Faith cometh by hearing?

If one has to "hear" aloud, then the deaf could not be saved. Hearing would be receiving the message by speech or print(reading) or sign language or however

 

"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God"

This "hearing" spoken of here is related to the effectual call, it is not the common hearing, but a special hearing. One might say it is hearing with your heart as opposed to hearing with your ears. It's the hearing of the voice of the sheppard "my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

This is the voice that only the sheep can hear. Anyone can hear the sound of the gospel, but only the sheep can hear the voice of their master. See John 10.

"by the Word of God" - NOT the bible, as most presume. This "word" is the voice of command from God, the Word by which nothing was made that was made. It's the word by which "God said let there be light" etc. It is the same word that is effective on our hearts as the gospel is preached. The gospel is not effective on some; to those, the gospel is nothing but sounds coming out of someone's mouth.

A pastor I know of believes that no one is saved unless there literally was an open bible when the profession of faith was made. This is superstition. The bible didn't even exist in the form we have it when Paul said that hearing comes by the word of God. The Word by which we are born again, as Peter speaks of the incorruptable word which liveth and abideth forever, is that same Word of command in Rom 10.

 

Hearing is equated to "understanding". My father believes that unless someone "hears" the Gospel message by another human being, they have no chance of being saved. I point him to Saul on the road to Damascus, and Revelation 14:6 where an angel of the Lord proclaims the Gospel.

 

I believe it is a spiritual hearing, whether we listen to it, or read it, or see it in sign language, it is something the Holy Spirit does in us, we hear by Him.

 

Very good J.D. i never heard that before, but boy does it make sense. thanks for the inlightenment.

also Jesus is the Word John 1:1

[ March 22, 2006, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: Frenchy ]

 

I have been thinking about this and I wonder if there is a euphemism involved. For instance, in both that time and now "Do you see?" means "Do you understand?" "Seeing" meant understanding.

So what about hearing? If a mother says to her teenage son "Do you hear me?" she is not asking if his ears are in working order, but if his brain is! Are you paying attention to me?

There is a difference between listening and hearing in the same way there is a difference between looking and seeing.

Just some thoughts -- certainly not doctrine! But I just opened up Romans 10 and substituted, in my mind "pay attention" (or "paid attention" as it fit) for hearing, heard, etc., and the result was very interesting!

I'll be interested if anyone responds to this idea. I want to chew on it awhile myself.

 

I agree Helen, hearing is more than hearing with your ears it is understanding, consider Acts 8:30 Philip talking to the Ethipoian Philip ask him "do you UNDERSTAND" what you are reading?"

and the Ethiopian responds "how can i unless someone explains it to me"