Faith Insight 3: Faith Comes by Hearing

FAITH THAT LIVES — WEEKLY INSIGHT

Faith Insight 3: Faith Comes by Hearing

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”— Romans 10:17 (ESV)

This is the third teaching insight in our Faith That Lives series, as we continue exploring what it means to have a faith that is not merely believed, but lived.

In our last insight, we considered a foundational truth: God makes Himself known.

From Abraham to Moses and from the prophets to the coming of Jesus Christ, Scripture reveals and testifies to a God who speaks, calls, and invites people into relationship with Himself. But if our God chooses to speak, then our next question should naturally be: “Are we listening?”

Paul zooms in on this point as he writes in Romans:

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

There is an important truth here. Biblical faith does not arise merely from looking within yourself and trying to believe more strongly. Faith is when you respond to something that is outside of yourself—to what God has said and, ultimately, to the good news of Jesus the Christ. This is the example we see throughout Scripture, God's Word calls people to respond.

So, when God called Abraham to go, Abraham went; and when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, Moses obeyed what he truly heard from God and went to Egypt. Later, when the prophets declared, “Thus says the LORD,” Israel was called to listen and return to God. In the first century, when Jesus began His ministry, He called people not merely to consider His teachings, but to hear and to respond: “Follow me.”

So, when we hear, in the biblical sense, the spiritual experience is much more than sound reaching our ears. Physically, you can hear words without truly listening to them. You can even read Scripture regularly, know many Bible stories, and become familiar with Christian teaching without allowing God's Word to shape the way we live. But, spiritual hearing means we listen and obey with our hearts and minds.

Jesus repeatedly said: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

He was calling the people to something deeper than physical hearing. He was calling for receptive hearts. This is one reason Scripture is so important to living faith. The Bible is not merely a collection of religious information for us to examine from a distance. Through Scripture, we learn who God is, what He has done, what He promises, what He commands, and how He has acted throughout the history of redemption; our living response to His words matters for eternity.

Most importantly, Scripture directs us to Jesus Christ.

Jesus told His listeners:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”— John 5:39 (ESV)

The goal is not simply to know more Bible facts. The goal is to hear God's truth, encounter the Christ through His Word, trust what God has revealed, and respond.

This changes the way we approach Scripture. Instead of asking only:

“What does this passage mean?”… we can also ask: “What is God revealing here—and how should I respond?”

Sometimes the response will be trust.

Sometimes obedience.

Sometimes repentance.

Sometimes patience.

Sometimes worship.

Sometimes simply resting in a promise we desperately need to remember.

Living faith listens and obeys because it trusts in the One who speaks.

FOR REFLECTION

When I read Scripture, am I primarily gathering information, or am I allowing God's Word to address and shape my life by guiding my heart and mind?

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE

Choose one short passage of Scripture this week and read it slowly several times.

Before you read, pray:

“Lord, help me to hear Your Word with a receptive heart.”

Then ask yourself three questions:

What does this passage reveal about God?

What does it reveal about me?

What response does it call for from me?

Write down one truth you want to carry with you through the day.

A SIMPLE PRAYER

Father, give me ears to hear Your Word and a heart willing to respond. Keep me from reading Scripture merely for information. Through Your Word, teach me to know You, trust You, and follow Your Son more faithfully. In Jesus' name, amen.

Next Teaching Insight: Knowing God Is Relational

Adapted from themes explored in Faith That Lives by Dr. James D. Zuber.