In his letter to the Romans Paul asks a series of questions to show that we who HAVE been “born again” (John 3:7) must take the gospel to everyone who has never heard. “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching” (Rom 10:14)?
So, does the Bible really teach that the millions of people living in the most distant, most isolated, most remote and most difficult to reach places in the world, still must literally hear the gospel (and believe it!) to be saved?
A look at just a few Bible verses convinces us that the answer is YES.
Six Scriptural Evidences that Faith Comes Through Hearing the Word
We are called to salvation through “hearing” the Word
Paul told the Thessalonians that they were “called” to salvation “through our gospel” (2 Thess 3:14) which they had “heard” from Paul and his team (1 Thess 2:13). In the house of Cornelius, the Holy Spirit fell on all “who heard the Word” (Acts 10:44).
We are born again by hearing the Word
In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus said that everyone “must” be born again and Peter affirms that we are born again “through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). So, if there is no “hearing” the Word of God, or reading it, there will be no regeneration; because only the words of Jesus are “spirit and life” (John 6:63).
A “family relationship with Jesus” comes through “hearing” the Word
In addition, Jesus makes it clear that even professing that Jesus is Lord does not guarantee salvation (Matt 7:21-23). Jesus must “know” us as a family member, and that will only happen if we “hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:19-21).
Biblical faith in Jesus comes through “hearing” the Word (John 10:27)
Paul also told the Romans that “faith comes through hearing and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). The gospel message is the call to salvation from Christ Himself, and His sheep “hear” His voice (John 10:3,27).
The Holy Spirit is received through hearing the Word
Scripture also tells us that in order to receive the Spirit of God which is necessary to be called Christ’s (Rom 8:9) one must “hear” the gospel message with faith (Gal 3:2).
Believers are sanctified through hearing the Word
Finally, Jesus said we are “already clean” (sanctified), because of the word that I have spoken to you” (John 15:3; 17:17); the spoken word of Christ which must be heard (John 10:27).
The Scriptures speak clearly. Unless the lost, near and far, hear the Gospel message, there will be no effective call to salvation, no regeneration, no family relationship with Jesus, no “Biblical” faith at all, no receiving of the Spirit of God, and no sanctification.
In other words, without hearing (and believing) the Gospel message, there will be no “turning from darkness to light”, no escape from the power of Satan to God, no forgiveness of sins, and no sanctification (Acts 26:18).
Yes, we MUST go to those who have never heard.
Hope In Spite of Statistics
Missions statistics often paint a grim picture of how many people are “going” to the most remote places to share the gospel. It’s very true that an incredibly small number of North Americans are “going” to these hard-to-reach places (and we wish there were more!). But, the statistics miss how many national, indigenous Christians are doing this gospel-preaching work among their own unreached neighbors.
They, like us, desire that all people come to a knowledge of the Lord and are saved by hearing the Word and believing it. David Platt has said, “The unreached are unreached for a reason.” That’s why Live Global specializes in partnering with the nationals who are going to the unreached. The nationals have access to the unreached that North Americans don’t. They know the language and culture. They invite us in to come alongside them in prayer, encouragement, training, serving, giving, and other specific ways they would like. We’d love to invite you in to find a national partner who is serving among unreached people groups.