Romans 10:5-21, Romans 11:1-10 NIV

Romans 10:5-21

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”10:5 Lev. 18:5 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ”10:6 Deut. 30:12 (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ”10:7 Deut. 30:13 (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”10:8 Deut. 30:14 that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”10:11 Isaiah 28:16 (see Septuagint) For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”10:13 Joel 2:32

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”10:15 Isaiah 52:7

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”10:16 Isaiah 53:1 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.”10:18 Psalm 19:4

Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;

I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”10:19 Deut. 32:21

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.”10:20 Isaiah 65:1

But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands

to a disobedient and obstinate people.”10:21 Isaiah 65:2

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Romans 11:1-10

The Remnant of Israel

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14? And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”11:4 1 Kings 19:18 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that could not see

and ears that could not hear,

to this very day.”11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10

And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent forever.”11:10 Psalm 69:22,23

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