People Need the Hope You Have

David Deagel

Paul’s words in Romans 10 begin with love and

concern for his countrymen. Salvation is not

mysterious or unreachable. “The word is near you,”

he says. It is near enough to be believed in the heart

and confessed with the mouth. The promise is

sweeping in its scope, inclusive in its invitation and it

is conditional in its response: “Whoever calls on the

name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

That is glorious news!

Yet, Paul does not stop there. No sooner does he

affirm how salvation occurs than he turns the reader’s

attention outward with a series of piercing and heart

tugging questions. What about those who have not

believed? What about those who have not heard? The

gospel that saved us was never meant to stop with us.

They Cannot Believe What They Have Not Heard

Paul asks, “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?”

(Romans 10:14). His point is unquestionable and

unmistakable. Hearing must always precede

believing.

People do not accidentally drift into salvation. They

need to study or be taught from the Word of God.

Scripture repeatedly teaches that ignorance of God

and His Word has devastating consequences. Paul

describes those outside of Christ as having their

understanding darkened and being alienated from the

life of God “because of the ignorance that is in them”

(Ephesians 4:18). Similarly, Hosea records the Lord’s

lament: “My people are destroyed for lack of

knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). How can one follow

directions if they have not been given directions?

Hope Must Be Sent Through Someone

Paul continues: “And how shall they hear without a

preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are

sent?” (Romans 10:15). The word preacher here is

often misunderstood. Paul is not speaking exclusively

of pulpits and sermons. He is speaking of proclaimers

(Kerusso), those willing to open their mouths and

speak on Christ’s behalf.

Here is a tough reality that must be understood:

Every Christian fits the description of one speaking

on Christ’s behalf! “We are ambassadors for Christ,”

Paul writes elsewhere, “as though God were pleading

through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus’ great

commission was not limited to a select few; it was

given to all disciples: “Go therefore and make

disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19–20). The

early Christians understood this concept well, as

those scattered by persecution “went everywhere

preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).

God chose people, not angels, visions, or dreams, to

carry the message of salvation. Jesus said, “As You

sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the

world” (John 17:18). God’s plan for reaching the lost

has always included human voices.

The Gospel is a Shared Lifeline

God once warned Israel that if a watchman saw

danger coming and failed to sound the alarm, the

blood of the people would be required at his hand

(Ezekiel 33:6). The principle remains prominent today

when danger is known; there remains a responsibility

to act and speak. Would a Christian honestly and in

good conscience proclaim, “I’m just thankful I was

saved…Someone else will help others.” But isn’t that

too often how we live?

God Calls Gospel Feet Beautiful

Paul concludes this section by quoting Isaiah: “How

beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel

of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

(Romans 10:15). Beautiful feet are not about

appearance, but about the feet that go, feet that move

toward helping and teaching the lost.

The message carried is powerful. The Gospel brings

peace with God, forgiveness of sins, hope beyond the

grave, and an eternal home in heaven. The gospel

changes one’s devotion (Matthew 28:19), direction

(Luke 24:47), and destination (Mark 16:16). The

Gospel moves us from Hell to Heaven, from guilt to

grace, and from lost to found. The Gospel is beautiful,

and that which is carried makes the carrier beautiful

in God’s sight.

Love Must Move Us to Speak

If we truly love people as we are called to love them

(John 13:34; Matthew 22:39), we cannot be content

with their lostness. Love for friends, for family, and

even for enemies compels us to speak.

What Will You Do with the Hope You Have?

You do not save souls; that’s what God does. But

God has chosen to work through willing voices.

Identify someone. Pray intentionally. Speak faithfully.

Share what Christ has done. You were saved by hope,

and now someone else needs the hope you have.

Will you carry it? Will you carry it as a Christian

compelled to speak to the lost from a position of love?

Will you carry it as a Christian who will devote his

life to ministry? Will you consider being well

equipped to share the Gospel by engaging the love of 

JESUS in all we do.