FAITH COMES FROM HEARING

Passage: Romans 10:14-21

Key verse: 17

NIV

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!”[a](A)

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.(B) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[b](C) 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,(D) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.(E) 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.”[c](F)

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

“I will make you envious(G) by those who are not a nation;
    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[d](H)

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.”[e](I)

21 But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and obstinate people.”[f](J)

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 10:15 Isaiah 52:7
  2. Romans 10:16 Isaiah 53:1
  3. Romans 10:18 Psalm 19:4
  4. Romans 10:19 Deut. 32:21
  5. Romans 10:20 Isaiah 65:1
  6. Romans 10:21 Isaiah 65:2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him (A)of whom they have never heard?[a] And how are they to hear (B)without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, (C)“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But (D)they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, (E)“Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So (F)faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

(G)“Their voice has gone out (H)to all the earth,
    and their words to the ends of the world.”

19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

(I)“I will (J)make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
    with a (K)foolish nation I will make you angry.”

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

(L)“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
    I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

21 But of Israel he says, (M)“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 10:14 Or him whom they have never heard
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

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.

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