19:4 "Their message has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. With His words God has made a place for the sun."
Even in the time of David, God made sure the knowledge of Him had been spread throughout the world. The very glory of creation teaches people that there is a God.
19 But did Israel know? First Moses said, "I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are not a people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."
Deuteronomy 32:21 "They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God. They have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people. I will make them angry by a nation without understanding."
20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found of those that didn't look for Me. I was made manifest to them that didn't ask for me."
Isaiah 65:1 "I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me. I was found by those who did not look for Me. I said, 'Here I am! Here I am!' to a nation that did not call My name."
21 But to Israel he says, "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and stubborn people."
Isaiah 65:2 "All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people, who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,"
19 But did Israel know? First Moses said, "I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are not a people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."
Deuteronomy 32:21 "They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God. They have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people. I will make them angry by a nation without understanding."
20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found of those that didn't look for Me. I was made manifest to them that didn't ask for me."
Isaiah 65:1 "I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me. I was found by those who did not look for Me. I said, 'Here I am! Here I am!' to a nation that did not call My name."
21 But to Israel he says, "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and stubborn people."
Isaiah 65:2 "All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people, who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,"