Romans 10

¹⁰Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ²For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge.^{* 3}Not knowing the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.^{* 4}For Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.^*

Salvation Is for All

⁵Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.”^{* 6}But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not 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). ⁸But what does it say?

“The word is near you,

in your mouth and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim),^{* 9}because^f if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe^g in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.^{* 10}For one believes^h with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. ¹¹The scripture says, “No one who believesⁱ in him will be put to shame.”^{* 12}For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.^{* 13}For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”^*

¹⁴But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?^j And how are they to believe^k in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? ¹⁵And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^{* 16}But not all have obeyed the good news,^l for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed^m our message?”^{* 17}So faithⁿ comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.^o

¹⁸But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have:

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth

and their words to the ends of the world.”^*

¹⁹Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

“I will use those who are not a nation to make you jealous;

with a foolish nation I will provoke you.”^*

²⁰Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;

I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”^*

²¹But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”^*