Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” This verse teaches an important truth about how faith in Christ comes about in a person’s life. Let’s explore the meaning of this verse and why it’s significant.
The Context of Romans 10:17
To properly understand any verse, it’s important to see it in context. Romans 10 comes in the broader context of Romans 9-11, where Paul wrestles with the question of why more of his fellow Jews have not believed in Jesus as their Messiah. This moves him to elaborate on the nature of saving faith.
Romans 10:17 comes as part of Paul’s explanation of the message of salvation. He has just quoted from Isaiah 52:7 about the beauty of those who “preach good news” (v. 15) and affirmed that “faith comes from hearing” this good news he’s referring to (v. 17). The broader point is that people must hear the gospel message to be saved.
Faith Comes Through Hearing God’s Word
When Paul says “faith comes from hearing,” he means that saving faith – the kind of faith that leads to salvation – comes about in a person’s life through hearing God’s word. More specifically, it comes through hearing the message of the gospel – the “good news” about who Jesus is and what He accomplished through His sinless life, death on the cross for sinners, and resurrection from the dead.
Paul’s point is consistent with other Bible passages that speak of faith coming by “hearing” God’s word (Galatians 3:2, 5). It’s also consistent with Jesus’ parable of the sower, in which the gospel message is compared to seed that is spread through speaking it (Luke 8:11). When the word is preached, some respond in saving faith. Paul says this only happens through hearing the message.
The Word Must Be Proclaimed for People to Hear
An important implication of Romans 10:17 is that people must have the gospel message proclaimed to them if they are to hear and believe. This is why evangelism and missions are so vital. Unless we preach the word, listeners will not have the opportunity to hear and put their faith in Christ.
Paul makes this point explicitly in verses 14-15, asking how people can believe unless they have a preacher to proclaim the gospel to them. There must be someone to preach and spread the word of Christ before anyone can hear it and respond in saving faith.
God Uses Our Hearing of His Word to Create Faith in Us
Romans 10:17 also carries the implication that Biblical faith is not something that originates from within us. Rather, faith is produced through the proclamation of the gospel, which is external to ourselves. The verse thus points to faith as being a gift of God worked in us by His Spirit through exposure to His word (see 1 Cor. 2:4-5; Eph. 2:8).
In other words, hearing the message preached is the means God uses to create and strengthen faith. This reminds us that saving faith is not something we conjure up on our own. It comes from responding inwardly to the outward preaching of the word of Christ.
The Word Must Be Understood, Not Merely Heard
While Romans 10:17 emphasizes hearing, we should not take this to mean a physical hearing is all that is required. Paul is speaking of truly hearing with comprehension. This is suggested by the Isaiah passage he alludes to, which refers to those who “understand” the message (Isaiah 52:15).
The Bible makes clear that the word must be understood and believed, not merely heard, in order for faith to take root (Matthew 13:1-23; Romans 10:14; Hebrews 4:2). True saving faith comes from comprehending, accepting, and appropriating the gospel message through application of mind and heart.
The Message Heard Must Be Christ’s Gospel
Romans 10:17 specifies that saving faith comes not just from any hearing, but “hearing through the word of Christ.” In other words, the message heard must be the gospel of Christ for faith unto salvation to be produced.
Mere hearing of other messages, religious ideas, philosophies, or concepts will not generate saving faith. The particular message of Christ – i.e. His person, work, death, and resurrection for sin – is the only word that begets faith leading to salvation. This underscores that there is no salvation apart from hearing and believing the gospel of Christ.
Faith Must Then Be Expressed in Response
Romans 10:17 speaks of initial saving faith coming through hearing the gospel. But biblical faith is more than passive reception of truths. It necessarily leads to active trust, expressed through obedience to what is heard. Paul emphasized this by quoting Deuteronomy 30:14 and urging word-hearers to call on the name of the Lord and confess belief (v. 13, 9).
The expected response to saving faith is public confession of that faith before others, professing belief in the gospel that was heard (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:12). Of course, even such expressions of faith are evidence of prior inner saving faith produced through hearing the word.
The Power Is in the Message Heard, Not the Act of Hearing
A final observation about Romans 10:17 is that the power to create faith is not in the mere act of hearing itself. Rather, the power is in the particular message heard – the word of Christ. The verse could be translated “faith comes from what is heard.” Faith truly comes from exposure to the powerful gospel.
This reminds us that saving faith is not created through any magical or mystical inner workings. What produces faith is the Holy Spirit applying the word about Christ to a mind and heart made ready through His work (John 6:63; 16:8-11; Acts 16:14). It is Christ’s word imparted to us, not the act of hearing itself, that grants faith.
Implications of Romans 10:17
The implications of Romans 10:17 are vital for believers to grasp. Among other things, this verse teaches us:
- Faith comes from hearing the gospel message, not our own inward strivings.
- Saving faith relies wholly on God’s word and work, not ourselves.
- Evangelism, preaching, and missions are urgent tasks for bringing a saving word to the lost.
- No one can believe unless the word of Christ is proclaimed to them.
- God uses our exposure to His word, not magical workings, to create faith within us.
- Saving faith must always be expressed in action – confession, obedience, trust.
- The power of the gospel transforms lives when it is heard and believed.
In summary, Romans 10:17 highlights the indispensability of God’s word – especially the gospel – in creating saving faith. It brings God’s truth and Spirit together through the public proclamation of the message of Christ, so that listeners may hear, understand, and believe unto salvation.
Other Bible Passages about Faith Coming by Hearing
Romans 10:17 is not the only verse that speaks of faith coming by hearing God’s word. Here are some other key passages on this theme:
Galatians 3:2
“Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”
Paul reminds the Galatians that they received the Holy Spirit when they heard the gospel with faith, not through works of the old covenant law.
Galatians 3:5
“Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?”
Again Paul ties the Spirit to faith produced by hearing God’s word, not by meritorious works.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
Paul thanks God that the Thessalonians heard his preaching as God’s word, which continues to work in them by faith.
James 1:22-25
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
James emphasizes that true hearing leads to active obedience and blessing.
The Necessity of Preaching God’s Word
If faith comes by hearing the word of Christ, what are the implications for preaching and sharing God’s word?
Preaching is essential for people to hear and believe
Unless someone proclaims the gospel, people will not have the opportunity to hear Christ’s word and respond in faith. Evangelistic preaching and declaring God’s word are key (Romans 10:14-17).
Preaching must focus on Christ’s word, not ours
The content must be the message of Christ – who He is and what He did to save sinners. Preaching our own opinions or pet topics cannot produce faith.
Multiple means can be used – but the message is what matters
The word can be preached through public speaking, writing, broadcasting, personal witnessing, and more. But in every case, the focus must be proclaiming the word of Christ accurately.
Hearing alone is not enough – the word must be understood and obeyed
Preaching should aim not just for people to hear, but to internalize, comprehend, and respond to Christ’s word through faith and obedience.
Preaching is empowered by the Spirit, not our method
While good technique helps, only the Spirit applying the message gives the ears to truly hear and the heart to respond in saving faith.
Principles for Preaching God’s Word Faithfully
Here are some key principles for preaching God’s word in a way that promotes saving faith:
- Present the full gospel message of salvation in Christ
- Proclaim the word with clarity, accuracy, passion, and authority
- Urge unbelievers to repent and put faith in Christ as Savior and Lord
- Enliven preaching with the Spirit’s power, not mere technique
- Call for a response of faith, obedience, public profession, and discipleship
- Focus on conveying God’s word, not promoting oneself
- Stay grounded in prayer and dependence on God’s Spirit to work through preaching
- Use everyday language people can understand
- Consider the audience and aim to engage minds and hearts
When God’s word is preached with faithfulness under the Spirit’s aid, it can produce faith, changed hearts, and eternal life.
God’s Role vs. Our Role in Creating Faith Through Hearing
Romans 10 highlights divine sovereignty and human responsibility working together in creating saving faith:
God’s sovereign role
- Sending preachers to proclaim His word
- Causing people to hear and understand His word
- Regenerating spiritually dead hearts to make them receptive
- Acting through His word by the Spirit to create faith
Our responsible role
- Preaching, witnessing, and spreading God’s saving word
- Hearing the word attentively and accurately
- Thinking carefully about the message proclaimed
- Exercising faith in repentance and obedience
In summary, God sovereignly makes preachers, hearers, understanding, and faith. But we are responsible to use means He provides and to respond appropriately to the word proclaimed.
Faith Comes By Hearing – But Saved by Grace
While Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing, we must remember salvation is still by God’s grace. Human faith is the instrumental cause, but God’s gracious will and activity are the primary causes of salvation. God draws, empowers, saves, and sustains.
In other words, while faith comes by hearing God’s word, everything related to salvation is still God’s gracious work from start to finish. This prevents misunderstandings of Romans 10:17 that might imply salvation is merited by faith, or faith itself earns salvation.
Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in response to the word heard. God is the author and perfector of saving faith from beginning to end. The whole process occurs by His sovereign grace.
Conclusion
Romans 10:17 is a succinct but loaded verse. It teaches that saving faith comes through hearing the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected for sinners. This reminds us that faith is God’s gracious gift, through His word empowered by the Spirit. It moves us to preach the word faithfully, calling all people to hear, understand, and believe unto salvation and a life of discipleship.
God’s word is powerful and decisive. When heard under the influence of the Spirit, it produces saving faith unto eternal life. We sow gospel seeds through preaching, witnessing, and living for Christ. But God alone brings the growth through His word. To Him be all praise and glory!
