The Sound That Awakens Faith

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17

Faith doesn’t appear out of thin air—it is born through hearing a specific message, a message rooted in truth. But what is that message? It is the word concerning Christ—the good news of who He is and what He has done. Just as Isaiah cried out, “Who has believed our report?” (Isaiah 53:1), Paul shares that same burden. The gospel must be proclaimed before it can be received. You cannot invite someone to trust in Christ without first telling them who He is. Information must come before invitation. Proclamation must precede salvation.

That’s why God sends messengers. From the prophets of old to the apostles of the New Testament, and now to us, the message has gone out. It’s the same message: that Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, died for our sins and rose again. This message is not limited by geography, ethnicity, or background. It is for “whoever calls on the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13). Yet even though the message is available to all, not all will believe. That doesn’t mean the message has failed. It means the responsibility of the messenger is not to guarantee results, but to faithfully proclaim the truth.

What does this mean for us today? It means we must speak. We must share the message of Christ with clarity and conviction. Whether it’s across the street or across the world, someone needs to hear the truth. Think of it like planting seeds—you may not see the harvest, but you are still called to sow. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. So speak the truth. Share the gospel. Be the voice that carries the report of the risen Savior. And trust that God will awaken faith in the hearts of those who hear.

“Faith is not an achievement, it is a gift. It is not produced by the will of man, but by the word of God.”
— John Stott