13. Yes, “everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.”
14. But before people can pray to the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for anyone to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them.
15. And before anyone can go and tell them, they must be sent. As the Scriptures say, “How wonderful it is to see someone coming to tell good news!”
16. But not all the people accepted that good news. Isaiah said, “Lord, who believed what we told them?”
17. So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
18. But I ask, “Did those people not hear the Good News?” Yes, they heard—as the Scriptures say, “Their voices went out all around the world. Their words went everywhere in the world.” Psalm 19:4
19. Again I ask, “Did the people of Israel not understand?” Yes, they did understand. First, Moses says this for God: “I will use those who are not really a nation to make you jealous. I will use a nation that does not understand to make you angry.” Deuteronomy 32:21
20. Then Isaiah is bold enough to say this for God: “The people who were not looking for me— they are the ones who found me. I made myself known to those who did not ask for me.” Isaiah 65:1