Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NIV)
This particular scripture is easy to remember, easy to quote, easy to understand and is easy to do. The simplicity of the Bible is often overlooked by us because we try to make it too deep, too theological and too complicated for our own good, but this was not God’s plan and purpose for His holy Word. Too often we like to tinker with something if it seems too simple or too easy rather than just doing what it says to do. “Faith comes by hearing” this lets us know the process of obtaining faith. “And hearing by the word of God” this lets us know the necessary component by which we must use to receive faith. The process requires that we are in the position of hearing but not just hearing anything or anyone, we must be hearing the word of God. The word hearing in this context is extremely important and is often over looked for the verb that it is. Hearing is defined as the process, function, or power of perceiving sound. This means that when we operate in the process, function, or power of perceiving sound from the word of God then we will obtain faith. Faith is active in itself it requires that we believe in that which we cannot see but still live in the substance of that belief. Hebrews 11 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Many do not believe but proceed with caution based on senses and physical tangible evidence once it appears but that is not faith it is doubt until evidence arrives. What is interesting about that is that even in that scenario one has to believe that evidence will arrive and once it does then they will be convinced, their belief is in tangible evidence but they still had to believe in something. We have the capacity for faith as given by God at birth because we believe in many things but what or who has more credibility than God? Many often question God or try God rather than believe God, and it is done from a mind and body that God gave us all. Since faith comes from the activity of hearing and hearing the word of God, what is the word of God? The Word of God is God’s voice, Jesus Christ and all that He is, and the Holy Bible. These three make up the Word of God: 1. Whatever God speaks even through His instruments (angels, prophets, or any means that God uses) it is still God’s voice coming through. 2. The priest, prophet, king and Messiah Jesus Christ, His life and His teachings. 3. The Holy Bible and all that it entails (nothing added or taken away). These are the components by which faith comes into our constant and continual activity of hearing. We might be able to better understand this scripture like this: So then faith (being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see) cometh by hearing (the process, function, or power of perceiving sound from the word of God-actively, constantly and continually) and hearing (the process, function, or power of perceiving sound from the word of God-actively, constantly and continually) by the Word of God (God’s voice, Jesus Christ and all that He is, and the Holy Bible).
Faith is easy to obtain but it is obtained by an active pursuit of hearing God through His Word. We must actively, constantly and continually seek to hear God through His Word by listening, studying, reading and living out His Word just as Christ did it is only then that we will truly walk in faith.
