Romans 10:14–15 (ESV), provides the follow-through from verse
13 (“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.”” (Romans 10:13, ESV); and sets up the discussion recorded
in verses 16-21. Note:
14 How
then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to
believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without
someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are
sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the
good news!”
This is called by
some: the chain of evangelism. "To call on the
Lord, one must believe. But to believe, one must hear the message. And to hear
the message, one must proclaim that message. And proclaiming the message only
happens if people are sent to proclaim it."[1]
"The Gospel must be communicated to
the minds of men through the external instrumentality of the word, as well as
by the internal agency of the Spirit." [2]Now we rightly apply this to ourselves today by emphasizing the need
of human preachers of the Gospel. But this
jumps too quickly from the initial readers to us. Dr. Moo points us that "his point is
that God has sent people to preach. This first and vital step in the process
that leads to salvation has been taken."[3] We recall Paul is responding
to the question as to why the Jews are lost.
The blame cannot be placed upon the sovereignty of God, although God is
sovereign. The blame cannot be that they
did not hear the Gospel. The problem, as
we shall soon see, is that they did not believe. "God has sent a constant
stream of prophets and apostles proclaiming God’s purpose and inviting
response."[4] Paul is going to say that in
the next few verses: “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice
has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”” (Romans 10:18, ESV)
The Gospel, according
to Paul's letter to Galatia was proclaimed ever since the time of Abraham. “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the
nations be blessed.”” (Galatians 3:8, ESV)
"Hearing the gospel is necessary for
salvation, but hearing is not enough: people must also respond with personal
trust."[5] I often use the phrase as I
think and pray for the lost, that they will see,
hear and respond to the Gospel.
"The beautiful feet of the preacher are mentioned because the feet provide
transportation for the herald of the gospel."[6] This is cited from Isaiah
52:7 (ESV),
7 How
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who
publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” When Israel was in captivity in Babylon this
described those who carried good news home to Jerusalem.
So these rhetorical
questions are intended to show that the Gospel did go out into the nation. But we would fail to apply this text if we
too did not consider the questions carefully.
The Gospel cannot be believed if it is not proclaimed; and it will not
be proclaimed unless someone is sent. The mystery of sovereign election and the
Church's undeniable responsibility collide.
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Previous Blogs on this topic:
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1
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Romans 9:30-33
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2
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Romans 10:1-4
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3
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Romans 10:5-9
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4
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Romans 10:11–13
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5
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Romans 10:14-15
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6
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[1] Moo, D. J. (2002). Encountering the book of Romans : a theological survey (p. 162).
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
[2] Haldane, R. (1996). An exposition of Romans (electronic ed., p. 521). Simpsonville, SC:
Christian Classics Foundation.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2175). Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles.
[6] Criswell, W. A., Patterson, P., Clendenen,
E. R., Akin, D. L., Chamberlin, M., Patterson, D. K., & Pogue, J. (Eds.).
(1991). Believer’s Study Bible
(electronic ed., Ro 10:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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