TCH MINI-STUDY 2
FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD
The apostle Paul wrote the church in Rome
these words: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon
him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach,
except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings
of good things! But they have not all obeyed [hearkened to, be obedient to, respond to] the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [Rom 10:12-17].
In verse 17 above, many
believe, in error, that the word refers to the scriptures, or bible. They interpret these scriptures to mean that faith is the result
of hearing the word, or bible [as they refer to it] preached. In truth, individuals do receive faith from reading and hearing the
bible preached, but in the context of our subject verses, this word does not refer to the bible, but to the operation of the Holy
Spirit. As Paul teaches here, salvation is the result of calling upon the Lord, calling upon the Lord is the result of believing,
believing is the result of hearing, hearing is the result of preaching, and preachers preach because they are sent by the word [Greek,Rhema, the movement, operation, and working of the Holy Spirit].
In verse 17, if the word is a reference to the bible, then it
is the bible that sends men to preach, which then results in faith and salavation. Clearly it is not the word, or bible, that sends
preachers to preach resulting in faith, but the Holy Spirit [Greek, rhema] moving and operating within the hearts and lives of men
who are called by God to preach the word of truth, the gospel [See Eph 1:13, Col 1:5]. According to Paul, salvation is the result
of calling upon the Lord, calling upon the Lord is the result of believing, believing is the result of hearing the preaching of the
gospel, and hearing the preaching of the gospel is the result of preachers being called and sent by the Rhema, or working, movement,
drawing, and operation of the Holy Spirit within the hearts, minds, and lives of men and women who are called by God.
Other scriptures
verify that it is not the bible, but the operation, movement, and working of the Holy Spirit is what sends men to preach, which results
in the hearing of the gospel, resulting in faith and, therefore, salvation. The apostle Peter instructs us, Seeing ye have purified
your souls in obeying the truth [of the gospel] through the [working, movement and operation of the Holy] Spirit unto unfeigned love
of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed [the seed of
Jesus Christ and the gospel; See Luke 8:11, 13], but of incorruptible, by the word [Greek, Logos, a reference to Christ and the gospel
of Christ, and not the bible] of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the
flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word [Greek, Rhema, the working, movement, and
operation of the Holy Spirit] of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word [Greek, Rhema, the working, movement, and operation
of the Holy Spirit] which by the gospel is preached unto you (1 Peter 1:22-25; verse 25 is a specific reference to our subject verses).
Another example of the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit is found in the book of Hebrews. The author wrote, Through faith we
understand that the worlds [Greek, aion, age, course, beginning of the world] were framed [Greek, katartizo, to complete thoroughly,
repair, fit, frame, make perfect, join together] by the word [Greek, rhema, an utterance a matter or topic, saying, word; in New Testament
context, the movement and operation of the Holy Spirit] of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews
11:3). Common sense dictates that the creation, including the earth or world as we know it, was not created, and formed by the bible
[or word as many mistakenly refer to it], but by the magnificent, powerful, explosive power of God's Holy Spirit. Creation was clearly
the result of the explosive, powerful operation of God's Holy Spirit, and not the the influence or operation of the bible.
Even
more scriptures clearly teach that it is the Holy Spirit who sends men to preach and do God's bidding, and not the bible. It was the
Holy Spirit who directed, called, and sent Philip: And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south
unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an
eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem
for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and
join thyself to this chariot (Acts 8:26-29). In Acts, we also read, Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had
seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent [by the Holy Spirit] from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood
before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision,the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for
I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek:
what is the cause wherefore ye are come? (Acts 10:17-21). In Acts 13, we also see the sending of men by the Spirit: Now there were
in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene,
and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost
said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their
hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed
to Cyprus (Acts 13:1-4).
We must remember the scriptures teach that the bible [or word as the bible is referred to in error]
is not the source of our salvation and eternal life: the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither
heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have [will receive] eternal life: and [but] they are they which testify of me. Andye will not come to me, that ye might have life (John 5:37-40). Scriptures teach that eternal life is clearly found in Christ [based
upon faith], not the bible [based upon works]. The scriptures do teach that the word, that is, Christ and His gospel message, are
the source of salvation and eternal life. Look what the apostle Paul wrote to the Roman believers: For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power [Greek, dunamis, force, miraculous power, ability, mighty deed, strength, mighty wonderful work; a
clear reference to the operation of the Holy Spirit] of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek. For therein [the truth of the gospel message] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith [of the Jew] to faith [of
the Greek or Gentile]: as it is written, The just [both Jew and Gentile alike] shall live [eternally] by faith (Romans 1:16-17). The
gospel message our source of salvation, and not the bible.
For more on this subject, see TCH Article "The Word Of The Kingdom."
TCH Article "The Word Of Truth, The Gospel, "TCH Article “Faith Cometh By Hearing,” TCH Mini-Study "Preach The Word," TCH Mini-Study
"The Word Of The Kingdom," TCH Mini-Study "Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth," TCH Mini-Study "The Sword Of The Spirit, Which Is
The Word Of God," TCH Mini-Study "For The Word Of God Is Quick And Powerful," and TCH Mini-Study "Thy Word Is Truth" in THE CHRISTIAN
HERALD. AMEN.
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah: Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand
to
bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although
I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall
be the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will
put my law in their inward parts,
and write it in their hearts; and will be their
God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man
his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for
they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith
the
LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their
sin no more”
(Jeremiah 31:31-34).
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth
the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth"
(1 John 3:16-18).
"The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised
the third day. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it”
(Luke 9:22-24).
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which
ye have learned; and
avoid them. For they that are such
serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words and fair speeches deceive
the hearts
of the simple”
(Romans 16:17-18).
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto
Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne
of God. For consider him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds”
(Hebrews
12:1-3).