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Romans 10 – Faith Alone or Acting Faith?
No human argument is stronger than God’s words, even when that human argument explains accurately what God said. My Bible has a humanly written heading for Romans 10: “Righteousness by Faith Alone.” The word “faith” is found in the chapter, but the word “alone” is not. Does faith involve obedience? Or an even better way of phrasing according to what is below, “Is faith obedience?” Notice God’s words:
14) How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15) How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” 16) However, they did not all heed (means obey – PDH) the good news (another way of saying “the gospel” – PDH); for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” 17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (NASB)
A – 14) How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?
B – And how will they hear without a preacher? 15) How will they preach unless they are sent?
B’ – Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”
A’ – 16) However, they did not all heed (means obey – PDH) the good news (another way of saying “the gospel” – PDH); for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” 17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Calling on the Lord is obeying the Lord. Obeying the Lord is believing. Believing and therefore obeying come from hearing. But most importantly is the emphasis within the text that the message is the word of Christ. Hearing, believing, and obeying something other than the word of Christ means nothing. That’s because the power is not in our actions, but in what and who we are reacting to.
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