In sharp contrast to this reality within the nation of Israel, Paul asserts that salvation by faith is of a much different quality. As the Apostle speaks of confession and belief, he is speaking to riches bestowed upon those who have been materially changed. Paul’s assertion that if one will believe and thereby confess leading to salvation is founded upon verse eleven in which Paul says “For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Here the word “believes” (ὁ πιστεύων, present active participle) is conjoined with the definite article specifically singling out the one who by their new nature is a believing one. This singular statement refutes any salvation attempted by rite or ritual whether in antiquity or modern times. The seminal truth is that salvation is granted to those who have been materially changed through the operation of a God given faith. But how shall this gifting of faith to be given? Paul says through the preaching of God’s reveled word; “How then will they call on 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 someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””
It is the preaching of the word that is used by God to bring His children into repentance. It is the preaching of that same word that has been ordained by God unto salvation. But not all have believed have they? Could it be that some have never heard? Again, Paul’s discussion is not centered upon the lost tribes of indigenous peoples in some obscure portion of the world but on the nation of Israel. Thusly, Paul’s answer is an overwhelming No, all have heard because the word preached has gone out. Either by the prophets or the preachers, God’s word has reached the ears of the Jews but in the stubbornness of their heart they have turned their backs on the God who called them through Abraham. The hypocrisy is that while denying the mandates of this call, the nation of Israel props itself before the world as the one who knows God best and calls those who are not born as one of the nation to follow their doctrine of salvation; which ironically leads not toward God but away from Him.
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