Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 10:17

"So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." — Romans 10:17 (ASV)

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

With what solemnity this invests our hearing! I often hear people say, "We go to such-and-such a place of worship, to hear so-and-so preach." That is well if the preacher is, like John the Baptist, "a man sent from God;" for faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Only let us all so hear the Word of God that, hearing it, we believe on Jesus Christ whom God hath sent. Believing on him, we confess our faith in the divinely-appointed way, devoutly worship and adore the ever-blessed God, – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, – and do all we can to make the Saviour known to others.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Salvation comes by faith, and faith comes by hearing, but that hearing must be the hearing of the Word of God. Surely there is no great difficulty in understanding the gospel. This is no maze in which a man may lose himself. Here are no puzzling directions which only the learned can comprehend; oh, no! but here stand the plain, simple, soul-quickening words, "Believe and live."

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You are wise, therefore, dear friend, if you are seeking salvation to be a hearer of the Word; but mind that it is the Word of God that you hear, because the word of man cannot save you. It may delude you. It may give you a false peace; but the hearing that saves is hearing which comes by the Word of God. Oh! take care, then, that you do not run here and there just because of the cleverness of certain speakers; but keep to the Word of God whoever preaches it, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.