1
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
2
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
3
Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
4
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5
Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”
6
But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down)
7
“or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” (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,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:
9
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.