Deep Concern for Israel

9 ^(A)I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. ³ For ^(B)I could ^[a]wish that I myself were ^(C)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen ^(D)according to the flesh, ⁴ who are ^(E)Israelites, to whom belongs ^(F)the adoption as sons and daughters, ^(G)the glory, ^(H)the covenants, ^(I)the giving of the Law, ^(J)the temple service, and ^(K)the promises; ⁵ whose are ^(L)the fathers, and ^(M)from whom is the ^[b]Christ according to the flesh, ^(N)who is over all, ^(O)God ^(P)blessed ^[c]forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though ^(Q)the word of God has failed. ^(R)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children ^(S)because they are Abraham’s ^[d](T)descendants, but: “^[e](U)through Isaac your ^[f]descendants shall be named.” ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh ^[g]who are ^(V)children of God, but the ^(W)children of the promise are regarded as ^[h](X)descendants.

The Word of Faith Brings Salvation

10 Brothers and sisters, 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)a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. ³ For not knowing about ^(B)God’s righteousness and ^(C)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For ^(D)Christ is the ^[a]end of the Law for righteousness to ^(E)everyone who believes.

⁵ For Moses writes of the righteousness that is ^[b]based on the Law, that the person who performs ^[c]them ^(F)will live by ^[d]them. ⁶ But ^(G)the righteousness ^[e]based on faith speaks as follows: “^(H)Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), ⁷ or ‘Who will descend into the ^(I)abyss?’ (that is, to ^(J)bring Christ up from the dead).” ⁸ But what does it say? “^(K)The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ^9 [f]that ^(L)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and ^(M)believe in your heart that ^(N)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, ^[g]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, ^[h]resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “^(O)Whoever believes in Him will not be ^[i]put to shame.” ¹² For ^(P)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is ^(Q)Lord of ^(R)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; ¹³ for “^(S)Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him ^(T)whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without ^(U)a preacher? ¹⁵ But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “^(V)How beautiful are the feet of those who ^[j](W)bring good news of good things!”

¹⁶ However, they ^(X)did not all heed the ^[k]good news; for Isaiah says, “^(Y)Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from ^(Z)hearing, and hearing by ^(AA)the word ^[l]of Christ.

¹⁸ But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary:

¹⁹ But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,

²⁰ And Isaiah is very bold and says,

²¹ But as for Israel, He says, “^(AF)I have spread out My hands all day long to a disobedient and obstinate people.”