Him who has ears to hear, let him hear - Matthew 13:9,43; Mark 4:9,23; Mark 7:16; Luke 8:8; Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; Revelation 3:6,13,22. This phrase Jesus uses, what does it mean? Does it mean... A) You all have ears so if you are wise you will listen up B) if you want to listen you can so pay attention C) you can listen if God helps you D) you cannot listen unless God helps you E) you have no role to play in hearing, if God picks you you will hear Aha, now we see, the meaning of this little phrase once again strikes upon the question of just how it is that we come to believe. Many commentaries translate the Greek word behind hearing with a figurative meaning something like this, the spiritual action of hearing following from Gods in birthing of faith in the believer. Strings consistently views it like this. Might we ask ourselves if there is anything preceding hearing? Romans 10:17 points us to it. (Romans 10:17) So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. NLT But this interpretation of Romans 10:17 tries to point only to the preaching of the gospel as the vehicle of hearing. In fact the Greek word under the NLT phrase The good news of Christ is rhematos. 4487 rhḗma (from 4483 /rhéō, to speak) – a spoken word, made by the living voice (J. Thayer). 4487 /rhḗma (spoken-word) is commonly used in the NT (and in LXX) for the Lord speaking His dynamic, living word in a believer to inbirth faith (His inwrought persuasion). Ro 10:17: So faith proceeds from (spiritual) hearing; moreover this hearing (is consummated) through a rhēma-word (4487 /rhḗma) from Christ (Gk text). [See also Gal 3:2,5 which refers to the hearing of faith (Gk text) – i.e. a spiritual hearing that goes with the divine inbirthing of faith.] But this isnt the beginning of the thought either. To see that we need to go to Romans 10-13-16. (Romans 10:13-16) for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who [a]bring good news of good things!” 16 However, they did not all heed the [b]good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So not everyone who hears the gospel believes, and hearing comes not simply from hearing the words of the gospel but from a spiritual encounter with the Living Word of God through the preaching of the gospel. But does this mean that we have absolutely no choice but to respond if we hear the gospel? Or does it mean that if we receive hearing as a gift we will respond? Lets try to sum it up a little more succinctly. 1) We have to share about Jesus, it is our calling and The Lord uses it. 2) We could try to sum up faith in this way, He spoke to Me and I was enthralled. Did he force me to come? No, but He overcame with His love all of my objections, and He answered all my questions, and He promised me strength for the journey if I would but relinquish my life to Him. I could not even have the choice to make if not for Him. Therefore my choice is a gift. In every way I owe it to Him and will never be free to exercise it for Him until He liberates me. He cherishes my sincere love knowing how dependent it is. Knowing how easily He could take advantage of a poor creature like me. Instead He does nothing but good for Me as I trust in Him. And because He knew I would, when I would, He causes all things to work for my good as I simply obey and take on the yoke of Christ.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 13:37:08 +0000