When Jesus Speaks

We come now to another of Paul’s masterfully succinct summary verses: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The difficulty lies in understanding how this verse fits into the overall structure of Paul’s argument in Romans 10. In this case, the New International Version translation is helpful. It renders the verse this way: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” This translation reveals at least three things about this verse.

First, the word consequently clearly points backward to what Paul has said: that God sends the gospel forth through human ambassadors; that those who hear the message must believe it; but that not all who hear do believe. Because all of that is true, Paul says, the following is true also. Clearly this verse is a summary of some sort, and we must seek to understand how it fits into Paul’s overall purpose.

Second, Paul reiterates that faith comes from hearing the gospel message. As we have seen, knowledge of the facts of the gospel does not constitute saving faith in and of itself. But it is an essential part of faith. God’s people must preach the message of salvation through Christ with as much clarity as possible. Then God must work, regenerating the heart of the unbeliever so that it warms to the message and the will trusts Christ. Outwardly at least, it all begins with the message.

Third, Paul tells us “the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Some commentators believe this part of the verse is telling us that the gospel message concerns Christ. Others see it as as saying that the gospel goes forth and takes effect at the command of Christ, which reminds us of the fact that it is His predestining work that determines who will and will not respond to the message. Both of these interpretations are Scriptural. But Dr. James M. Boice believes that Paul is saying that Jesus Himself speaks through His messengers. He notes that this is exactly what Jesus said He would do (John 10:3–5, 16). Also, as we noted earlier, the second question in Romans 10:14 should be translated “And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?” not “of whom they have not heard.” The implication is that the message of the gospel falls on good soil when Jesus speaks through His people’s proclamation of His Word.