The Word Brings Salvation

(Isaiah 65:1–16)

10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for [the Israelites] [is] for [their] salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. 3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish [their] own they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ [is] [the] end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes “The man [who] does these things will live by them.”[fn] 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’[fn] (that is, to bring Christ down 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’[fn] (that is, to bring Christ up from [the] dead).”

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; [it is] in your mouth and in your heart,”[fn] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus [is] Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from [the] dead, you will be saved. 10 For with [your] heart [you] believe [and are] justified, and with [your] mouth [you] confess [and are] saved.

11 [It is] just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”[fn] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord [is Lord] of all, [and] gives richly to all who call on Him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of [the] Lord will be saved.”[fn]

14 How then can they call on [the One] in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in [the One] of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without [someone] to preach? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful [are] the feet of those who bring good news

16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[fn] 17 Consequently, faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by [the] word of Christ.

18 But I ask, did they not hear Indeed [they did]: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”[fn]

19 I ask instead, {did} Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by [those who are] not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”[fn]

20 And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”[fn]

21 But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to [a] disobedient and obstinate people.”[fn]