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Paul Smithson
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.
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