Worth Repeating - November 7, 2017

Romans 10: 17 Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (NIV)

Faith is more than conviction of the reality of the facts that God has unveiled. Faith also exists as response to those facts.*

There are many things that can enhance your faith: seeing God’s hand at work in nature; having your prayers answered; experiencing God’s provision for your daily life; but these are not where faith comes from. It is safe to say that faith will only and always be preceded by hearing the word of Christ.* There is no other circumstance by which faith can occur - not even by touching the heart.*

What is the “word of Christ”? Of course, it’s the gospel – his life, ministry, death, resurrection. We (you and I) access the word easily. We have multiple copies of the Bible in our homes. We can click on Biblegateway.com or download an electronic version of the scripture on our computers and phones and tablets. We are like the Jews about whom Paul asked (and answered) in the very next verse: “Did they not hear? Of course they did.”

Sad to say, though, that while hearing the word is a necessary condition for faith, it is not a sufficient reason. Hearing is not the same as believing; it doesn’t automatically result in saving faith.* Saving faith is the result of the personal, individual decision we make upon our exposure to the message of the gospel. Many, many people hear the gospel and reject its saving message – either deliberately or by simply ignoring it. 

One of the components of the message of Christ is his command to go, disciple, baptize and teach (Matthew 28: 19, 20). There is no loophole that says, “If they are rejecting the message, you can stop preaching it.” Faith comes by hearing, yes, but some people need to hear it over and over. Keep spreading the news!

If God by a miracle wrought faith in the heart, he could dispense with the preacher.*