Dear Christian friends:

When we see someone with strong faith we say, "Oh, I wish I had faith like he has. He has much trouble but seems satisfied and cheerful in spite of it." Or we see someone dying and they seem not afraid. In pain and suffering they are not displeased with God, but suffer patiently and praise God even while dying. Or we see someone eager to help the poor and needy and share money with them and never complain about that and we think, "Oh I wish I had faith like that.

You can have strong faith like that. In our text St. Paul shows how we get faith, He says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Simon, the sorcerer in Acts 8:18-20, thought he could buy faith from Peter by giving much money. So some people think today if they give much money to the church they will get more faith.

Some people think that they are born with faith. That also is foolish. Man is born without true knowledge and faith, the Bible teaches. Some think they get strong faith by studying nature. But it will never teach faith in God's mercy.

Faith in God's mercy, faith that saves us from sin and hell, that comes by God's Word as found in the Bible. And that does not mean faith in the law or the Ten Commandments; but faith in the Gospel.

Some people think if they hear and study the Ten Commandments and do that, then they will be right with God and be saved. They are very eager to hear teaching about the Ten Commandments, and then like to sit down and make or think themselves right with that.

They read the Fifth Commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," and say I did not kill anyone. I obeyed that. I'm good. God likes me. If you tell them that anger and hatred is the same as murder before God. You also get angry and hate and fail to love others. Sometimes you refuse to help the poor, sick and dying, or you get tired of helping and sharing for the sick and needy. So you are a murderer too.

Oh, they then excuse themselves and try to argue themselves okay by that law. But God knows they have false excuses and lie and lie about self-righteousness.

So you can't get true faith by the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments can only prove our sin and condemn us to hell. But true faith that saves comes from the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that God pities the lost and condemned sinners and has forgiven their sins through the suffering and death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Paul says in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

So by hearing the Word of how God prepared righteousness for you through Jesus Christ and believing it saves us and gives us true faith. Faith that will support you in every trouble; bad situations, sickness, dying or when all seems helpless. This faith will carry you through to God and life eternal. Such faith you need. So get it!


Keep in the faith through the Lord's Supper. Attending church services, Bible Class, and reading the Bible at home. Through pictures of Jesus crucified and risen again! Bring it to others through Missions and Evangelism.

Faith is precious and wonderful! It is a gift of God through His Word. Treasure that Word!

Amen.