Faith by Hearing

Exhortation:

Something about Healing…

Main Intro thought

Going to do more a Bible study (less inter’tive) this AM

Read scripture.

Follow the auth. train of thought. See things thru his lens (anc. contxt)

Make application!

Challenge you to be diff. bc of truth in God’s holy scripture.

Sound Good??

Romans 10:13–21 “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 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? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 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.” Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” 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.” But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.””

Written by AP ~60AD to Xians in Rome

Paul “Apostle to Gentiles” saw himself, tho Jew, call’d to chlge non-Jews to make JC lord/master.

We just read a lot, so now we’re going to break it down together

READY??

AP makes a potent >>

A Case for More Faith

I see faith as conduit (pipe, cable, straw) - best metaphor ever thought up - cnctd to God’s pwr!

It’s an essential part of Xian walk; gives access to Spir. things (incl salv.!)

No matter how much we have, can touch heaven; have relat. with God.

I do not believe ‘lack of faith’ always a reason for unans. pryrs!

In fact, # of ppl in scrip. healed nvr mentions faith lvl.

So the amt. of faith is less matter of results…

HWVR,

Growing/building our faith muscle is encouraged & even commanded in scripture!

So if we must build our faith, we should know how to do it.

AP addresses one prod. of faith in Rom 10:13. He expresses to us >>

A. A Straightforward Promise (Romans 10:13)

Romans 10:13 “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

Salvation is universally available.

AP is very clear: Not everyone XP salv!

But everyone CAN.

Sit & be scandalized by that option for a sec.

ANYONE can be saved.

Even not fair; even ppl that annoy you… or have hurt you. badly!

Even the Judases or Barabbases or doubting Thomases. Salvation: paid-for.

The door is wide open. Wider than we would keep it — serve G. far more gracious!

And yet—AP very clear; calling on JESUS is ONLY WAY.

Calling is important — it’s public, it’s desperate, it’s vocal!

If Jesus has changed you, other people should know.

so WHY isn’t every1 saved?? Offered to all??

AP uses an awesome Gk device to communicate his pt. He asks >>

B. Four Rhetorical Questions:

All of these questions assume a neg. response.

Stirs in the reader an internal reply.

Gets us to dialogue with AP in our heads!

The first Quesiton he asks:

1. Romans 10:14a “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?

Say: THEY CAN’T!

Calling requires belief. Is no calling without trust.

Before we call on Jesus to save us, we MUST first have faith to believe that he lived & died for us.

If a person does not believe that Jesus sets the standard for what is BEST; has no desire to pursue that.

If one doesn’t believe life can be eternal, never desire eternal life!

Desire must rest on conviction.

2. Romans 10:14b “…How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”

Say: THEY CAN’T!

Belief requires hearing.

You can’t believe in s'thing that hasn’t been expressed/revealed to you!

B4 you heard about the latest conspir. theory, couldn’t have known anyt’g to be upset about! (mis’ble life?!)

DYK: Faith is not self-generated; it arrives from outside us.

We needed to hear/receive/shown s’thing before we could believe.

Naturally begs the next question: >>

3. Romans 10:14c “…How can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

SAY: They can’t!

Hearing requires a preacher.

PARENTS: This is your resp. We only have your kids/teens for 1-3hrs/wk. Rest is up to you! (GRANDS, etc…)

If hoping ONE YTH change all bad habits, not nec. You are primary preachers.

Big charge to talk about & live our Jesus in families.

The gospel is carried by voices, not assumptions.

If you’re not talking about Jesus/God, your cowork./fam/kids will learn about him from news, SM, Google search.…

Man, we might not be perf., but we should bring more truth than internet/friends…

4. Romans 10:15a “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?”

SAY: They can’t!

Preaching requires sending.

God initiates the whole chain; mission precedes response.

Caveat; each of us has mandate from God to tell others Good News!

We are all called to steward God’s truth, in our way (flavor), to others!

Beauty of Proclamation (v.15b). Quotes Isaiah: “how beautiful are the feet…”

Proclamation is not merely functional—it is holy work.

This task we are called to… to make disc; talk about JC; pray w/ folks; live msg… holy calling (set apart, diff., special, unique)!

However, AP calls out a glaring problem! >>

C. A PROBLEM: Dissenters! (Romans 10:16)

Romans 10:16 “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?””

Hearing does not guarantee faith! Something can be resisted.

All of the amazing preaching that we are called to… all of the hearing that’s done… all the truth proclaimed… still choose to reject.

Isr. given law from God straight from Heav. All called to be priests.

For any nation to know the TRUTH of univ./life, needed to know God of Isr. & life provided.

Many of them (esp. leaders) rejected Messiah & even harassed, jailed Xians later

AP Elaborates:

1. Exhibit A: Israel & Revelation (Romans 10:18-20)

Romans 10:18–20 “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.” Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” 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.””

G. told them — they HAD the truth, the guidelines, the Law

They heard; called to listen; called to respond.

Famed prayer, Shema: “LISTEN” — thrice daily prayed Deut. 6

They understood it!

Isr. took in the data points, read/heard law, tried to fllw 10cmd’ts… Missed their GOD when He came to step in & show what’s true; Way to salvation!

It wasn’t lacking of the hearing — God sent plennnnty of messengers.

They didn’t understand or apply or experience Him the way He wanted them to.

Lack of faith is not due to lack of exposure.

Now, in day & age, can hear the gospel anywhere. Don’t need a special person or group or family to tell.

Amz’ly God gave rev’ion to WHOLE world, all peoples! (Gentiles, non-Jews)!

AMEN!?

God’s plan (all along) was for the WHOLE WORLD, not just Isr. to receive & be able to liv out perfect truth.

AP breaks it down real easy for us: >>

D. Core Takeaway (Romans 10:17)

Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

Faith grows where the gospel is repeatedly centered and heard.

If you want to have more faith: to believe for bigger things…

…to face temptation & win.

…to overcome a battle or fear or a test.

…to finally commit your life to His bc you honestly believe that He has it all and that you can’t do it alone…

YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE RIGHT VOICES.

Put the gospel message before your eyes and ears.

Hear it. Most purely in His Word!

However, we regularly fail at preaching & listening…

So there’s >>

1. Good News: Romans 10:21

Romans 10:21 “But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.””

Do you see it?

Do you see the

Are you Listening? Do you Know?

Don’t just hear the good news; DO IT, SAY IT, SHOW IT!

Seek & pursue Him greater, more consistently.

Put yourself in positions to TELL the Good news & to HEAR the good news!

** Jesus’ Parable of the Seed is illustrative. Luke 8:4-15

S'times we hear, but we listen to our past or our XP or trials — roadblock!

S'times the glitz & glam of Am. life is too appealing & X takes backburn.

S’times we just don’t care about truth enough. Just want to do me. YOLO.

God calls to you. Do you hear? Will you respond?

Committal?

Altar time?

Salvation call?