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HOW FAITH DOES NOT COMERomans 10:17

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INTRODUCTION

• Many baseless made claims concerning faith:• Salvation is by “faith-only”

• Faith and works are not needed to be saved• Faith comes by a feeling• Faith comes by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit• Faith is inherited from your parents• Faith comes from your emotions or opinions

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Romans 10:17

• “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

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Albert Barnes on Romans 10:17• So then faith cometh - “This I take to be clearly the language

of the objector. As if he had said, by the very quotation which you have made from Isaiah, it appears that a report was necessary, life did not condemn men for not believing what they had not heard; but he complains of those who did not believe a message actually delivered to them. Even by this passage, therefore, it seems that a message was necessary, that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Divine message. It could not be right, therefore, to condemn those who had not obeyed the gospel, because they had not heard it; and hence not right to make salvation dependent on a condition which was, by the arrangement of God, put beyond their power. The very quotation from Isaiah [Isa. 53:1-TGM], therefore, goes to confirm the objection in the 14th and 15th verses.”

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Albert Barnes on Romans 10:17• By hearing - “Our translation has varied the expression here,

which is the same in two places in the Greek: “Isaiah said, Who hath believed our report.” So then, you must admit that faith comes by that report, and therefore this report or message is necessary. When it is said that faith cometh by hearing, it is not meant that all who hear actually believe, for that is not true; but that faith does not exist unless there is a message, or report, to be heard or believed. It cannot come otherwise than by such a message; in other words, unless there is something made known to be believed. And this shows us at once the importance of the message, and the fact that men are converted by the instrumentality of truth, and of truth only.”

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Albert Barnes on Romans 10:17• And hearing - “And the report, or the message, is by the word

of God; that is, the message is sent by the command of God. It is his word, sent by his direction, and therefore, if withheld by him, those who did not believe could not be blamed. The argument of the objector is, that God could not justly condemn men for not believing the gospel.”

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Adam Clark on Romans 10:17• So then faith cometh by hearing - “Preaching the

Gospel is the ordinary means of salvation; faith in Christ is the result of hearing the word, the doctrine of God preached. Preaching, God sends; if heard attentively, faith will be produced; and if they believe the report, the arm of the Lord will be revealed in their salvation.”

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Clinton D. Hamilton - Gospel Preacher

“The sense in the verse appears to be that one must conclude that faith or belief comes on the necessary condition of having heard that in turn implies there must have been a message to hear….The person trusts Christ who is the author of the gospel and commits to it in obedience….The hearing of the gospel message is the source out of which comes belief….This context calls for the act of hearing…what is heard is the gospel message. Essential to faith, however, is the act of hearing the gospel message on which one acts with the heart to believe (10:10)….Believe is not imparted directly in the heart separate and apart from the hearing of the gospel.”• Truth Commentary on Romans, p. 614

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Faith Divinely Defined - Heb. 11:1

• “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”• KJV, NKJV

• “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”• RSV

• “Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen”• ASV

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Salvation Not By “Faith Only”• James said belief (faith) only is not sufficient!

• James 2:19-20• “the devils also believe, and tremble” - vs. 19

• They were still called devils, even though they believed and trembled

• A child of the devil is not saved• Acts 13:10• 1 John 3:8• John 8:44

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Denominational Creeds

•The Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual

• “…salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the meditorial offices of the Son of God…” (p. 138).

•The Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual

• “…salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the meditorial offices of the Son of God…” (p. 138).

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•Methodist Discipline: Article IX. - Of the Justification of Man• “We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort”

•Methodist Discipline: Article IX. - Of the Justification of Man• “We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort”

Source: http://www.bible.ca/cr-methodist.htm

Denominational Creeds

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How Faith Does Not Come

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Not by Feelings• Must believe the Divine record (God’s Word) - Romans

• Multitude of feelings

• “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”• Hebrews 11:7

• Apostles preached the “word of faith” • Romans 10:8• Acts 15:7

• The message had to be believed to have faith in Christ!• John 11:25, 26

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Not by Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit

• Holy Spirit is involved in our salvation• John 14:26• John 16:13• 1 Corinthians 9-13

• Must believe the Truth revealed to the Apostles by the Spirit• Galatians 1:11-12• Ephesians 3:1-8; 1:9-10• Romans 16:25

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Not by Inheritance From Parents• Parents are to teach children and influence to do good

• Timothy - 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 1:5• Colossians 3:20• Ephesians 6:1

• Parents and Children bare their own burden of sin• Ezekiel 18:1-4, 19-24

• One must believe and obey with his own heart• Romans 10:10• Children cannot go to heaven on the coat tails of their parents

• Must believe and obey the gospel

• All will be judged!• 2 Corinthians 5:10

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Not by Emotions or Opinion• Everyone has an opinion & multiple emotions

• Naaman - 2 Kings 5:1-19• “…Behold, I thought, he will surely come out to me,…” - vs. 11

• Faith is based on Divine revelation• Romans 10:17

• Not emotions or opinion• 2 Corinthians 5:7

• Must believe that He is!• Hebrews 11:6• John 8:24

“For we walk by faith, not by sight”

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”

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Review• Not saved by “faith only”• Faith does NOT COME by…

• Feelings• Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit• An Inheritance from Parents• Emotions or Opinions

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“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the

word of God”