10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge.^{(A) 3} Not knowing the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.^{(B) 4} For Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.^(C)

Salvation Is for All

⁵ Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.”^{(D) 6} But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “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?

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim),^{(E) 9} because^[a] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe^[b] in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.^{(F) 10} For one believes^[c] with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. ¹¹ The scripture says, “No one who believes^[d] in him will be put to shame.”^{(G) 12} For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.^{(H) 13} For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”^(I)

¹⁴ But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?^[e] And how are they to believe^[f] in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? ¹⁵ And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^{(J) 16} But not all have obeyed the good news,^[g] for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed^[h] our message?”^{(K) 17} So faith^[i] comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.^[j]

¹⁸ But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have:

¹⁹ Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

²⁰ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

²¹ But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”^(O)

⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight.^(A)

¹¹ He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers^{(A) 12} to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,^{(B) 13} until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,^[a] to the measure of the full stature of Christ.^{(C) 14} We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming;^{(D) 15} but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,^{(E) 16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would approach God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

² And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.^(A)