Huntington Church of Christ

"Did you HEAR about the red tag sale at J.C. Penney?" "Have you HEARD about the 1000 free hours on American Online?" "Did you HEAR about the triple coupons at Brookshire Brothers?" Questions like these make our ears perk up, especially if we have not HEARD! With our interest stimulated, we respond, "No, I Haven't HEARD. Tell me more about it, so I can take advantage too! "Hearing is the means of obtaining information and then we act accordingly.

The Bible says, Belief (faith) cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17). We must hear the word of Christ (the gospel) because it is "the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). It informs us concerning what we must believe and waht we must do to be pleasing to God.

In every conversion recorded in the book of Acts the gospel was preached and heard. Upon hearing the words of Christ the listeners obeyed (Acts 2:14-41; 8:5-13. 30-39; 10:33-48; 16:13-15, 32-33). It is only logical to conclude that one must first hear the gospel in order that they might know what to do to be saved. Paul asked, "How shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14).

This is why Jesus commanded His disciples "go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15). People cannot be interested in His word unless they hear. People cannot be saved unless they hear.

The Bible teaches that we are saved through the gospel. Paul wrote "now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received...by which ye are also saved" (1 Cor. 15:1,2). The gospel has the saving information that all men need. Other teachings or offers of men are not valid and will not save us in the last days (Matt. 15:13 Gal. 1:6-10). We must be content to HEAR God's commands, to the exclusion of all others. Once the gospel is heard we must make a decision. We either accept or reject what is heard. HOW ABOUT YOU?

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ