Faith Comes by Hearing

Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Faith is the result of hearing the truth, and truth can be heard in two ways: either by listening to a preacher of the gospel when the Word is proclaimed with purity and simplicity, or by personally reading the Scriptures and thereby hearing the Word. However, salvation does not come merely by hearing or reading the Word; it comes by hearing the Word and accepting it. To accept the Word means to walk in obedience to it.

According to James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

It is the will of God that we become doers of the Word; otherwise, a person only deceives himself. John 8:32 informs us that the truth sets us free. But when does the truth set us free? Certainly, when we receive it in obedience after hearing it.