“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) If you grew up in a faith context similar to mine, you’ve probably heard that verse quoted hundreds of times. And, if your experience is like mine, that quoting almost never occurred in context.
Romans 10 is talking about conversion. This section of Romans, chapters 9-11, is talking about the Jews rejection of the message. The point Paul is making is that the Jews have heard. They had their chance. The gospel was presented to them, they had the chance to come to faith, and they didn’t do it.
In Galatians 3, the term “hearing” is used by Paul mostly to represent the preaching that is done during conversion (Galatians 3:2,5). That usage corresponds to the usage in Romans.
This verse from Romans 10 refers to how faith comes initially. Faith comes by hearing the message of Christ. Paul is not telling us how faith develops. He’s not talking about how Christians come to have more faith. Faith comes by hearing.
Let’s not try to make this verse say something it doesn’t.
Tim,
Good post! The fact that faith “comes” shows us that even that most fundamental element of our coming to Christ is not our own doing.
Royce
Thanks Royce. That’s a good point.
Tim, said “They had their chance.”
Royce said, “coming to Christ is not our own doing. ”
Tim said “good point”
Tim if what Royce said is true, just what chance are you talking about, that the Jews had?
Royce has told me many times, Jesus did not come to give anyone a chance, he only came to save the ones called by God, and lately he has said those not called, and indwelled by the holy ghost, can’t understand the bible anyway. so what does a sinner hearing or reading the word have to do with it?
Tell me what “good point” does Royce make here.
[post edited by moderator]
I always believed that this scripture was talking of how a person comes to Christ, not how our own faith is built up. The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts needed someone to explain the scripture which he was reading, then he had faith and obeyed. We as Christians should already have the faith. But it is still important to continue studying and growing our faith.
Laymond,
Please refrain from insulting other commenters.
You’ve over-edited Royce’s comment that I commented on. Had he said what you quoted, I would not have agreed with him.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Jeanne,
I agree that Bible study is a big part of how we grow as Christians. It would be a mistake to say otherwise.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Tim, ask Royce which part of what I said is untrue, the only thing he would disagree with is the sentence you deleted. and he has said that very thing to me many times.
You still never said what the good point was, Royce made. was it where he said “Good post” or where he said we have nothing to do with our own salvation?
You can’t say in one breath that the Jews “had their chance and didn’t take it” and in the next breath agree that nothing we do has any affect on salvation.
The “good point” is that we don’t save ourselves. Everything we do is response. We don’t muster up faith on our own. We hear the message, and faith begins to grow.
How do we respond?
Do we snuff it out? Bury it? Fertilize it? Cultivate it?
I don’t think Royce is saying, “nothing we do has any effect on our salvation.” I believe he is recognizing that salvation is from God, and even the best things we do in our lives were initiated by God.