Hearing

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  (Romans 10:14-17, NASB)

The Apostle Paul continues his discussion on salvation in Romans 10 (see “Saved,” May 9, 2022).  He begins by asking a series of rhetorical questions that point to his conclusion. 

His first question is, “How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?”  This question points back to the last line of the previous paragraph:  “Whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)  Paul’s point is that to call on the name of the Lord, one has to know Him, or know about Him, first.  

His next questions are a progression in logic that point to his conclusion:  “How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?”

I think the context of Paul’s time is important.  Most people didn’t have access to the word of God unless they heard it.  Jewish people knew of the writings of Moses and the Prophets.  The Gospel was learned by word of mouth.  The letters written by the apostles were unknown to most people unless they were members of the churches to which they were written.  Paul’s questions seem to point to the importance of the preacher in getting the word of God to the people. 

Paul concludes by saying, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”  Consistent with the context of the time, almost all people came to faith by hearing the word.  Paul (then known as Saul) literally came to faith by the word of Christ when Jesus spoke directly to him on the Damascus Road as he was on his way to persecute Christians there.  

Today many people come to faith by reading the Bible (the word of Christ), but many people don’t have Bibles and many haven’t heard of Jesus Christ.  Somebody needs to tell them.  As Paul points out, many people do not “heed the good news.”  But it’s our job to tell them of the hope that lies in the name of Jesus our Savior!  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

Recently the Stealth Fighter Association held a reunion in Las Vegas to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first operational flight of the Lockheed F-117A.  Among the souvenirs were some “formerly classified” pictures.  I flew the aircraft from 1985-1988.  The program then was in the “black” world, highly classified.  I never thought I’d see these photos.  My friend and fellow Zoomie Rick Glitz (we were in the same F-117 and F-16 squadrons) went to the reunion, and sent me some pictures.  I’ll show you a couple: 

That’s “my” aircraft, tail # 804.  That’s not me in the cockpit, but that’s my jet. 

13 August 1985:  That’s me climbing down the ladder after my first F-117 flight.  I’m getting hosed down because apparently I’m on fire.  I carried a flag with me that day that I have folded in a display case.  Since what we were doing was hush-hush, the plaque on the case has my name, the date, and “A Significant Event.”  As was unit custom, I came home that Friday night with a bottle of champagne so Sue and I could toast the “significant event.”