What other scriptures emphasize the importance of hearing and believing the gospel? Setting the Scene—Ephesians 1:13 “And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” The verse lays out a clear sequence: 1. Hearing the gospel 2. Believing the gospel 3. Being sealed by the Spirit Everything that follows in Scripture about salvation echoes these same three steps. Hearing—God’s Appointed Gateway “How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? … Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” • Mark 4:9 “Then Jesus said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” “God chose among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.” “Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God.” Key thought: God could have used any means, yet He chose the spoken (and now written) word as the primary channel for saving faith. Believing—The Heart’s Response “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life…” “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” “The message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.” Believing is more than intellectual assent; it is trusting embrace. Hearing gives knowledge; believing turns knowledge into life. Hearing + Believing—A Gospel Pattern on Display “But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel … both men and women were baptized.” “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the message.” These accounts show the same order Paul outlines in Ephesians: message heard, faith awakened, Spirit given. The Spirit’s Seal—God’s Assurance “Now it is God who establishes us … and He has sealed us and placed His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” The seal is not earned; it is granted once hearing leads to believing. Further Reinforcement from the Epistles “When you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it … and it is now at work in you who believe.” “Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.” “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Each text keeps hearing and believing inseparably linked, then moves directly to life-change empowered by the Spirit. Putting It All Together • God speaks → we hear. • The Spirit convicts → we believe. • God seals → we are secure. The consistent melody of Scripture is simple yet profound: keep proclaiming, keep listening, keep trusting. |
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