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NASB | Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ. |
Subject: Is hearing necessary for salvation? |
Bible Note: Dear Discilerami, As I am at work, I must be brief and, for now, can address your first Q only. You asked:I do think the Gospel is a lifepreserver that God has tossed out to all men. However, the analogy isn't exact because what is the other alternative for the drowning person?" The greatest flaw in my analogy was the depiction of all of mankind struggling in the sea. To present a truly scriptural analogy, I need to present an entirely new scenario: Rather than struggling on the surface of the sea, mankind (dead in trespasses and sins) are stone cold dead and are lying on the ocean floor. God, for no other reason but His good pleasure, sends a diver (the Holy Spirit) to raise these spiritual corpses to life. Once ressurrected from their watery grave, they reach the surface and struggle towards the the Life Saviour, Jesus Christ. They come willingly, realizing that it was the mercy and love of God which saved them. As for the ones God has left at the bottom, they would'nt have it anyother way! They love the muck and mud. But God has shown mercy on those to whom He will have mercy and He hardens those who He will harden. Afterall, He is the Potter and we are the clay. Clay has no rights or claims over it's Creator. This is a hard doctrine to accept. I wrestle with it even as I write these lines. Nevertheless, it is what the Bible teaches and my duty is to subordinate my imperfect reason to His perfect Word. I rest in the knowledge that everything He does is just, and I know that, when in Glory, His justice will be revealed to the saints, and we will rejoice in all that He has done. God Bless, John R. |