Hearing the Gospel: Obedience and Joy in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Hearing with Faith Transforms Understanding and Response

True hearing of the gospel goes beyond mere listening; it involves a hearing of faith that transforms our understanding and response to the gospel. This transformation moves us from simply knowing the gospel to actively living it out in faith. When we truly hear with faith, it leads to a life marked by obedience and joy. This kind of hearing is not passive but active, engaging both the heart and mind in a way that compels us to act on what we have heard. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this hearing with faith is essential for a genuine relationship with God, as it leads to a life that reflects the truth of the gospel. [01:36]

"For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively engage your heart and mind to truly hear the gospel with faith today?

Day 2: Obedience as a Heartfelt Response to the Gospel

Obedience is the first test of true hearing. It is not enough to know what we should do; we must actually do it. This obedience is a heartfelt response to the gospel, not just a duty or obligation. When we truly hear the gospel, it compels us to act in accordance with its truth. This means living out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives, allowing the gospel to shape our decisions, actions, and interactions with others. True obedience is motivated by love and gratitude for what Christ has done for us, rather than a sense of obligation or fear. [03:27]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror." (James 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you know what you should do according to the gospel but have not yet acted. What step can you take today to move from knowledge to action?

Day 3: Joy as a Deep, Abiding Response to Salvation

Joy is the second test of true hearing. The gospel is good news, and true hearing should lead to rejoicing. This joy is a deep, abiding joy that comes from understanding the gravity of our sin and the greatness of our salvation. It is not a superficial happiness but a profound joy that remains even in the face of trials and challenges. This joy is rooted in the assurance of our salvation and the incredible gift of grace we have received through Jesus Christ. It is a joy that should be evident in our lives and should draw others to the gospel. [06:22]

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge or trial you faced. How can you cultivate a deep, abiding joy in the midst of difficulties by focusing on the greatness of your salvation?

Day 4: The Absence of Joy and the Need for Deep Conviction

The absence of joy in the modern church may be due to a lack of deep conviction of sin and a superficial understanding of the gospel. True joy comes from a profound realization of our sinful state and the incredible gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Without a deep conviction of our need for a Savior, the gospel can become just another message rather than the life-changing truth it is meant to be. This realization should lead us to a place of humility and gratitude, recognizing the depth of our sin and the greatness of God's grace. [16:29]

"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your understanding of sin and salvation. How can you deepen your conviction of sin and appreciation for the gospel to experience true joy?

Day 5: The Serious, Profound Joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is a serious, profound joy that comes from understanding the depth of our sin and the greatness of God's grace. It is a joy that should be evident in our lives and should draw others to the gospel. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in the unchanging truth of who God is and what He has done for us. It is a joy that sustains us through trials and challenges, providing strength and hope in the midst of life's difficulties. As believers, we are called to live in this joy, allowing it to be a testimony to the world of the transformative power of the gospel. [41:24]

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand." (Philippians 4:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a serious, profound joy in your daily life that reflects the depth of your understanding of God's grace and draws others to the gospel?

Sermon Summary

In Romans 10:16-17, Paul addresses the issue of hearing and believing the gospel. The gospel is preached to all, yet not everyone believes. This raises the question of what it means to truly hear the gospel. There is a distinction between merely hearing the words and truly hearing with faith. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that true hearing leads to obedience and joy. The first test of true hearing is obedience, which means not just knowing what to do but actually doing it. The second test is joy, a profound rejoicing that comes from truly understanding and receiving the gospel.

The joy of the gospel is not superficial; it is a deep, abiding joy that comes from realizing the gravity of our sin and the greatness of our salvation. This joy is evident throughout the New Testament, as seen in the rejoicing of the early Christians despite persecution. The absence of joy in the modern church may be due to a lack of deep conviction of sin and a superficial understanding of the gospel. True joy comes from a profound realization of our sinful state and the incredible gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The gospel brings us free forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and the promise of eternal life. It transforms us, giving us a new nature and liberating us from the power of sin. This salvation is certain and secure, and it should fill us with joy and gratitude. The joy of the Lord is a serious, profound joy that comes from understanding the depth of our sin and the greatness of God's grace. It is a joy that should be evident in our lives and should draw others to the gospel.

Key Takeaways

1. True hearing of the gospel involves more than just listening; it requires a hearing of faith that leads to obedience and joy. This hearing transforms our understanding and response to the gospel, moving us from mere knowledge to active faith. [01:36]
2. Obedience is the first test of true hearing. It is not enough to know what we should do; we must actually do it. This obedience is a heartfelt response to the gospel, not just a duty or obligation. [03:27]
3. Joy is the second test of true hearing. The gospel is good news, and true hearing should lead to rejoicing. This joy is a deep, abiding joy that comes from understanding the gravity of our sin and the greatness of our salvation. [06:22]
4. The absence of joy in the modern church may be due to a lack of deep conviction of sin and a superficial understanding of the gospel. True joy comes from a profound realization of our sinful state and the incredible gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. [16:29]
5. The joy of the Lord is a serious, profound joy that comes from understanding the depth of our sin and the greatness of God's grace. It is a joy that should be evident in our lives and should draw others to the gospel. [41:24]
** [41:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Romans 10:16-17
[01:03] - The Problem of Unbelief
[01:36] - Hearing with Faith
[03:13] - The Test of Obedience
[04:29] - The Test of Joy
[05:33] - The Good News of the Gospel
[06:22] - Joy in the New Testament
[09:01] - Examples of Joy in Acts
[11:27] - Rejoicing in the Epistles
[14:40] - The Jews' Rejection of the Gospel
[16:11] - The Absence of Joy Today
[19:00] - Realizing Our Sinful State
[24:19] - The Hopelessness of Sin
[33:31] - The Nature of Salvation
[39:32] - The Joy of the Lord

Sermon Clips

The gospel is to be preached and to be offered to all but it's quite clear that everybody doesn't believe it. Everybody doesn't accept it. We've seen that there is a hearing and a hearing. There is a mechanical hearing, but the mechanical hearing is of no value. The only hearing that is of any value is what the Apostle calls the hearing of faith. [00:01:17]

There is nothing more superficial than the kind of mentality which says I've heard that before. The question is have you rarely heard it? What's it done to you? So the Apostle raises that question here. There is a hearing of faith, and that's the only thing that matters. [00:02:50]

Obedience is the first test of true hearing. It is not enough to know what we should do; we must actually do it. This obedience is a heartfelt response to the gospel, not just a duty or obligation. The question is have you done it? That's the whole point of the end of The Sermon on the Mount, isn't it? [00:04:00]

The test of rejoicing, you notice how the Apostle quotes the words of Isaiah: how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, that bring Glad Tidings of good things. Now this is a most important matter. It is the Second Great test which is to be applied to all our hearing. [00:04:29]

When a man truly hears the gospel, he knows exactly what it is to say how beautiful coming over the mountains are the feet of this messenger who's bearing this message to me. It's implicit in that it is what makes the feet beautiful or desirous or wonderful to behold. That's the meaning that it's good to see them because of the message which they are bringing. [00:05:36]

The moment these early Christians were baptized with the Holy Ghost, they were filled with joy, so much so that some people thought they were drunk. These men, they said, are full of new wine. It was this obvious exultation, this happiness, you see, that is how this Christian Joy shows itself. It's evident to everybody that you're filled with joy. [00:08:00]

The joy of the Lord is a serious, profound joy that comes from understanding the depth of our sin and the greatness of God's grace. It is a joy that should be evident in our lives and should draw others to the gospel. The absence of joy in the modern church may be due to a lack of deep conviction of sin and a superficial understanding of the gospel. [00:41:24]

The realization of our state and condition by Nature, that's the first absolute essential. You see, there are contrasts here. Here, as I explained to you, Isaiah puts it in terms of the Captivity of the children of Israel in Babylon. And there they are in Babylon in the Captivity, and if they can't sing the song of the Lord in a Strange Land, they've hung up their hearts upon the willow trees. [00:19:19]

There is never true Joy until there has been a thorough preliminary law work. It is only the man who realizes the state and position that he's in who rejoices when he hears the gospel. You see, these things work by contrasts, and I feel that that is what is missing at the present time. [00:25:18]

The gospel gives us free forgiveness, complete reconciliation to God. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and have access into this grace wherein we stand. All that is given to me immediately I understand the truth of this message: justification by faith only. [00:33:36]

The joy of the Christian, The Joy which is produced by the Holy Ghost, is the joy of a man who looks into hell and who knows that he's been saved from that and delivered from it only by the fact that the Son of God did come into the world, did die upon that cross, was buried, rose again. [00:40:46]

The great characteristic of the true Joy, the joy of the Lord, the Christian Joy, it's a serious Joy, it's a profound Joy, it's rejoicing with trembling as it were because you realize that were it not for the grace of God, you'll be without hope. You realize that you are so desperate, so evil, so vile that nothing less than this could ever have delivered you. [00:42:48]

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