30aWhat shall we saythen? That Gentiles, who did not pursuerighteousness, laidhold of righteousness, evenbthe righteousness which is 1by faith;
Romans 10
10Brothers, my heart’sdesire and my prayer to God for them is for theirsalvation. 2For I testify about them that they haveaa zeal for God, but not accordingtoknowledge. 3For not knowing about the arighteousness of God and bseeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4For aChrist is the 1end of the law for righteousness to beveryone who believes.
Faith Comes by Hearing
5For Moseswrites about the righteousness which is oflaw: “aThe man who does these things shall live by them.” 6But athe righteousnessoffaithspeaks in this way: “bDo not say in your heart, ‘Who willgo up into heaven?’ (that is, to bringChristdown), 7or ‘Who will go down into theaabyss?’ (that is, to bbringChristup from the dead).” 8But what does it say? “aThe word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faithwhich we are preaching, 91that aif you confess with your mouthJesusasLord, and bbelieve in your heart that cGodraised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, 1leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, 2leading to salvation. 11For the Scripturesays, “aWhoeverbelieves upon Him will not beputtoshame.” 12For athere is nodistinction between Jew and Greek, for the sameLord is bLord of call, aboundinginriches for all who callon Him, 13for “aWhoevercallson the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14Howthen will they callon Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him awhom they have not heard? And how will they hearwithoutba preacher? 15And how will they preach unless they are sent? Justas it is written, “aHowbeautiful are the feet of thosewhobproclaimgoodnews of goodthings!”
16However, they adid not allheed the 1goodnews, for Isaiahsays, “bLord, who has believed ourreport?” 17Sofaithcomes from ahearing, and hearing by bthe word1of Christ.
18But I say, have they never heard? On the contrary, they have; “aTheir voice has gone out into all the earth,And their words to the ends of the1world.”
19But I say, did Israel not know? FirstMosessays, “aI willbmake you jealous by thatwhich is not a nation,By a nationwithoutunderstanding will I angeryou.”
20And Isaiah is verybold and says, “aI was found by those who did not seek Me,I becamemanifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21But as for Israel He says, “aAllday long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinatepeople.”