Romans 10 is a fantastic testimony of God’s love and patience with His children. There are some great truths here that should give us strength for the journey through life. We could look at verses like this and enter into great debate about the Reformed position of the election over against that of those who see the free will of man involved, and debate then how are we saved. Or, we can see here how God has dealt with all before us, and find the key to not only life eternal, but peace amid the storms of this temporal world. While theology has it place and is of great importance, I believe the Scriptures were given to us for peace and comfort now, as well as training for that eternal world to come.

So, while we are always concerned with the truth of the whole of Scripture and the proper understanding of things, the focus in this series is how to use the Scriptures to live life and that more abundant now, as well as entering into the rest prepared for us by Christ. This is more of the way a pastor views the Scriptures when dealing with the flock on a daily basis. How much detail is needed to bring the power and comfort to bear on any given situation, without abusing God’s Holy Word being the constant concern.

So let us take this at face value and know God has in this sense been reaching out to us from before the foundation of the earth, and for all who will seek Him, provides the place of refuge needed when the storms of life and doubt assail us in our time here in this temporal world. In a previous lesson we talked about using the means of grace provided by God in the Bible to overcome adversity in life (Hearing the Word, practicing the sacraments, and adhering to the discipline of the church). We find that reinforced in Romans 10.

We cannot properly apply what we do not understand. In Romans 10:17 we find the source of this understanding. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17 AV). So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17 ASV) so then the faith is by a report, and the report through a saying of God, (Romans 10:17 YLT) So faith then is by a report, but the report by God's word. (Romans 10:17 DBY) I chose several versions for the Scripture to quote here so you can see that the older Bible (1769 AV) I normally use and the newer so-called more literal or up to date Bibles don’t vary significantly here. Last week we looked at how the phrase "The just shall live by faith" was found in these exact words four times in the Bible, and that in both the Old and New Testament. (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) It is very interesting to take these four places and look at the context in which they are applied. Four times to four audiences in four different situations and the answer to an otherwise difficult question (how do I live?) returns, "The just shall live by faith."

We then find at least two concepts for living with the trials and temptations of life before us in these verses (Rom. 10:17-21). The faith we need to keep our focus on Christ and deal with life comes from "hearing" His Words of life. This validates every ministry in the world, especially those outside the church who use many means to transmit this Gospel truth concerning Christ to people in an audible way. It also points to the fact believers belong in church whenever possible because this is where they "hear" the Word of God. Though not an exact exegesis of the Greek concerned, I believe it well within bounds to reword this verse to the effect "Understanding comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God." Not only the hearing of the Word, but often the word repeated many times that it might sink into our sinned darkened minds, which we may have further clouded with so-called medicines to combat the blues that have descended upon us. I do not say this to attack any who find they need "medicines" to continue to function in this world. I say it because from the depth of my heart I believe this is not what God intended and man can function with no healer other than the Word of God. I too continue the search, and am thankful to a God who has bestowed the knowledge of medicine we have, lest we all at times sink beneath the waves of hurt and pain we all face.

So it is that God has not called us to a blind faith, but He has called for us to live by faith. Once more I point out that never has God required anything of us, He did not first provide for us. It is thus that we see Christ in the Scriptures found the church (Mt. 16:18). How wrong it is then for some to think they can make effective use of the means of grace without being a part of the church militant. Though God can and does use all things for His own glory, and in this sense pours blessings upon the so-called para-church ministries of many, the truth is Christ founded His church, not at Pentecost where it received it official commission as the body of Christ, but much earlier that even in the first days after His ascension, the saints had access to the means of grace, and especially the hearing of the Word. Hear this then, to deny the church as a necessity is to deny the Word of Christ and point to the gross error Christ made in the institution of the church. Membership in a Bible teaching church is then not an option to be desired, but commanded of Christ lest we be found to be saying Christ was a liar by our action of absenting ourselves from the fellowship of the saints.

The Westminster Divines speak of the preaching of the Gospel being the "ordinary" means whereby God calls the elect to Himself. While careful not to close the door or place restrictions on God, they are just as careful in my opinion to show the necessity of the church, that from her store house the Gospel may be sent into all the world.

What comfort then there is to the believer from God when he obediently attends church and "hears" the Word of God faithfully. How loving of our God to provide for the preservation of that eternal Word which is the Word of life, and provide the place and means for that Word to be heard in the gifting of the church with His ministers.

Thus no matter how crimson your sin, it is a truth that you can be washed as white as new blown snow. Not, from any action other than the hearing of God’s revealed Word, by which God has spoken for all eternity to the present day.

Make use then of this grace of God shown in supplying not only the Word, but its hearing by those in need of life, that they might have it, and that more abundant. Know the peace of Christ that passes understanding in obedience to God to hear His Son ("Listen to Him." Mt. 17:5). No high can compare with that of being high on the Spirit. God is true, God is faithful toward us at all times. You do not walk this path way alone, for it is also true that while we make our plans in our heart, it is God who orders our footsteps. Despair not my soul, for the bread of life is placed before you from the hand of God Himself, that you might live.

Father grant that I might hear your Word of life, that I might know its comfort in the storms of life. Open the ears of my understanding to your Word. Help Thou my unfaithfulness. AMEN

By: Dr. Chuck Baynard