Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Romans 10
Paul’s Desire for Israel’s Salvation
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for salvation. For I can testify that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Not knowing God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the goal of the Law for righteousness to everyone who trusts.
The Word Is Near You
Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the Law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that comes from trust speaks this way: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”—that is, to bring Christ down— “or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’”—that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the word of trust that we proclaim: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one trusts and is set right, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For Scripture says, “Everyone who trusts in him will not be put to shame.” There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich toward all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved.”
Hearing and Proclamation
How then will they call on the one in whom they have not trusted? And how will they trust in the one they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone proclaiming? And how will people proclaim unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who announce good news!” But not everyone obeyed the good news. Isaiah says, “Lord, who trusted our message?” So trust comes from hearing, and hearing through Christ’s word.
Israel Has Heard
But I ask: Did they not hear? Certainly they did:
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.”
But I ask: Did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation;
by a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who were not seeking me;
I revealed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I stretched out my hands
to a disobedient and contrary people.”