Romans 10

If You Believe You Will Be Saved

1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of the Jewish people is that they would be saved.2 I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided.3 They don’t understand how to receive God’s approval. So they try to set up their own way to get it, and they have not accepted God’s way for receiving his approval.

4 Christ is the fulfillment of Moses’ Teachings so that everyone who has faith may receive God’s approval.
5 Moses writes about receiving God’s approval by following his laws. He says, “The person who obeys laws will live because of the laws he obeys.”6 However, Scripture says about God’s approval which is based on faith, “Don’t ask yourself who will go up to heaven,” (that is, to bring Christ down).7 “Don’t ask who will go down into the depths,” (that is, to bring Christ back from the dead).8 However, what else does it say? “This message is near you. It’s in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the message of faith that we spread.9 If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved.10 By believing you receive God’s approval, and by declaring your faith you are saved.

11 Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.”
12 There is no difference between Jews and Greeks. They all have the same Lord, who gives his riches to everyone who prays to him.

13 So then, “Whoever prays in the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can people pray to him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard his message? How can they hear if no one tells the Good News?15 How can people tell the Good News if no one sends them? As Scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News.”

16 But not everyone has believed the Good News.
Isaiah asks, “Lord, who has believed our message?”

17 So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke.
18 But I ask, “Didn’t they hear that message?” Certainly they did! “The voice of the messengers has gone out into the whole world and their words to the ends of the earth.”19 Again I ask, “Didn’t Israel understand that message?” Moses was the first to say, “I will make you jealous of people who are not a nation. I will make you angry about a nation that doesn’t understand.”20 Isaiah said very boldly, “I was found by those who weren’t looking for me. I was revealed to those who weren’t asking for me.”

21 Then Isaiah said about Israel, “All day long I have stretched out my hands to disobedient and rebellious people.”

Romans 10

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.4 For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.5 For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.6 But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)7 or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame.12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17 So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.18 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.

19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.

20 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.

21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.