Righteousness by Faith Alone

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them^[a] is for their salvation. ² I can testify about them that they have zeal for God,^(A) but not according to knowledge. ³ Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God^(B) and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end^[b] of the law for righteousness^(C) to everyone who believes,^{(D) 5} since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.^{[c](E) 6} But the righteousness that comes from faith^(F) speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?”^[d](G) that is, to bring Christ down ⁷ or, “Who will go down into the abyss?”^[e](H) that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.^{(I) 8} On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.^[f](J) This is the message of faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(K) and believe in your heart^(L) that God raised him from the dead,^(M) you will be saved. ¹⁰ One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,^{[g](N) 12} since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,^(O) because the same Lord^(P) of all^(Q) richly blesses all who call on him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.^[h](R)

Israel’s Rejection of the Message

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him?^(S) And how can they hear without a preacher?^{(T) 15} And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful^[i] are the feet of those who bring good news.^{[j](U) 16} But not all obeyed the gospel.^(V) For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?^{[k](W) 17} So faith comes from what is heard,^(X) and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.^{[l](Y) 18} But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did:

¹⁹ But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said,

²⁰ And Isaiah says boldly,

²¹ But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.^[p](AD)

⁷ You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons.^{(A) 8} Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham,^(B) saying, All the nations^[a] will be blessed through you.^{[b](C) 9} Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,^(D) who had faith.^[c]

Law and Promise

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,^(E) because it is written,^(F) Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.^{[d](G) 11} Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live^(H) by faith.^{[e](I) 12} But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.^{[f](J) 13} Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,^(K) because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.^{[g](L) 14} The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.^(M)