We all agree that belief, repentance, confession, and baptism are crucial steps to obeying the gospel and becoming a Christian. What about hearing? Is that step really important/necessary? By the time I am explaining to people the steps they need to take to obtain salvation, they presumably have already heard at least a portion of God’s word, and they presumably understand that they need to listen to what I am telling them from scripture. Many Christians don’t see a point in mentioning, discussing, or explaining “hear.” I will admit, there was a time where I did not see a point in including “hear” in the steps of salvation, because one obviously had to (1)hear the word before he/she could (2)believe it. But, I would be leading you astray if I told you today that hearing is not an integral part of salvation and of the Christian life after becoming a member of Christ’s church.
Inclusion of the step “hear” causes some of us discomfort. Why? Because, in order for other people to hear God’s word, we know that they have to have access to it. This reminds us of our duty as Christians to share God’s word with everyone we know. Fear or cowardice may stop us from sharing our faith with others, but we must understand that others cannot begin to obey the gospel until we tell them what the gospel is. Romans 10:14-17 says
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV)
This message of peace that we have is meant to be shared with others. Our faith comes from hearing God’s word; likewise, others must hear in order to believe. We can ensure that others have heard the gospel by teaching it to them.
So, once we have heard the word and know enough to believe and obey the gospel, that’s it, right? Hearing is just the beginning of the process, but we are done with it as we move on to repentance and deeper matters? While hearing is the first step, it certainly doesn’t end after we move on to the other steps. The Father makes it clear throughout scripture that we should always keep His word in our hearts. In Deuteronomy 11:18-23 the Hebrew people were commanded to keep themselves surrounded by God’s word.
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (18-20, NKJV).
They needed daily exposure to His commands in order to remind them of how they should live and whom they served. We are no different. Just because we have read the Bible does not mean we know and readily recall all that we need in order to live godly. 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2 tells us that we are given scripture and can use it “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. Using scripture, “the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Knowing that His word has this ability, we should “preach the word” and “be ready in and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” The more we read the word of God, the more we realize the need to preach His word. At first, we hear the word in order to believe it, but, later, we hear the word in order to keep it in our hearts and be ready to teach it to the next person beginning his/her walk towards Christ.
I know I must continually hear His word. But, how many times have I turned down an opportunity to hear it? I ask myself, “When do I not make time to go to a summer youth series, gospel meeting, Bible camp, or even Wednesday night Bible study? When do I use my free time to scroll through Facebook instead of to read a passage of scripture or watch a sermon online?” Once I realized the importance of “hear,” I learned to make time to listen to and be surrounded by His word every chance I got; my hope is that you will do the same.