101 Brethren , my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation . 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God , but not in accordance with knowledge . 3 For not knowing about 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 for righteousness to everyone who believes . 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness . 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows : " 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 )." 8 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 are preaching , 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead , you will be saved ; 10 for with the heart a person believes , resulting in righteousness , and with the mouth he confesses , resulting in salvation . 11 For the Scripture says , " WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED ."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek ; for the same Lord is Lord of all , abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for " WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE Lord WILL BE SAVED ." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed ? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard ? And how will they hear without a preacher ? 15 How will they preach unless e they are sent ? Just as it is written , " HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS !" 16 However , they did not all heed the good news ; for Isaiah says , " Lord , WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT ?" 17 So faith comes from hearing , and hearing by the word of Christ . 18 But I say , surely they have never e heard , have they? Indeed they have; " THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH , AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD ." 19 But I say , surely Israel did not know , did they? First Moses says , " I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION , BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER 20 And Isaiah is very bold and says , " I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME." 21 But as for Israel He says , " ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE ."
