The Offer of Life or Death

¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.^{(A) 12} It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven^(B) to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”^{(C) 13} Nor is it beyond the sea,^(D) so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”^{(E) 14} No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.^(F)

⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”^[a](A) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare^(B) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(C) and believe^(D) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,^(E) you will be saved.^{(F) 10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”^{[b](G) 12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile^(H)—the same Lord is Lord of all^(I) and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord^(J) will be saved.”^[c](K)