1Brothers and sisters, my deepest desire and prayer to God for Israel is for them to be saved.
2I can testify that they are very enthusiastic about God, but their enthusiasm is not based on accurate knowledge.
3Because they did not understand God’s way of making people righteous and instead tried to establish their own way, they did not accept God's way of righteousness.
4For Christ is the goal of the law, bringing righteousness to everyone who believes.
5Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”
6But the righteousness that comes from faith says this: “Don’t say in your heart: ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (This means to bring Christ down.)
7Or, ‘Who will go down into the deep?’ (This means to bring Christ up from the dead.)”
8But what does it say? “The message is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart.” This is the message of faith that we preach:
9If you openly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10For with your heart you believe and are made right with God, and with your mouth you declare your faith and are saved.
11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12There is no difference between Jew and non-Jew, because the same Lord is Lord of all and generously blesses everyone who calls on him.
13For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14But how can they call on him if they have not believed in him? And how can they believe in him if they have not heard about him? And how can they hear without someone preaching?
15And how can they preach unless someone sends them? As the Scripture says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and good things!"
16But not everyone accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who believed our message?"
17So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ.
18But I ask, didn't they hear? Yes, they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
19But I ask, didn't Israel understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you jealous of people who are not a nation; I will make you angry with a foolish nation."
20And Isaiah, being very bold, says, "I was found by those who weren't looking for me; I revealed myself to those who weren't asking for me."
21But about Israel, he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people."