First Works
PART I: FAITH
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Romans 10:17-21 KJV
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But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
CHAPTER VIII: PERFECTION
Let’s talk about verse 17 for a minute. There is a full lesson in this verse alone. There are three components at work. And they are distinctly separated. Faith, hearing, and the Word. What does this mean? You cannot have faith without first hearing. You cannot have hearing without having the word. Paul asks, “have not Israel heard?”. He answers that question saying that they have heard because the sent preachers have went out preaching the coming and at this time it was spread throughout the world. Again, Paul asks did not Israel know. This is a statement that should not be overlooked as it points to the relationship between Israel and God. The world has not had the privilege of knowing God as they have had. They should know God beyond belief so to accept the Son through belief should be without question. In verses 20 and 21 Paul is speaking of the prophesy by Isaiah referencing the spirit of truth that was placed in all that believed that Christ is the Son of God. Especially, from those that weren’t from Israel and considered a gentile. Israel has been waiting for the savior for a long time and seeking His coming. However, they found it hard to accept when He finally arrived.
We can now focus on verse 17. This is the foundation for the beginning of faith. We talked about the Word in previous lessons. The word doesn’t change, when it is preached throughout the world it was first sent by God to the preacher. The word that was preached was the Son of God. The word that had become flesh and dwelt among us. We know that at the time the New Testament was being written the letters and Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John told of the account of Christ and His life in the view of the author of how they heard Him and interpreted Him. We also know that the letters written by Paul and other apostles such as John, Peter, James, and Jude were written to the churches and individual leaders of the church or ministry of Christ. All of these accounts speak of the new covenant we have with God through the promise of Abraham. And fulfilling the law which began with Moses. So, it is very important to note that the Word of God is singular in meaning. It does not refer to the words of God. Paul only referenced to the Word as being one. Paul is very deliberate when he writes and is careful to write. We see this when he makes clarification of the seed of Abraham. With this understanding we can address the foundation of the Comforter through the Word.