Romans 10:17 states “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” This verse highlights the importance of hearing and responding to the Word of God in order to develop faith. Let’s explore what the Bible teaches about hearing God’s Word and how it leads to faith.
The Word of God is Living and Active
The Bible teaches that God’s Word is living and active, meaning it has power to impact lives (Hebrews 4:12). God’s Word is described as being “sharper than any double-edged sword” because of its ability to pierce our hearts and minds. When we expose ourselves to Scripture, it begins to do a transformative work in us.
Through reading, studying, or listening to the Bible, our way of thinking changes to align more with God’s truth. The Holy Spirit uses Scripture to convict us of sin, teach us, guide us, and conform us to the image of Christ (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s Word exposes and judges the intentions of our hearts when we receive it (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible makes it clear that the Word of God has supernatural power and effectiveness.
Faith Comes from Hearing the Message
Romans 10:17 specifically states that faith comes by hearing the message about Christ. Our faith grows as we gain understanding of who Jesus is and what He accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection. The more we grasp the gospel message, the more our faith is strengthened.
For example, studying Jesus’ miracles in the Gospels gives us confidence that He has supernatural power. Learning about Christ’s sinless life and atoning sacrifice builds faith in Him as the only way to be forgiven and made righteous before God. Our faith blossoms when we hear specific truths about how God’s love, mercy, and grace are revealed through His Son.
Hearing Produces an Active Response
True biblical hearing of God’s Word produces an active response in the hearer. We not only listen intellectually, but respond with trust, obedience, and action. Jesus emphasized that those who hear God’s Word and put it into practice are wise (Matthew 7:24). James writes that we should be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” because faith without action is useless (James 1:22-25).
Part of the reason why faith develops through hearing God’s Word is because the listener starts acting on what the Bible teaches. As we obey biblical commands, experience God’s work in our lives, and tell others about Christ, our faith is strengthened through active responses to the Gospel.
The Word Must Be Understood
For faith to develop, the Word of God must not only be heard but also understood. Jesus explains in the Parable of the Sower that the gospel message can be heard yet fail to take root in a person’s heart if they do not comprehend it (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). In order for the Word to produce faith, it must make sense to us.
This is why reading and studying Scripture are so essential. The Bible documents events that occurred in certain times and cultures, so we need historical background and context to fully grasp its meanings. Through careful study and meditation on God’s Word, we gain wisdom, insight, and understanding about biblical truths that fuel genuine faith (Psalm 119:130).
Hearing Aids Understanding
While intellectual understanding is crucial, hearing the Bible preached and taught also plays a key role in comprehending divine truth in a life-changing way. Pastors, teachers, and evangelists can explain Scriptures clearly, answer questions, and apply the Word directly to the listener’s specific needs.
Paul writes that although people can read the Old Testament writings, understanding only comes when someone interprets and proclaims its fulfillment in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:30-35). Hearing good biblical preaching illuminates the meaning of the written Word so that faith takes root deeply. Preaching and teaching work together with personal study to produce faith through hearing God’s Word.
The Holy Spirit Enables Hearing
While preachers and teachers help convey the gospel message, true heart perception of God’s Word only comes through the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Humans cannot comprehend the Word of God on their own but depend on supernatural enlightenment from the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit enables us to discern, grasp, and believe the spiritual truths of Scripture, producing faith within us. Hearing the Bible – in study, preaching, or conversation – always relies on illumination from the Holy Spirit to generate faith.
The Word Must Take Root in Good Soil
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes how the gospel message can fail to produce faith when it falls on bad soil – representing hard, distracted, or superficial hearts (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). For the seed of the Word to take root and grow faith, it must be planted in soft, receptive soil – representing someone with an open, responsive heart.
We must listen attentively and humbly to God’s Word, allowing it to challenge and transform our hearts. If we harbor wrong motives, do not understand, or lack commitment to apply the truth, then hearing the Bible will not generate faith. Our responsiveness determines whether biblical hearing leads to real faith.
Continual Hearing Produces Growth
Biblical faith is not produced instantly but emerges and grows gradually through regular hearing of God’s Word. Initial awakening to the gospel happens when we first hear and understand Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins. But from there, our faith must be strengthened and expanded as we continually hear, learn from, and apply the Scriptures.
Paul describes disciples’ faith growing exceedingly as they are taught the Word of God daily (Acts 19:20). Hearing the Bible preached during weekly services equips Christians for ministry (2 Timothy 4:2). The Word can take deeper root in us the more we hear it, expanding our understanding and faith. That is why continual exposure to biblical teaching and preaching is so crucial.
Hearing Leads to Believing
The ultimate goal of hearing the Word of God is to create belief in the heart of the listener. Paul explains in Romans 10:8-10 that the message of salvation must not only be heard but believed in order to produce righteousness. He reiterates that faith comes from hearing the gospel taught.
Biblical hearing is intended to lead the listener to heartfelt belief. The more we are exposed to God’s Word, the more we will be persuaded of its divine truth and authority. Hearing can increase confidence and trust in God’s promises recorded in Scripture. As our faith grows through hearing, we believe unto salvation and learn to rely on God’s Word.
Hearing God’s Word Transforms Lives
The Bible contains countless examples of people whose lives were radically changed through hearing God speak. Crippled beggars walk (Acts 3), persecuting zealots convert (Acts 9), corrupt tax collectors repent (Luke 19), and more. When people truly hear from God, it engenders faith that transforms character and behavior.
As we continually hear and feed on God’s Word, it progressively shapes our thoughts, desires, and actions to align with Christ. Scripture is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Hearing and obeying God’s Word makes us more like Jesus.
Hearing Manifests Itself in Love
The ultimate test of genuine faith produced through hearing God’s Word is whether it manifests itself through loving action. James writes, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:22, 27).
If hearing the Bible does not lead to compassion, moral purity, righteous conduct, and generosity, then we are deceived. True saving faith transforms how we live and treat others. Hearing the Word must produce Christlike love that heals the broken and serves the vulnerable if it is faith of biblical quality.
Hearing Leads to Salvation
The ultimate purpose of hearing the Word of God is that people would believe in Christ and receive salvation. Paul states that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” in the context of unbelieving Jews who have not yet embraced the Savior (Romans 10:17). Faith’s origin in hearing leads to its goal – salvation.
Paul is distraught over the Israelites who have heard yet rejected the gospel, not attaining salvation. But he takes hope that some will eventually listen with receptive hearts, believe, and call on the name of the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:1-13). The divine Word generates faith that leads ultimately to eternal life when we truly hear and respond to Christ.
We Must Persevere in Hearing
Developing biblical faith requires continuing to hear, learn, and apply God’s Word over a lifetime. Ongoing exposure to Scripture keeps our faith vibrant and active. Expanding knowledge fuels spiritual growth.
We must persistently hear preaching, study the Bible, and discuss it with other believers to mine its inexhaustible depths. Our understanding and trust will deepen as we persevere in hearing God’s Word. Just as physical food is necessary for health, hearing spiritual truth nourishes faith necessary for the soul.
Hearing Requires an Open Heart
For the Word of God to generate faith within us, we must hear it with humility and openness – maintaining a receptive heart. We should listen attentively, expecting God to speak through the Bible personally into our lives.
We must be willing for Scripture to confront and correct us, not just confirm what we already think. Hearing demands openness to the Holy Spirit’s prompting as He applies God’s Word. Approaching the Bible with a submissive attitude allows it to accomplish its work within us.
Hearing Should Lead to Obedience
God intends Scripture to guide behavior, not just impart information. We have not heard the Word as we ought if it does not lead to obedience and righteous living. Jesus taught that only those who hear his words and do them demonstrate true wisdom (Matthew 7:24).
James writes that we delude ourselves if we merely listen to the Word without obeying it (James 1:22-27). Hearing the Bible without responding appropriately proves our hearing is inadequate. True appropriation of God’s Word transforms how we think, speak, and act in the world.
Conclusion
Romans 10:17 provides a beautiful summation of how faith emerges from hearing the Word of God. As we continually expose ourselves to biblical teaching and preaching with receptive hearts, the Holy Spirit enables us to understand, believe, and respond with obedience. Faith blossoms through comprehending and acting upon the powerful message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Hearing God’s Word with an open, responsive attitude allows it to accomplish its divine purposes in us. Our lives progressively align with God’s truth and love. As a result, our faith grows steadily and we experience the transformative work of Scripture. So let us actively and persistently hear God’s living Word, that we may believe unto salvation and live out that faith with love.