© 11 Colin Melbourne
First the Blade
Q: Please explain Romans 10:17; What does this Bible verse mean exactly?
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
A: I understand why you ask, it can seem slightly disjointed on first reading, but that is because it packs a huge amount into a few words.
First let’s get it in the most accurately translated form, the KJV, Ro. 10:17;
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Some people wonder why it doesn’t just say;
Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
That’s plain enough to grasp, it’s the addition of “and hearing by” that throws readers.
The first clause means exactly what it says,
So then faith cometh by hearing…
Faith is of the heart, your spirit; faith is spiritual, not mental.
Believing in your head will get you nowhere because Rom. 10:10 KJV tells us;
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Most of us know people who call themselves Christian, but they haven’t got Christ in them, they have never been born of God, they have mental belief, they are unsaved nominal ‘Christians’.
They have religion, creeds, and rituals, but they don’t have the life of Jesus in their hearts. There’s no fruit of the Spirit. They are still spiritually dead in sin and Hell-bound.
That’s why Jesus emphasised everyone must be born of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God.
Faith cometh by hearing… refers primarily to the person’s spiritual ears hearing the word, the message of Christ, the Gospel of salvation.
They hear the Gospel proclaimed and preached through their physical ears, and God’s word penetrates their unregenerate human spirit; they hear it spiritually.
The word of God causes faith to rise in their hearts.
So faith comes by hearing.
Then the Ear
But what about the next clause; …and hearing by the word of God?
This refers to the enabling power of God’s word. The word has to be preached and heard by their physical ears, but there also has to be personal revelation, and that comes only by divine anointing so individuals comprehend what they are hearing.
Remember Jesus said Jn. 6:63b KJV;
The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
And later in Hebrews 4:12 KJV we read that:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, God’s words cut to the heart like a spiritual laser sword. They are divine life, and carry inherent power to stimulate living faith by the direct revelation of God’s Spirit, and enable sinners to repent, believe, and obey the word; if they simply choose to do so.
Like the first clause, this refers to hearing spiritually by revelation, not merely physically hearing the word of God preached.
Plenty of church-goers listen and physically hear the preached word for decades without ever hearing it spiritually. They fail to understand what they are hearing, they remain in unbelief.
That’s because they harden their hearts and close their spiritual ears; satisfied with dead religion and comfortable forms. So no faith rises in their hearts, and they remain dead in sin. It’s their choice, and God respects it.
Divine Revelation is Essential
Nobody can come to faith in Christ unless the Father draws them by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Jn. 6:44 KJV;
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Oh this is such a beautiful process isn’t it? Recall how you were content in sin, with no thought for God, or your eternal destiny.
Then somebody somewhere began to pray for your salvation, and God answered.
Gently He drew you, revealed Himself, got your attention onto the Word of God: The LORD Jesus Christ The Living Word, who then made you hungry for righteousness, truth, and peace.
He caused your spiritual ears to open, enabled you to really hear;
…and hearing by the word of God.
So you heard the Living Word in your heart.
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
You finally understood what God was offering you. He drew you, and He enabled you to understand.
As soon as you understood the word, by direct revelation; faith was quickened in your heart.
After that, the full corn in the ear
You could paraphrase the scripture like this:
“Faith comes by hearing and comprehending God’s word.”
God left you to decide what you would do with His risen Son, who bled and died for you.
Praise God you made the right choice!
God’s plan is that believers do not remain stationary. He wants our faith to continually grow after we are saved, by gaining more knowledge of God’s Word: The LORD Jesus Christ.
That comes as we obey the written word: We eat it, act on it, and our faith and love grow.
© 11 Colin Melbourne
