The Word Brings Salvation

(Isaiah 65:1–16)

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 vvv 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“vvv 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[fn] 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 will they call on [the One] vvv in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in [the One] of whom vvv they have not heard? And how will they hear[fn] without [someone] to preach? 15 And how will they preach[fn] unless they are sent? As it is written:“How beautiful [are] the feet of those who bring good news of peace,[fn] who bring good news of good things!”[fn]

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 God.[fn]

18 

But I ask, vvv 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 vvv did not seek Me;

vvv I revealed Myself to those who vvv 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] 11