(Romans 10:12-17)
It’s required to navigate icy walkways in the midwest after a snowstorm. The hiker on a precipitous trail needs it. So does the baby learning to walk. The older we get the more we struggle with it. Having faith in one’s feet. When our steps are uncertain or unsure, we’re more likely to misstep or stumble. When we step forward sure-footed and with confidence, however, we’re usually alright. It makes a difference to have faith in our feet. Each step depends on it.
Paul says it’s important, too, albeit for a much more important reason. When we have faith in our feet as we carry out the mission Jesus has invited each one of us to join him on, we have what amounts to the difference between life and death for others. When our feet bring the good news to others, we have what the Holy Spirit uses to create faith. So let’s make sure we have faith in our feet for the reason that matters most.
First, Paul reminds us why faith is so important: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (v.13). To state it as simply as possible, believers of Jesus Christ go to heaven. So, then, how does one become a believer? Paul lays out how that happens by essentially reverse-engineering the process. “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?” (v.14-15a).
In order to believe in Jesus Christ, a person first has to hear about him to know who he is. And, if anyone is going to hear about him to know who he is, that means someone has to communicate that to them. And, to know who is responsible for communicating that to them, one has to know who’s responsible for it.
It’s often said that one something is everyone’s responsibility, then it ends up being no one’s responsibility. In other words, unless a responsibility is delegated to a certain specific person or group, then everyone tends to assume someone else is taking care of it. Ultimately, because everyone assumes someone else is taking care of it, no one does it. The thing is left undone.
But when it comes to the process Paul is describing here, it really is everyone’s responsibility. Every Christian was called to communicate Christ when they were called to Christ. To be a follower of Christ is to a disciple-maker of others. It isn’t complicated. You don’t need me to dissect these words and walk you through the process of disciple-making, because what is asked of us couldn’t be easier: people who know Jesus talk Jesus to people who don’t know Jesus. Pretty simple, right? Not complicated at all.
So rather than focusing on how we do that or why we don’t, or how to overcome whatever hangups we have, or addressing any fears we might have, or dismantling the excuses we shield ourselves with, we’re going to give more of our attention to the important outcome. It’s the person on the other side who makes this process so important. Here’s the why that drives all of it: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (v.17).
This verse, coupled with verse thirteen, is essentially everything we’re about. If someone asks you why your church exists, why it’s here, don’t get so caught up in everything else that you forget that we’re here to lead people to be saved by calling on the name of the Lord, and that happens only when faith receives and believes everything Jesus has done for them. That is why we are here. We want everyone to be saved.
Do we speak enough about that these days? Are we more concerned about offending someone or making someone angry? Maybe it’s a lack of knowledge. Maybe it’s indifference. Whatever is behind it, we cannot stick our heads in the sand and pretend to ignore the reality for everyone who does not call on the name of the Lord: they will be cut off from him forever.
There is a real hell, and everyone without faith in Jesus will end up there. And I think part of the reason we as Christians may not be as comfortable speaking about it is because we are so concerned about giving the impression to outsiders that we somehow derive a sick, twisted joy from getting to declare that. We feel as if nonbelievers have pegged us as getting a kick out of telling all the sinners out there in the world that they’re going to hell, so they better shape up. They see it as an “us vs. them” thing rather than the reality that we’re all on the same sinking ship of sin, it’s just that in Jesus, we’ve found the only life boat that can rescue us.
While on this hard topic of hell and how we handle it with nonbelievers, it also affords us the chance to ask ourselves how/if we have contributed to the negative perception others have of us in this area. Do they notice us more naturally talking to them about going to hell than about Jesus taking them to heaven? Are we more comfortable announcing warnings than we are the good news? Is it possible that nonbelievers know we’re believers, but are surprised that we don’t talk more about it or care enough about them to share what’s important? Do they interpret our silence as indifference or a lack of concern about them?
In a video over fifteen years old, a man expressed his admiration for Christians sharing their faith. He talked about a time someone handed him a Gideon’s Bible, and the impact it had on him. He said, “If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and you think it’s not worth telling someone about it, how much do you have to hate him to not proselytize? To believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell people? This man cared enough about me to proselytize.” While the man in the video was sure to point out that this kind effort didn’t change his mind about being an atheist, we can appreciate the point he is making. You may recognize the man in the video: self-proclaimed atheist, Penn Fraser Jillette, half of the comedic magician duo known as Penn and Teller.
Whatever the reason for our lack of evangelism efforts, we need to go back and apply these verses to ourselves. We need to repent and rejoice that all of our sins have been forgiven, including our dismissal of our calling as Christians to evangelize. Make no mistake – that sin is as deadly and damnable as any other, and even more damaging than many other sins, because not only does that sin accuse and condemn you and me, but it also by default leaves our neighbor who never heard the gospel lost in unbelief! So when Christians clam up, we sin against our holy God, but we also leave our neighbor condemned in his ignorance. Lord, have mercy on us for forgetting and neglecting our own spiritual health and that of our neighbor when we refuse to be the beautiful feet bringing good news to others!
And he has! Remember, the good news we fail to share is also the good news we need to hear: we are fully forgiven in Christ. Let the Lord’s words to Isaiah resonate in our hearts: “your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (6:7). Let Jesus’ words to Simon Peter ease our fears and sharpen our focus: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10). Without fear, and filled with faith, we embrace Christ’s calling to fish for people.
Let’s be clear. The only way anyone can be saved is through faith in Jesus. How does the Holy Spirit create faith in a person’s heart? Through the good news of the gospel, that in Jesus, sinners have the Savior they need.
Let’s also be clear. That means that the family living two houses down from you will not come to faith because you are a good neighbor. Your boss and co-workers will not come to faith because you are the understanding and patient employee. Your friend will not come to faith because you are a good listener when she is struggling. The panhandler will not come to faith in Jesus because you gave him lunch or a couple bucks. Your family member will not come to faith because you were trying to be sensitive and not “push your religion” on him. Now, are all of these things good things? Yes! Do we want to be and do these things? Yes, absolutely!
But they can’t be the only thing. No one will come to faith unless we take that next step and share the good news, for “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). Don’t leave the job of letting your light shine undone by avoiding the crucial step of sharing the only message that creates faith.
What difference can you really make? It depends on whether or not you believe that what Paul wrote about God is true. Is he the “Lord of all [who] richly blesses all who call on him…?” (v.12). If he is, then believe he’ll richly bless your efforts, and let’s get to work in leading others to call on him so that he can also richly bless them. Let’s get to work in leading others to call on him because ““Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (v.13). Let’s go out and earn the reputation of having beautiful feet. Let’s get our beautiful feet to work bringing the good news to wherever we live, and marvel at God doing his thing through our efforts.
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