BRETHREN, the
scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is
Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him.
For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And
how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how
are they to hear without a preacher?
And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!"
But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who
has believed what he has heard from us?"
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the
preaching of Christ.
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for "Their voice
has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the
world."
Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will
make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I
will make you angry."
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who
did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."
But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a
disobedient and contrary people."
I ask,
then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an
Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know
what the scripture says of Eli'jah, how he pleads with God against
Israel?
