| Chapter 10 |
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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. |