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by Katie Erickson

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'” (Romans 10:14-15)

In the previous passage, Paul talked about how the Romans (and us) can be saved by righteousness through faith: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (verse 9). We also saw in verses 12-13 that this is open to everyone, both Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). We all have equal opportunity to either accept or reject this gift of righteousness through faith.

Here, Paul works logically backwards through a series of rhetorical questions to explain more about the method for a person to become saved:
1. How can they call on the one they have not believed in?
2. How can they believe in one of whom they have not heard?
3. How can they hear without someone preaching to them?
4. How can anyone preach unless they are sent?

Working through these questions in a more chronological order, and changing them into statements, here is what must happen for a person to be saved:
1. Someone must be sent to preach.
2. That person must preach to others.
3. Those listeners must hear the person’s words and believe in the one (Jesus) who is being spoken about.
4. They must not just believe but also call on Jesus, confessing Him with their mouth.

All of these items must happen in some way in order for a person to be saved. If any one of these pieces is missing, it won’t happen. The gospel message of Jesus Christ is powerful, but people still need to hear and believe in that message in order to receive the salvation that it promises.

Notice that the passage says that “someone” must be sent to preach. Does that say it has to be a pastor? Nope. Does that say it has to be someone with a degree in theology? Nope. Does that say it has to be someone who has been formally trained in some way? Nope again. The truth is, we are ALL sent to share the gospel message with others!

In Matthew 28:18-20, right before Jesus went back to heaven, he said this to His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Other than spending the last few years with Jesus, His disciples didn’t have any formal training, and they definitely weren’t pastors by vocation. Yet Jesus specifically instructed them to share the gospel message with others. This passage applies to us today as well - we are ALL sent by Jesus to teach others about Him.

We can’t leave it up to those who we consider to be “trained” or “professionals” to share God’s Word with others. Every single person on earth needs to hear this message. What are you doing to share it with those around you?

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