FAITH COMES FROM HEARING

Romans 10:14-21 / Keywords 10:17

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

 

10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[g]

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[h] 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.”[i]

19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;

    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[j]

20 And Isaiah boldly says,

“I was found by those who did not seek me;

    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”[k]

21 But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands

    to a disobedient and obstinate people.”[l]

Footnotes

g. Romans 10:15 Isaiah 52:7

h. Romans 10:16 Isaiah 53:1

i. Romans 10:18 Psalm 19:4

j. Romans 10:19 Deut. 32:21

k. Romans 10:20 Isaiah 65:1

l. Romans 10:21 Isaiah 65:2

1. Faith is born when people hear and believe the good news of God’s love and salvation. Then, God sends those whom he has saved to share his good news with others. God choses to work through his word, proclaimed by weak human beings. Indeed, those who obey God and deliver their message have beautiful feet. People cannot call on God if they do not believe in him. People cannot believe in him unless they have heard about him. They cannot hear unless someone tells them. So, God sends us.

 

2. Faith comes through hearing, but didn’t the Israelites hear? Yes, they did. But not everyone who hears believes. When God’s chosen people Israel rejected his love, he reached out to the Gentiles, hoping that this would make Israel jealous enough to repent and come back to him. This is the beautiful picture of our God who, like the Father of the prodigal son, waits with outstretched arms.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your life-giving word. Help me to share it and be a life giver.

One Word Faith comes by hearing the word