--- title: "Israel in the Present" description: "Many people work hard trying to earn their way to peace, but there is a much simpler way to connect with God that is available to everyone right now." image: "" book: "Romans" bookId: "ROM" testament: "new" startChapter: 10 startVerse: 1 endChapter: 10 endVerse: 21 coversChapters: [10] aiTitle: "The Simple Key to Turning Your Life Around" aiDescription: "Many people work hard trying to earn their way to peace, but there is a much simpler way to connect with God that is available to everyone right now." hasAiStory: true location: "" persons: ["Israelites","God","Jesus","Moses","Jews","Greek","Isaiah"] hashtags: ["faith","righteousness","redemption","gospel"] genre: "epistle" readingTime: 3 type: "adaptive" slug: "ROM/israel-in-the-present" canonicalId: "ROM.10.1-10.21" chronologicalOrder: 1663 relatedSlugs: ["GAL/faith-and-belief","ACT/peter-addresses-the-crowd","LUK/warnings-against-worldly-living","JOL/a-future-day-of-the-lord","ACT/persecution-on-the-road","PHP/following-jesus-example","1JN/the-third-test-of-fellowship","ISA/deliverance-for-jerusalem-the-servant-exalted","DEU/the-choice-of-life-or-death","1PE/a-call-to-holiness-the-enduring-word","ROM/unashamed-of-the-gospel","ISA/woe-to-ephraim","LUK/parables-of-the-kingdom","ROM/walking-by-the-spirit","MAT/the-commissioning-of-the-twelve","COL/rules-for-holy-living","1PE/the-living-stone-and-chosen-people","ROM/righteousness-through-faith-in-christ","ISA/judgement-and-promises","1TH/pauls-ministry","LUK/opposition-to-jesus","NAM/the-burden-against-nineveh","HEB/jesus-is-above-moses","PHP/warnings-against-false-examples","MRK/the-resurrection","MRK/parables-of-the-kingdom","DEU/the-song-of-moses","GAL/the-purpose-of-the-law","1CO/our-hope-in-the-resurrection","HEB/the-perfect-sacrifice"] prevSlug: "ROM/israel-in-the-past" nextSlug: "ROM/israel-in-the-future" --- I have been thinking a lot about my fellow citizens lately. I see so many people working themselves to the bone, trying to prove their worth to [God](/persons/god) through sheer effort and rule-following. Their passion is undeniable, but it is misguided because they are trying to build their own reputation instead of accepting the one offered to them. The core issue is that many have turned life into a difficult climb, like trying to ascend to heaven or dig into the depths of the earth. But the truth is much closer than that. You do not need a map or a secret manual; the solution is already right in front of you—in your own mouth and in your own heart. It is actually quite straightforward: if you are willing to publicly say that [Jesus](/persons/jesus) is in charge of your life and you truly believe that God brought him back from the dead, you are set. It is not about how perfect your performance is; it is about who you trust. When you believe this deep down, you are seen as right with God, and when you say it out loud, you are walking in that freedom. This offer is not exclusive to one group or another. It is open to everyone, regardless of your background. The same power that guides the world is available to anyone who asks for it. If you call on him, you get the same result: a fresh start. Of course, this raises a practical question: how can people call on someone they have never heard of? And how can they hear if no one takes the time to tell them? This is why the messengers are so important. There is something truly special about those who go out of their way to share good news with others. Not everyone is jumping on board, though. Some are stubbornly ignoring the message, even though it has been broadcast loud and clear. It is a frustrating situation, like holding your hands out to someone who refuses to look at you, but the offer remains on the table for those willing to listen. ### The Word Brings Salvation Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to [God](/persons/god) for the [Israelites](/persons/israelites) is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For [Christ](/persons/jesus) is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes. For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, [Moses](/persons/moses) writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 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) or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (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,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between [Jew](/persons/jews) and [Greek](/persons/greek): The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all of them welcomed the good news. For [Isaiah](/persons/isaiah) says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did:“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,their words to the ends of the world.” 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.” 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.” But as for Israel he says:“All day long I have held out My handsto a disobedient and obstinate people.”

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