At first glance, this Scripture and surrounding Scripture in Romans 10 seems to support Arminian evangelism like Billy Graham crusades which emphasizes preaching that appeals to the free will and altar calls. We tend to believe that everyone can hear so long as they have the Gospel preached to them.
However, when we meditate on the key verse and consider other Scripture, we come to the conclusion that not everyone who have the Gospel preached to them truly hears. The immediate preceding verse makes this clear. “However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” ” Romans 10:16. Likewise, Isaiah 53:1-3 states: “Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? … He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
Let us look again at the key verse. Romans 10:17: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Consider the meaning of this verse. No one is going to have faith unless they truly hear the Gospel, and no one is going to truly hear the Gospel (even though it may be preached to them) unless they are chosen. But, it is even more than this statement. It is not just that only some of those who truly hear have faith. It is not just that only some of those who receive the word of Christ truly hear. All those who receive the word of Christ truly hear, and all of those who truly hear have faith.
This golden chain of “word of Christ”-“hearing”-“faith” is consistent with Romans 8:29-30: “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
This golden chain of “word of Christ”-“hearing”-“faith” is also consistent with John 6:44-45: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
Consider also Colossians 3:12-17. This Scripture includes a lot of exhortations including in verse 16: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you …”. However, to whom are these exhortations addressed? These exhortations are addressed to “those who have been chosen of God” Verse 12.
Regarding the need to truly hear in order to have faith, it is often said in Scripture that there are those while hearing do not truly hear and understand. To truly hear and understand is a grant or gift from God. One must be chosen.
“11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’ Matthew 13:11-15.
Calvin in his Commentary on this key verse (Romans 10:17: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”) states: “17. Faith then is by hearing, etc. We see by this conclusion what Paul had in view by the gradation which he formed; it was to show, that wherever faith is, God has there already given an evidence of his election …”.
“The word of Christ” is living and capable of accomplishing its intention. It is not dead letters sitting on a dusty page. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” John 6:63 (Emphasis added).
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.
In conclusion, “hearing” comes from this living, active, triumphant Word of Christ. The Word of Christ accomplish what God desires. The Word of Christ succeeds in the matter for which God sends it. The Word of Christ causes those to whom it comes to truly hear, and those who truly hear will believe (have faith).
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 