What is the meaning of Romans 10:14? How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Calling is an act of wholehearted trust, a verbal outcry that presumes the Lord hears and rescues. Yet Paul points out the logical starting point: • People do not cry out to someone they doubt. Genuine belief precedes the cry (Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 34:17). • The Scripture pattern is clear: faith, then appeal. Elijah believed before calling for fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-37). Peter believed before crying, “Lord, save me!” on the waves (Matthew 14:30-31). • Therefore, the promise of Joel 2:32—quoted in Romans 10:13—stands open to all, but only realized by those who first trust that the Lord truly is Savior (Acts 2:21). And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? Belief is anchored in information, not imagination. Paul underscores that saving faith is rooted in the revealed gospel, not in a vague sense of the divine. • Hearing means receiving the specific news that “Christ died for our sins…was buried…was raised” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). • Throughout Scripture, faith is generated by God’s spoken word—Abraham believed after hearing God’s promise (Genesis 15:4-6; Galatians 3:6-8). • Even Cornelius, already God-fearing, needed Peter’s message to believe unto salvation (Acts 10:22, 33-44). And how can they hear without someone to preach? The Lord has chosen human messengers as His ordinary means of broadcasting the gospel. • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The preached word is God’s appointed delivery system. • Old Testament prophets modeled this: Isaiah’s lips were cleansed so he could say, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:6-8). • New Testament practice confirms it: Paul and Barnabas “spoke the word of the Lord” and “many believed” (Acts 13:44-48). • The chain is unbreakable: sent preacher → heard message → believed gospel → called on the Lord → saved (Romans 10:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20). summary Romans 10:14 unpacks the logical sequence God ordained for salvation: proclamation leads to hearing, hearing produces belief, belief issues in a heartfelt call, and that call receives the promised rescue. Each link depends on the previous one, emphasizing both the necessity of gospel preaching and the certainty that all who believe and call upon Christ will be saved. |
    |