Salvation Is By Hearing 
For many years men have taught all manner of things regarding what it takes to be saved. No doubt, good reader, you have read and heard many of them. Perhaps you are thinking that this present article is but one more. As a writer, I can only assume that since you are reading this now, you do have an interest in spiritual matters, your soul, and hope to learn some good things from our efforts in this website. If such truly is the case, I trust that you will bear with me while we investigate a series of five articles that deal with what the Bible teaches regarding one's salvation. Obviously, without hearing a message about any subject, one could not learn and thus respond. This is true of any science, literature, humanities, and certainly true of religion. That there is a very close connection to ones salvation and the act of hearing the message that leads one to salvation ought to be obvious to all. Now, when we speak of hearing, we do not necessarily mean the physical process of auditory reception of sound waves. Else, what would those who were hearing impaired do? We have in mind, as does the scriptures, that there is the initial exchange of information from one to another regarding the good news that one need not die and be separated from God throughout eternity because of ones sin. They can be forgiven and have eternal fellowship with God. So, what does the Bible teach regarding our hearing the glad tidings which bring salvation? Let us investigate further. That we are saved by hearing cannot be denied. But as with all things Biblical, one dare not conclude that because we have some information on one subject, or one portion of a subject, that we have all information on that subject. Please keep in mind throughout this series that it is dangerous indeed to conclude that we are saved by only one thing. The Bible doesnt teach that we are saved by any one thing at all! We are saved by grace to be sure, but elsewhere the Bible teaches that we are saved by faith. So, which is it? Are we saved without repenting of sin? No. Thus we know that we are saved by repentance as well. Repentance only? No. We are not saved by anything only. I hope this is clear. The remainder of these articles will surely explain this paragraph. Let us begin with the necessity for mankind to hear what God says. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of Jehovah" (Jer. 22:29). Apparently, God thinks it is important for mankind to listen to what He says. God would have all to take heed to what He commands, but understands as we ought to recognize as well that not all will listen. Through the prophet Isaiah, God said Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed (Isa. 6:10). The apostle Peter told those to whom he wrote "And we have the word of prophecy [made] more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19). Not only did Jesus tell us to listen to God and His message, but to be careful to what things we gave our attention. Mark records His words thus: "Take heed what ye hear (Mk. 4:24). Luke's record shows us that not only are we to be careful what we hear, but also the attitude we have toward the things we hear. He wrote: "Take heed therefore how ye hear (Lk. 8:18). Likewise the apostle Paul encourages us to take heed with these words: "Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8). Let us face the facts: some are going to try to get us to believe all sorts of strange things. Be careful! Finally, the purpose of listening to God's message carefully is made clear by what Paul told the Christians at Rome when he told them, "But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:16-17). There are two things we must note:
The word hearken. This word means to hear and comply.
The fact that hearing is necessary for faith to come.
What if one will not take proper heed or hearken to the word of faith? Consider these words: "Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard" (Heb. 4.1,2). One can hear the word, but it may do him no good at all. One must therefore have the desire to allow the word to work within him. And work within it does. Hear what Paul wrote: "And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2.13). Quite plainly then, we learn that we are saved by hearing, for without the hearing of the word, we simply cannot be saved. Have you heard the word of faith and hearkened to it? We invite you to come and investigate New Testament Christianity. Thanks for reading. God bless you in your study of His word. Robin W. Haley | | |
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