Faith Comes By Hearing

Faith Comes By Hearing
by David Brenneman

"Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:28-29.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;  for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:8-13

"However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” Romans 10:16-18.

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Romans 10:17.

So many many people throughout the centuries have defiantly stood upon the mountains, hills and plains of this world questioning the existence of God and many such more the truth of the Scriptures concerning Jesus Christ.

Yet in all this defiance towards their Creator, when these people die, of which it is now too late, only then do they come face-to-face with the error of their ways.  Many are still raging against God in all their painful torment in Hell.  They will probably do so for all eternity.  Still many others down there weep uncontrollably because they missed it completely and all the evidence was right there before them.  These are those whom Jesus said are weeping and gnashing their teeth.

It is so incredulous to me that in a world of so many countless convincing evidences concerning Jesus Christ, the Bible and the vast sum of knowledge at the fingertips of people...that people still are obstinate and stubborn against the Almighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ.

Some are convinced that they must do something to be saved.  Jesus spelled it out...the only work for any is to believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ whom the Father had sent to save them.

Some are so deep in self-righteousness that they cannot look beyond their views to who and what Jesus really is and could be to them.

Some are so full of pride that there's no room for any other perspective on life concerning anyone or anything.

All these are blinded by the god of this world.  Those who refuse to see the light of Jesus Christ are indeed willfully self-blinded as well.

The truths of God's word have never been shown to be in error.  The words Jesus spoke of Himself have all been 100% proven to be accurate and true.  Everything written of Jesus from the Old Testament has been proven to be true. 

After His crucifixion and resurrection hundreds saw Him alive and knew without any doubting that it was in fact Jesus Christ risen from the dead.

Cultures outside of Israel at the time of His resurrection were likely visited by Jesus before He ascended back to His Heaven.  Many reports exist of this.

Yet the world decries the same as those whom were just fed by Jesus...show US a sign.  They were attempting to manipulate the Son of God to their own gain.

The harshest reality known to an unsaved mankind is one second after they die.

All pride, and self-righteousness, all falsehoods are stripped away.  Satan's schemes are ended with them.  There's nothing more that he has any need of doing to them concerning God, concerning salvation, concerning life.  They've entered eternity and he could care less.  He's moved on to other's among the living to try to keep them from the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

That, my Dear Reader, is what's trying to influence your reality.

A war that Satan's lost at the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead still wages on.  Still is a losing game for him.  And he's still a sore loser.

He tries from the get-go to lie about, cheat and steal the word of God from people.  He tries to make convincing proofs to those who are saved to not try so hard to obey Jesus's commands.  He is exactly what Jesus said about him.  He's a liar and the father of lies. 

Satan's schemes include redefining whatever God has said of Himself or of how to live life.

Satan's schemes include doubting God in even the smallest of ways.

Satan's schemes include inducing compromises on any level in anything he possibly can in the lives of Christians.  Getting them to justify these things as well.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life.

Every evidence that anyone should need is available to them.  Everyone will be without excuse before Jesus.  Every single person in Hell now and between now and the Final Judgment of Jesus Christ has no valid excuse for rejecting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  The Devil made me do it isn't a defense before Jesus Christ whom everyone has to stand.

The Scriptures say that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Willingly and unwillingly every single person who has ever lived will do this.

Oh the horrors that people in Hell are living with because they chose to reject their Savior Jesus Christ!

There is salvation in no one else!

We can't fathom eternity.  We have lived through periods of pain and suffering at times but nothing that's remotely close to never-ending.  No sleep no no respite from it.  Souls don't sleep. 

Everyone has before them a choice to make.  Acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and rejecting the same.  The cross of Jesus Christ brought that choice to all. 

You who have claimed the Name of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior...live it.  Whatever you do be sure you live it out. 

You who have not chosen the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ...why are you so hesitant?  Don't think that you're so far gone that there's no hope.  Jesus died once for all.  All included you right where you are.

Jesus kept His promise to come and die for the sins of mankind to make the way where there was no way to save mankind. 

Jesus is going to keep His promise to return to claim all who have believed in His Name for salvation.

Before you are eternal death and eternity life.  Those in Hell haven't even seen their worst punishment yet.  They will receive a glorified body and will then be cast into the lake of fire at the Final Judgment.

Those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross will receive a glorified body to spend eternity with Jesus.

You must choose and I must say that time is running out.  Whether or not you follow Bible prophecy...there's nothing left that is written in the Bible that has to happen before Jesus comes back.

Let today be the day that Jesus becomes the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.  Step out of death into life.  Go back to the Scriptures that began this post to Romans 10 and take it to heart.

If you need help understanding salvation in Jesus, call or text "Jesus" to (330) 264-9459.  There's people there to help you understand how to be saved and to know for sure that Heaven and not Hell will be your new home.

God's Word says that everyone has been given a measure of faith...you have enough to take the next step...my prayer is that you do.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.