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Romans 10:14–15
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? (Rom. 10:14–15a).
Whosoever will call on God’s name will be saved. Such is the wonderful promise Paul has been laying out for us. But today’s passage reminds us that no one calls out to God in a vacuum. Certain things must happen before anyone, Jew or gentile, will call on the name of the Lord for salvation.
The crucial condition is belief, or faith. No person will call on Christ unless he or she understands the gospel, accepts the message personally, and acts on it. It is helpful at this point to remind ourselves of a fact Paul has made clear in Romans (but which may have been obscured by his teaching that whoever will may cry out to Christ). This truth is that God gives faith only to His elect. It is true that anyone is free to ask God for salvation if he desires to do so. But only those whose hearts have been changed by God will want Christ. It is to them that God grants the gift of faith by which they cry out to Him. This becomes clear when we consider the event that must happen before belief—the gospel message must be heard. And if the message is to be heard, God must give the ability to hear it (John 8:47). However, even before hearing occurs, something else must happen—proclamation. God’s people are called to take the gospel message to all nations, boldly declaring it in the hearing of unbelievers. And yet, according to Paul, something still must precede proclamation—sending. Individuals must heed God’s call to go forth as preachers and missionaries, and churches must send them out. Thus, Paul is outlining for us a process whereby God saves people through His people, sending them out to declare the gospel and causing it to fall on soil He has prepared to receive it.
In his Romans commentary, Dr. James M. Boice brings out a wonderful but easily overlooked truth from these verses. In our English Bible versions, the middle portion of verse 14 reads, “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” But Boice points out that the word of is not found in the Greek. Thus, Paul is saying no person will believe unless he or she hears Christ Himself speaking through the proclamation of His gospel. God has determined that He will build His kingdom by speaking to unsaved hearts as faithful Christians proclaim His Word.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
God could save people directly, converting unbelievers apart from any human messenger. But He has chosen to use faltering, hesitant people to spread the gospel. And when they do, faithfully fulfilling His Great Commission, the sight is beautiful in God’s eyes. Praise and thank Him today for the high privilege of bearing His good tidings.
For Further Study
- Matthew 9:37–38
- Acts 13:1–3
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1
- 2 Timothy 4:2