They did not know the way that God makes people right with him. And they tried to make themselves right in their own way. So they did not accept God's way of making people right.
But this is what the Scriptures say about being made right through faith: "Don't say to yourself, 'Who will go up into heaven?'" (This means "Who will go up to heaven to get Christ and bring him down to earth?")
It says this because there is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is the Lord of all people. And he richly blesses everyone who looks to him for help.
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.
But I ask, "Did 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."
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."
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 showed myself to those who did not ask for me."