Romans 10:1-8 ▼

1 Brethren, the longing of my heart, and my prayer to God, on behalf of my countrymen is for their salvation.

2 For I bear witness that they possess an enthusiasm for God, but it is an unenlightened enthusiasm.

3 Ignorant of the righteousness which God provides and building their hopes upon a righteousness of their own, they have refused submission to God's righteousness.

4 For as a means of righteousness Christ is the termination of Law to every believer.

5 Moses says that he whose actions conform to the righteousness required by the Law shall live by that righteousness.

6 But the righteousness which is based on faith speaks in a different tone. "Say not in your heart," it declares, "'Who shall ascend to Heaven?'" --that is, to bring Christ down;

7 "nor 'Who shall go down into the abyss?'" --that is, to bring Christ up again from the grave.

8 But what does it say? "The Message is close to you, in your mouth and in your heart;" that is, the Message which we are publishing about the faith--