The Source of Faith

 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

(Romans 10:17 ESV)

I’ve run into few, over the years, who dispute the importance of the Bible. I’ve run into few who dispute the value of the Word of God. However, that being said, most are prone to neglect it.

Even those who believe that the Bible is inerrant and infallible tend to neglect it. They fail to make use of it. They ignore and disregard it.

As we look at the above passage, we see one reason why the Bible is so important. We find that it’s indispensable for us as Christians. We find, in fact, that we cannot be saved without it.

Paul made clear to his readers that salvation is available to all people. He said that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. He then asked how we’re to call on the Lord if we haven’t believed in him.

It’s clear that we can’t. Unless we believe in the Lord, we will not call on him and be saved. And he went on to argue that we can’t believe in the Lord unless we first hear of him.

This, you see, is why the Word of God is essential. This is why we can’t be saved apart from it. Unless we hear the Word of God, we cannot believe in Jesus. Unless we believe in Jesus, we cannot call on him. And unless we call on him, we cannot be saved.

Faith, you see, is not an inherent quality that we possess. Nor is it an ability on which we act. Just as our salvation is a free gift, given to us by God, so too is faith.

According to Paul, faith comes from hearing. As we hear the Word of God, we are enabled to believe. The Holy Spirit works in us, through the Word, drawing us to faith.

In the same way, God sustains us in faith. He upholds us in faith. And he enables us to persevere in faith. 

It’s for this reason, while explaining the Third Commandment, Martin Luther says we’re to fear and love God so that we do not despise his Word and the preaching of the same, but deem it holy and gladly hear and learn it. The reason we honor the Sabbath Day is that we might hear the Word of God. The reason we keep it holy is that we might receive the blessings God offers to us in his Word.

Knowing that Scripture is vital to our faith, we’re to make use of the opportunities God gives us to receive it. We’re to read it regularly. We’re to study it, both independently and corporately. And we’re to listen to it, we’re to hear it, as it’s preached and taught.

We must not make the mistake of believing that, in this way, we earn or become deserving of God’s mercy. We must, rather, recognize it as God’s gift. We must recognize that God works through his Word, enabling us to believe, that we might receive his salvation.