"Faith Comes From Hearing"

“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!”  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:14-17 ESV)

We are all called to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He commanded us to do so in Mark 16:15, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” In Romans 10, Paul reminds us of this calling. For those who preach, minister the Word, or are in the missions field, it can sometimes feel like panic or overwhelming heartache to think that there are millions who have not, and may never, hear the gospel.

Paul is clear, Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” When one hears the gospel, the truth is given, and if God enables, they will come to the Lord. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44) When we hear the gospel for the first time, we may feel Christ's irresistible grace. The Father draws us to Him, and we cannot refuse because we see the beauty and love in the Word of God, and we know it to be true.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” This verse is tied to Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” It also ties us to John 1:23, where John the Baptist defines himself as  “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” So, we too are called to spread the gospel in the wilderness; that wilderness being the jungle of society, those lost in the world, for how shall they come to Christ if they do not hear the Word of God?

In these words of Paul, we can also see the nexus to Ephesians 6, where he speaks of the armor of God: " ⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak”.

We are to put on the armor of God, and the shoes are the first piece he mentions. They are the readiness given to us by the gospel. The readiness to stand firm in our faith is exactly what we do when we give the gospel to someone. The Spirit shows our resolve to the truth of the Word, and unbelievers are drawn to God through the Spirit in us.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Your good deeds cannot earn you salvation in heaven, nor can you fool yourself into believing “you are a good person.” None of these things can ensure your eternity. Salvation comes by grace through faith in the risen Son of God, Jesus Christ. Seek Him today.

Grace and Peace.