The Word Brings Salvation
(Isaiah 65:1–16)
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation. 1Co 9:20-22Jhn 5:34Rom 9:1-3Exo 32:13Jer 17:16Jer 18:201Sa 12:23Exo 32:10 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. Act 21:20Rom 9:31-32Pro 19:2Php 1:9Php 3:6Rom 10:3Gal 1:142Co 4:4 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Luk 16:15Php 3:92Co 5:21Luk 18:9-12Rev 3:17-18Rom 5:19Rom 1:17Isa 51:8 For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes. Gal 3:24Rom 8:3-4Mat 5:17-18Act 13:38-39Jhn 1:17Heb 10:14Isa 53:11Col 2:10
For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 1 Lev 18:5Ezk 20:11Neh 9:29Ezk 20:13Ezk 20:21Gal 3:12Luk 10:27-28Rom 7:10 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ 2 (that is, to bring Christ down) Deu 30:11-14Pro 30:4Eph 4:8-10Jhn 3:12-13Jhn 6:58Php 3:9Rom 3:22Rom 4:13 or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ 3 (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” Heb 13:20Rev 1:18Rom 4:251Pe 3:181Pe 3:22
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” 4 that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: Deu 30:14Rom 1:16-171Ti 4:61Pe 1:25Gal 3:2Act 10:43Gal 3:5Rom 10:17 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. Luk 12:8Act 16:31Php 2:11Mat 10:32-331Jn 4:2-31Pe 1:21Rom 8:341Co 15:14-18 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. 1Jn 4:15Rom 10:9Gal 2:16Jhn 1:12-13Jhn 3:19-21Heb 10:22Heb 3:12Luk 8:15
It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” 5 Isa 28:16Rom 9:331Pe 2:6Isa 49:23Jer 17:7 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, Php 4:19Rev 17:14Gal 3:28Rom 3:22Col 3:11Psa 86:5Psa 145:18Eph 1:7 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 6 Act 2:21Jol 2:32
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? Mrk 16:15-16Act 26:17-18Tit 1:3Act 8:31Heb 11:62Ti 4:17Eph 4:21Jas 5:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 7 Isa 52:7Nam 1:15Eph 2:17Mat 28:18-20Isa 61:1Eph 6:15Isa 40:9Eph 3:8
But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 8 Isa 53:1Rom 3:3Jhn 12:38-40Heb 4:22Th 1:8Gal 5:71Pe 2:8Heb 11:8 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Gal 3:2Gal 3:5Luk 11:28Col 3:161Th 2:13Mrk 4:24Luk 8:21Rom 1:16
But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: Psa 19:4Mat 24:14Rom 1:81Th 1:8Col 1:23Col 1:6Mrk 16:15Mat 28:19
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.” 9
I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: Deu 32:21Rom 11:11Rom 11:141Pe 2:10Tit 3:31Co 1:12Isa 44:18-20Psa 115:5-8
“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.” 10
And Isaiah boldly says: Isa 65:1-2Rom 9:30Isa 55:4-5Mat 22:9-10Isa 49:6Eph 6:19-20Isa 52:15Luk 14:23
“I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.” 11
But as for Israel he says: Isa 65:2-51Pe 2:8Jer 35:15Mat 21:33-43Neh 9:26Pro 1:241Th 2:16Act 13:46-47
“All day long I have held out My hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.” 12