Romans 10:17 – Faith By Hearing The Word Of God

Romans 10:17
¹⁷Then faith out of hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. (Interlinear Greek)

Sometimes I like to put the verse translated from the Greek called an Interlinear Greek to English. When you do so for this verse a couple of things will jump out. First, the word “cometh” is not in the text thus is in italics in the King James Version. The prepositions more clarify the statements. And it is not the “word of God”, but the “word of Christ.” Yes, of course, Christ is God, but it gives the added meaning that faith is about hearing Jesus.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s all about Jesus. Through Moses came the law, but through Jesus came truth and grace. Jesus is all about grace. Though He was born under the law, and He didn’t violate the law as He intended it to be. (Hey He wrote it.) He fulfilled the law and taught us about the New Covenant of grace.

Though He never used the word “grace” Jesus taught it through parables and teaching about the Father, love, and the kingdom of heaven. “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16).

It’s by grace through faith. Faith comes by grace and grace came by Jesus. Jesus showed us grace in the account of the prodigal son. The father showed the son grace without condemnation. Jesus showed grace through all those He healed. Jesus displayed grace with the woman caught in adultery. He didn’t condemn even though the law said stoning her was the correct punishment.

You have to rightly divide the words of Jesus. You have to know His audience. He was gentle to the sinner and harsh to the self-righteous religious people. You have to see His words in light of the finished work on the Cross. He had amazing responses to questions designed to trap Him. All His words are truth but not all the red words are for believers. The ones that are will build faith in the believer who has ears to hear.

Listen carefully to the Words of Jesus and grow in faith.