“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
Consider how vital our faith is to knowing God. We can “have a zeal for God” without truly knowing him (2). Knowing God involves a relationship with him that develops intimate knowledge of him. It goes beyond the intellectual knowing about him. In Genesis 4, Cain demonstrated the consequence of such zeal without truly knowing God.
Like Cain and the Israelites, all who ignore the righteousness of God will “seek to establish their own” refusing to “submit to God’s” (3). His righteousness, however, concludes in Christ, and is available “to everyone who believes” (4).
Moses explained that righteousness based on legalism and ritual requires strict obedience (5). In contrast, righteousness based on faith does not come by human acts of bringing Christ down from heaven or up from the dead (6-7). Rather, “the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (8). Faith is not a ritual or a physical act. It produces and guides our acts (James 2:17), but faith is neither ritual nor physical action. Faith is the verbal expression of belief born in the heart. God issues eternal salvation to us when we “believe in (our) heart that God raised (Christ) from the dead” and verbally confess that belief (9-10). God confirmed this truth when he promised, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame” (v. 11, Paul’s interpretation of Isaiah 28:16). And this eternal salvation allows no distinction of race or nationality, because God is the same “Lord over all” people and therefore issues “his riches on all who call on him” (12-13).
Calling on him proceeds out of believing in him. Belief comes from hearing of him. Hearing of him is dependent upon “someone preaching” his good news (14-15). For some strange reason, everyone will not believe and obey what is preached (16). Yet, the key to knowing God and his salvation (i.e. faith) is dependent upon hearing and believing the word of Christ (17). Is possible to claim, “I have not heard the message”? Certainly not! Disciples of Jesus Christ have spread his gospel “to the ends of the world” (18). Is it possible to claim, “I don’t understand”? No, for three reasons. First, no one has an exclusive claim on God (19). Second, anyone can find God (20). Finally, of Israel, God said, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people” (21). That’s the bottom line why people do not know God – contrary disobedience. Our heart’s desire and prayer to God should be that they might be saved (1).
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the eternal salvation it provides. We are grateful, O God, for the faith you have created in our hearts “through the word of Christ.” Be glorified in us and empower us to share this word with those around us who are living contrary and disobedient. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for the word of Christ and live by faith,
Pastor Smith