Daily Devotional for Wednesday, May 21, 2025

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Faith Comes by Hearing: A Devotional on Romans 10:17

The Word-Centered Origin of Saving Faith

Faith does not emerge from human imagination, emotional experiences, or inherited tradition. It is not a personal creation, nor does it arise from intuition or the cultural environment into which one is born. According to the apostle Paul in Romans 10:17, saving faith has one origin: divine communication. The verse reads: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word about Christ.”

This verse stands as the definitive statement in Paul’s broader argument concerning the relationship between Israel, the gospel, and salvation. As he unfolds the reasons why many Jews of his day had not accepted the message of Christ, he identifies a critical principle: faith is not the result of zeal alone. It must be grounded in revealed truth. Therefore, the only means by which authentic, saving faith can be produced is through the message (ῥῆμα, rhēma)—the spoken word—concerning Christ.

This passage destroys the notion that faith is a mystical or spontaneous condition of the heart, or something one is born into or inherits by association. Rather, it is an informed, rational trust rooted in the testimony of inspired Scripture. The gospel message, once preached, heard, understood, and believed, becomes the instrument by which Jehovah brings individuals to faith.

The structure of Paul’s argument in Romans 10 makes this plain. In verses 13–15, he lays out a sequence: how will people call on one they have not believed? How can they believe in one they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher? These are not rhetorical flourishes—they are the divine method. The Word must be proclaimed. Hearing must take place. Faith must be generated in response to truth. Only then can the sinner call on Jehovah in faith, trusting in the gospel of His Son for salvation.

It is critical to note the phrase: “hearing through the word about Christ.” Some translations say “word of Christ,” but the more accurate rendering is “about Christ.” The object of faith is not faith itself. It is not a generic belief in God or a vague spirituality. It is focused faith—faith in the person, message, and mission of Jesus the Messiah. The gospel is not moral instruction or religious sentiment; it is the specific, historical, Spirit-inspired testimony that Jesus is the Son of God, crucified, buried, resurrected, and exalted (Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

Paul’s emphasis on hearing points to the necessity of active engagement with the message. Faith is not automatic. It is not mystically imparted or unconsciously absorbed. It requires the disciplined act of listening to truth, processing it, and choosing to believe. The Greek word for “hearing” (ἀκοή, akoē) implies not just the physiological act of sound reception but attentiveness to what is being taught. This is why the regular, faithful preaching and teaching of Scripture is essential to the life of the church and the formation of faith.

Romans 10:17 also teaches that faith cannot be sustained apart from the ongoing reception of God’s Word. While this verse primarily addresses the origin of faith in unbelievers, it also has implications for believers. Just as faith is birthed through the Word, it is nourished by it. A believer who neglects Scripture will grow spiritually weak, vulnerable to doubt, temptation, and error. Jesus affirmed, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Just as physical life requires nourishment, so spiritual life requires continual feeding on Scripture.

Importantly, this verse also upholds the role of human preaching and teaching as ordained means in God’s plan. Jehovah does not miraculously implant saving knowledge into hearts apart from the Word. He has chosen to work through His revealed message, delivered through human messengers. This elevates the seriousness of biblical teaching and evangelism. Preaching is not a religious formality—it is a life-and-death activity through which faith is born.

It must also be noted that this process is not mechanical. Hearing the Word does not automatically produce faith in every listener. Many hear, yet harden their hearts. The parable of the sower (Luke 8:11–15) illustrates that different kinds of hearts respond differently to the Word. Some reject it, others receive it temporarily, while others believe and persevere. Romans 10:17 affirms that hearing is the ordained channel, but the response depends on the heart’s openness to truth. God does not force faith; He invites it through reasoned revelation.

Furthermore, this verse rebukes all attempts to separate the Spirit from the Word. The Holy Spirit works through the inspired Scriptures—not apart from them—to convict, teach, and lead. The idea that one can receive saving faith through a private emotional experience, mystical insight, or supernatural prompting without hearing and understanding the Word about Christ is thoroughly unbiblical. John 16:13, spoken to the apostles, confirms that the Spirit would guide them into all truth—truth they would later record in Scripture, now preserved for all.

The simplicity of Romans 10:17 does not lessen its power. In a world where people chase religious experience, emotional highs, and mystical revelations, Paul brings the focus back to one simple reality: faith comes by hearing the gospel. This gospel is objective, historical, and verifiable. It does not shift with emotion, culture, or personal preference. It is the same message that saved Jews and Gentiles in the first century and continues to save all who obey it today.

In practical application, Romans 10:17 calls every believer to be diligent in sharing the gospel. It is not enough to hope people believe. They must hear. And they will not hear unless someone tells them. The Word must be declared, explained, and defended with clarity and courage. Every Christian should know how to present the message of Christ faithfully, using Scripture as the foundation and avoiding personal stories or entertainment as substitutes.

This verse also calls believers to personal commitment in hearing the Word. This means regular exposure to Scripture—reading, studying, meditating, and listening to sound teaching. Faith cannot grow in the absence of truth. Devotionals, songs, and emotional experiences have their place, but they cannot replace the direct intake of God’s Word.

Romans 10:17 is a pillar of biblical evangelism and discipleship. It anchors faith not in human emotion or mystical experience, but in the eternal Word of Jehovah. It reminds us that God has spoken, that His message is sufficient, and that those who hear it and believe will be saved (Romans 10:9–10). Let every disciple be faithful in sharing, hearing, and obeying the Word of Christ. That is where faith begins—and where it is kept alive.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).