Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
My brothers and sisters, my heart's desire—my prayer to God—is for the salvation of the people of Israel!
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
I can testify to their passionate dedication to God, but it's not based on knowing him as he truly is.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
They don't understand how God makes us right with him, and they try to make themselves right. They refuse to accept God's way of making people right.
4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
For Christ is the fulfillment of the law. All those who trust in him are made right.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Moses wrote, “Whoever does what is right by obeying the law will live.”
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above]: )
But the attitude of doing right that comes from trust says this: “Don't ask ‘who'll go to heaven?’ (asking to bring Christ down),”
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (Abyssos g12)
or “‘who'll go to the place of the dead?’ (asking to bring Christ back from the dead).” (Abyssos g12)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
What Scripture actually says is: “The message is very close to you—it's what you talk about and what's in your mind.” In fact it's this message based on trust that we're presenting.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For if you declare that you accept Jesus as Lord, and you are convinced in your mind that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Your trust in God makes you right and good, and your declaration of accepting God saves you.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
As Scripture says, “Those who trust in him will not be disappointed.”
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
There's no difference between Jew and Greek—for the same Lord is Lord of everyone, and he gives generously to everyone who asks him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
But how can people call on someone they don't trust? How can they trust someone they haven't heard about? How can they hear unless they're told?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
How can they go out and tell others unless they're sent? Just as Scripture says, “Those who come bringing the good news are truly welcome!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
But not everyone has accepted the good news. As Isaiah asks: “Lord, who trusted in the news they heard from us?”
17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Trusting in God comes from hearing—hearing the message of Christ.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
It's not that they haven't heard. Quite the opposite: “The voices of those speaking for God have been heard all over the earth—their message went out to the whole world.”
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you.
So my question is, “Didn't Israel know?” First of all Moses says, “I'll make you jealous by using people who aren't even a nation; I will make you angry by using ignorant foreigners!”
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Then Isaiah said it even more strongly: “I was found by people who weren't even looking for me; I revealed myself to people who weren't even asking for me.”
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
As God says to Israel, “All day long I reached out my hands to a disobedient and stubborn people.”
