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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 fulfillment{or, completion, or 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."{Leviticus 18:5}
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But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'{Deuteronomy 30:12} (that is, to bring Christ down);
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or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?'{Deuteronomy 30:13} (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;"{Deuteronomy 30:14} that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
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that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, 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 disappointed."{Isaiah 28:16}
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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."{Joel 2:32}
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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 Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"{Isaiah 52:7}
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But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"{Isaiah 53:1}
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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 certainly, "Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."{Psalm 19:4}
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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."{Deuteronomy 32:31}
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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."{Isaiah 65:1}
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But as to Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."{Isaiah 65:2}
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