| |||
Faith And Hearing
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
This
important passage of Scripture is, sad to say, little understood. Many
people think of faith in the abstract, as though it had some mysterious
power in itself. They speak of faith, but what do they mean? Faith in
what? or in whom? Surely it is not possible just to have faith, without
something or someone to have faith in.
Faith
is not wishing hard, or feeling confident. It is not optimism or
presumption or imagination. Faith must have a basis, a foundation. Thus
the Christian’s faith is founded on “the Word of God” — on what God has
said in the Bible.
The
above passage explains: “Faith cometh by hearing.” Isn’t that simple?
Isn’t it true? Some have said that “seeing is believing,” but a moment’s
reflection will reveal that, like the phrase: “I’m from Missouri,” this
saying is an expression of unbelief. When we have seen a thing we need
no longer believe it; it has been demonstrated to us. But when we hear
[or read] a matter reported, we may either believe or doubt it. “Faith
cometh by hearing.” And likewise hearing comes through what has been
said. We believe, or doubt, what we hear and we hear what has been said.
The Christian’s faith, then, comes by hearing (God) and hearing by the
Word of God. All true Christian faith is founded on the Word of God.
Actually
the word “hearing,” in Rom. 10:17, however, has the idea of heeding —
paying attention, listening eagerly. This is why Gal. 3:5 speaks of “the
hearing of faith.” And thus Eph. 1:13, referring to Christ, says: “In
whom ye also trusted, having heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation.” Thus, too, we read in John 5:24 the words of the Lord
Jesus:
“HE
THAT HEARETH MY WORD, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME, HATH
EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, BUT IS PASSED FROM
DEATH UNTO LIFE.”
Les Feldick -
Mountains of Israel And End Times Events
Les Feldick Ministries
Les Feldick Ministries
30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends
No comments:
Post a Comment