March 15, 2004, Vol.3, No.6.

There are many ways people claim to have obtained saving faith. Some declare their faith came as a result of a better felt than told feeling. Some even claim to have received a special revelation directly from God or an angel. Salvation comes through faith in Christ, however, faith in Christ comes only through the inspired word of God. The inspired apostle declared, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Rom. 10: 17)

Just before His ascension, Jesus committed His gospel of salvation to men that it might be proclaimed. (Mk. 16:15-16). From that time never has an individual been converted unto God unless it was through hearing and obeying the gospel of Christ proclaimed by men.

This can be seen over and over in the examples of New Testament conversions. In Acts 8:27-ff God sent an angel to tell Philip, a preacher of the gospel, to go to an Ethiopian man that he might hear the gospel. Note that God did not send the message of salvation directly to the Ethiopian, but instructed the preacher to go proclaim the message to him. When the Ethiopian heard the gospel he obeyed by being baptized.

In Acts 10:1-ff we have the example of Cornelius' conversion. This time God sends an angel to the man who is in need of the gospel rather than the preacher. Notice, however, the angel did not proclaim the gospel message to Cornelius, but tells him to send for Peter. Peter then comes and proclaims words by which he could be saved (Acts 11:14).

We are reminded of the question, "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" (Rom.10:14-15). The answer is, "They cannot"-- the reason being, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Rom. 10:17).

In fact if the Lord Himself met a man on the road, He would not directly tell that individual what to do to be saved. To some this may seem far fetched at first. However, we have a clear cut case of this very thing recorded in Acts 22:6-10. Saul of Tarsus, the man who would later refer to himself as "the chief of sinners," (1Tim. 1:15) is on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians and bring them to Jerusalem that they might be imprisoned or punished. Saul has a bright light that flashes from heaven around him as Jesus speaks to him. Saul then ask Jesus, "What shall I do Lord?" (Acts 22:7-10).

What you have here is Jesus Christ Himself in direct contact with a sinner. If ever there was a time after the great commission when the Lord could have stepped in and told a sinner what to do to be saved, this was it. But Jesus simply told him to "Arise and go on into Damascus; and there you will be told all that has been appointed for you to do." In Acts 22:12-16 we learn that God sent a man, Ananias, declaring, "And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." If any are converted today it will be the result of them hearing, believing and obeying the gospel of Christ proclaimed by faithful men (Rom. 10:13-17; Heb 1:1-2).

Some may ask, "But what about the man on the desert island who lives and dies never knowing anything about Christ or His gospel?" Paul explains, that those who do not have a written revelation will be held accountable for what they are able to know and understand concerning God (Rom. 1:18-20).

God will judge each according to the what they have access to know and understand about Him. Those of us who have access to His gospel of His Son Jesus will be judged by it (Jn. 12:48; 2Thess. 1;7-9). We have the responsibility to read, study, and obey this message that has been proclaimed and written by inspired men. Saving faith comes by no other means.