"How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?"

 

But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” Romans 10:6-18.

 

Some observations

 

1.    “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?”

You don’t simply tell people they have to believe in Jesus, expecting them to believe; you give them some gospel and some Jesus so that they can believe!! See

Mark 16:15-16;

Acts 2:22-37;

10:33-43;

13:4-12;

13:16-41

16:30-34;

24:24-25;

26:22-29

 

2.    Note how believing includes obeying:

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

“For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?””

 

3.    Send

Proclaim

Hear

Believe

Obey

Be saved

 

4.    Who has believed what he has heard?

They have not all obeyed the gospel.

--David Hunter