Faith comes from hearing!

(Romans 10:13-17) “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Christianity is not a surreal (dreamlike) reality but rather actuality; we are pressed daily by various considerations that need to be acted upon. Our minds cannot remain neutral on the more serious issues we face on a daily basis. In South Africa we have an informative TV show and for the most part it is an informative news show that exposes us to some cruel realities, crime in South Africa and the like are often wonderfully exposed. However last night “Carte Blanche” aggressively put in a punt for the evolution polls and those weak in faith would be rocked by it. If fact I love the fact that questions like these present themselves with such aggression, it helps us question where we stand and what we really believe.

Last night they endeavored to persuade their viewers that they had have found another missing link to mankind’s evolution. This find came from the Human Cradle of Mankind and now with modern technology they are able to backdate it to almost 2 million years ago, or so they say! Now the bible on the other hand teachers that we all come from Adam and that is roughly about 6000 years ago. Historically through the genealogy of the bible this has been documented. Now which one is true? Are we descendants of the ape family which can be traced back some two million years or are we the dependence of Adam and Eve; more accurately we are from the lineage of Ham, Sham or Japheth, the sons of Noah. Those who survived the great flood!

Two days ago I addressed the never changing Word of God and how it would stand the test of time. These other voices oppose the Word of God trying to disprove the Bible. Once again we see that God is never caught off guard and this is what the Apostle Paul teachers; “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1Corinthians 1:18-25)

What then has God chosen to use as His pivotal trigger to help mankind have their eyes opened to His wisdom? It is nothing other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, without His Spirit we remain as men that grope in the dark and we clutch at straws. Here again is proof on display, we see the scientists of the world making radical claims about our origin and the world as a rule says, wow! Everything about wisdom and life hinges on the work of the cross. Without this understanding we remain blind to the truth of God and our origin.

We can often enter a debate about many things that captivate our minds as men, but unless we preach the cross we will continue to beat our chests in vain. Always look to preach the cross when encountering any consideration no matter what that topic may be. If not we have missed the mark and we will not help those who grope in the dark as they clutch  straws. Paul puts it like this; “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (1Corinthians 3:19-20)

Last night after much deliberation one of the scientists said something like this; this new find now proves that evolution is a little more complicated than we first thought. Go figure! But before we begin to gloat may we remember that there was a time that we also groped in the dark and if it had not been for the message of the gospel and the grace of God we would still be blind men leading one another into a ditch.

It is now our responsibility to declare the truth about Christ sacrifice to all and sundry. This now needs to be the banner of truth that we carry with us and on a daily basis;  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16) – Therefore let us remember the responsibility that has now been placed on each of us; “For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 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? 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!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:13-17)

The only way someone will be saved is if they respond to the audible message of the gospel, therefore we need to preach this message of hope. “So faith come from hearing, and hearing from the word of Christ.” Let us not lose focus of this truth because many voices try their best to get us to forget the importance of this simple instruction to preach Christ and Him crucified!

Signing off

Tyrone