Paul's Heart for Israel
Paul's people have real zeal for our Father aimed at the wrong thing: establishing a righteousness of their own instead of his. The alternative is close at hand, in mouth and heart, and open to anyone who calls. Which raises the practical problem — nobody hears without someone sent.
10 1Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to our Father for Israel is for their salvation. 2I testify about them: they have zeal for our Father, but not according to knowledge. 3Ignorant of our Father's righteousness, seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to our Father's righteousness. 4For Christ is the law's goal, so all who believe receive righteousness.
5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law: "The one who does these things will live by them."
6But faith-based righteousness says: "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down). 7"or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"—meaning the word of faith we proclaim: 9If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that our Father raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart you believe and are made right with our Father, with the mouth you confess and are saved. 11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12No difference between Jew and Greek: the same Lord is Lord of all, generous to all who call on him. 13For "everyone who calls on the name of our Lord Jesus will be saved." a a v13 Paul takes the promise that "everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved" and applies it to Jesus — to call on the Lord is to call on him.
14So how can they call on one they haven't believed in? How can they believe in one they haven't heard of? How can they hear without someone preaching? 15How can they proclaim him unless they're sent? As written: "How beautiful are the feet of those bringing good news!"
16But not all obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, "Our Father, who believed our message?" 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word about Christ. 18But I ask: did they not hear? Yes, they did: "Their sound went out to all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
19But I ask, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will make you jealous by those not a nation, angry by a nation without understanding."
20Isaiah is bold enough to say, "I was found by those not seeking me; I appeared to those not asking for me."
21But about Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient, defiant people."
