Faith Comes From Hearing The Good News
Faith serves as the foundational ingredient of our walk with the Lord. Where does it come from? The Apostle Paul told us in Romans that faith comes from hearing God’s Word.
We as humans, however, tend to make the message of God complicated. So in this article, we’ll examine what the Word of God says about the importance of faith.
Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17
Paul addressed the misdirection of his readers when it came to serving the Lord. He said they didn’t understand God’s way of making themselves right with Him.
And the same thing happens today. People refuse to accept God’s way. Instead, they cling to their ways of getting right with Him. In Paul’s day, the obstacle to God was the law. He said;
For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4
The obstacles that get in a person’s way today aren’t necessarily the law of Moses. But similarly, we like to fabricate “do’s and don’ts” of maintaining a relationship with God.
Therefore if our mode of thinking moves in that direction, then we operate in the spirit of the law. Moses wrote that the law’s way requires obedience to all its commands.
So we must move away from the law and allow faith to motivate us. But we must point our faith in the right direction, toward God and His Word.
Where Faith Comes From
The New Living Translation, which I normally use didn’t seem to make the next couple of verses very clear. So to better understand them I used the paraphrased version of the Living Bible.
But the salvation that comes through faith says, “You don’t need to search the heavens to find Christ and bring him down to help you,” and, “You don’t need to go among the dead to bring Christ back to life again.” Romans 10:6-7 (LB)
These verses tell us that we don’t need to seek out heavenly beings or “saints” for salvation. Neither can we find salvation among the dead. He said, what you need is within you.
In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: Romans 10:8
What is close at hand and on your lips? He said in the following message that he preached.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
The Pathway to Salvation, Hearing the Good News by Faith?
Hearing this good news opens the door to a new life of faith. The apostle went on to let us know that we can’t just be hearing the good news, we must act on it as well.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:10
I have noticed that some people take the position that their faith is private between them and God. That attitude though doesn’t come close to the scriptural view of faith.
Yes, our faith begins in our hearts but it doesn’t stay there. If a person doesn’t openly proclaim their faith, the question arises, do they have any? Faith in Christ doesn’t disgrace anyone.
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Romans 10:11
Paul went on to say that when it comes to salvation, God is no respecter of people. Salvation is open to everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. That includes every person on the face of the earth.
They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord receives salvation.” Romans 10:12-13
Foundation of Christianity
If you Google the phrase, “different types of faith.” It’s amazing how many answers you’ll get. Remember what I said at the beginning, faith in God is the foundation of Christianity.
Everything we do is built on our faith in the Lord. It’s not a faith of getting from Him. It’s a faith of trusting the Lord to supply all of our needs.
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Sometimes I don’t understand why I don’t get what I pray for, but I don’t stop trusting Him. Other times I need to examine myself and also understand God’s plan for my life
Our faith in the Lord has to go deeper than what He can and can’t do for us. It must become a tool to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. He has called each of us to that task.
Hearing the Good News Increases Our Faith
Hearing the good news is the only thing that brought us to faith in Christ. Now we must bear the good news so others can hear. Paul continued by asking a series of questions.
- But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?
- And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?
- How can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
- And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? Romans 10:14-15
Commissioned By Jesus
Jesus has already commissioned us to go. In the rest of verse 15, Paul quoted the Prophet Isaiah, which I will quote as well.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7
It doesn’t matter what your feet look like. If you are by faith spreading the good news so others are hearing it, your feet are beautiful!
Lord, thank you for planting faith within us for it to blossom in our lives. If I can trust you to take me to heaven I can trust you in every area of my life. Also, may we all strive for beautiful feet.
Check out these related posts about faith
- How To Supplement Your Faith In God
- Does Your Faith Embrace Honesty And Boldness?
- How Do You Handle Forced Faith?
- When You See A Miracle, Faith, & Repentance Work Together
- The Mystery Of Our Faith
- Is My Faith Being Tested During A Storm In Life?
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