How can they know unless

Romans 10:12-18

Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.

Guterres, A., 2023. Secretary-General's opening remarks at press conference on climate.
guterres-2023-boiling~a1

Romans 10:13

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (use)

Without Jesus, everyone is lost. But with Jesus, anyone can be found.

Morphew, C., 2022. Who Am I and Why Do I Matter?
morphew-2022-identity~a2

Romans 10:12

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. (use)

By emphasizing universality in this first half, by showing that the Old Testament has looked forward to such events, he makes this tremendous assertion on which the whole of his missionary preaching is based: there is no distinction between a Jew and a Gentile'. This is the theoretical result of his argument to this point.

Richardson, G.P., 1968. The Old Testament in Romans 9-11. Christian Brethren Research Fellowship Journal 17: 4-8.
richardson-1968-old~a2

That poor, lost, sinful man has nowhere else to go but to Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and if the sinner betakes himself to any other way he will wander and die.

Barnes, A., 1884. Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible.
barnes-1884-notes~john6v68

In Jesus you discover grace sufficient for you, grace to hold you up to the end, and a sure promise that sin shall soon be rooted out all together. "Fear not, I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by My name; thou art Mine."

Bonar, A., 2016. Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray M'Cheyne.
bonar-2016-cheyne~a2

With this as reality, then this...

When Christ calls people into His kingdom, He doesn't pull them out of the world forever. He sends them back out with the gospel.

Sproul, R.C., 2014. Into the World.
sproul-2014-into~a1

Be patient; God is already at work leading his lost sheep to follow behind those who follow Jesus. You can trust he will use your ordinary life, by his grace, as a source of influence and evangelism for advancing his kingdom.

Carlson, L., 2021. Instavangelists Are Making Disciples. Are You?
carlson-2021-insta~a2

In the service of God there is no one who is a no one.

Stoves, G., 2021. The signification of his baptism.
stoves-2021-signification~a1

Romans 10:14

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (use)

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it; Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; Back to the narrow way patiently win them; Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Crosby, F.J., 1869. Rescue the perishing.
crosby-1869-rescue~v4

The gospel is not good advice to men, but good news about Christ; not an invitation to us to do anything, but a declaration of what God has done; not a demand, but an offer.

Stott, J., 1984. The Message of Galatians: Only One Way.
stott-1984-galatians~gal3c

Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation

Church of England, 1571. Thirty-nine Articles of Religion.
coe-1571-thirtynine~via

VII. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

Westminster Divines,. 1646. The Westminster Confession of Faith.
divines-1646-westminster~VII

Romans 10:15

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (use)

We are, after all, sinners preaching to other sinners, a fact that should humble us before God.

Castaldo, C., 2019. Courage to Preach.
castaldo-2019-courage~a1

Unfortunately many Christians are waiting for some special calling from God to go. They do not realize that God has already sent them. Where we go, and to what segments of humanity we proclaim the gospel, are secondary issues. If we get active proclaiming the gospel, God will direct us where He wants to use us.

Constable, T., 2022. Expository Notes.
constable-2022-expository~romans-10v14

Tell to sinners round, What a dear Saviour I have found.

Spurgeon, C.H., 1894. Found by Jesus, and Finding Jesus.
spurgeon-1894-found~b1

Good news received badly

For a Christian to talk to the unconverted about the the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving power is in itself honouring and glorifying to God.

Packer, J.I. and Dever, M., 2008. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.
packer-2008-evangelism~a3

...sit down: when God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your {William Carey} aid or mine{Mr Ryland}.

Marshman, J.C., 1864. The Story of Carey, Marshman, and Ward, the Serampore Missionaries. pg.9
marshman-1864-carey~a1

Mr Ryland to William Carey 1786

'I believe in the sovereignty of God,' the Calvinist says and the Sovereign says, 'Go to every creature'; and the theologian says with such boldness, 'Ah, but God on the throne, you haven't chosen them all' - and God on the throne says, 'You GO; who are you, man, to reply against God?'

MacLeod, D., 2016. A Faith to Live By: Understanding Christian Doctrine, Reprint edition. ed. Christian Focus Adult Catalogue. pg.75
macleod-2016-a-faith~a6

Such preaching necessitates declaring the full counsel of God in Scripture. The entire written Word must be expounded. No truth should be left untaught, no sin unexposed, no grace unoffered, no promise undelivered.

Lawson, S., 1989. Preach the Word.
lawson-1989-preach~a1

Until God gives me the roll call of the elect I am going to preach the "whosoever will" gospel. That is the gospel we are to preach today.

Spurgeon, C., nd. ut.
spurgeon-nd-ut~a6

The gospel is to be preached to human beings, not as elect or reprobate, but as sinners, all of who need redemption.

Bavinck, B., 2013. Saved by Grace: The Holy Spirit’s Work in Calling and Regeneration
bavinck-2013-saved~a1

But let this city bear in mind, that among her enemies lie hid those who are destined to be fellow-citizens, that she may not think it a fruitless labour to bear what they inflict as enemies until they become confessors of the faith.

Augustine of Hippo, 426AD. City of God.
aug-426-cog~a2a

Thus the sovereignty of God in grace gave Paul hope of success as he preached to deaf ears, and held up Christ before blind eyes, and sought to move stony hearts. His confidence was that where Christ sends the gospel there Christ has his people -fast bound as present in the chains of sin, but due for release at the appointed moment through a mighty renewing of their hearts as the light of the gospel shines into their darkness and the Saviour draws them to himself.

Packer, J.I. and Dever, M., 2008. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.
packer-2008-evangelism~a1

Romans 10:16

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” (use)

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (use)

Romans 10:18

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." (use)

So evangelism must start with the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, the demands of the law, the punishment meted out by the law and the eternal consequences of evil and wrongdoing. It is only the man who is brought to see his guilt in the way who flies to Christ for deliverance and redemption.

Lloyd-Jones, D.M., 1977. Studies in the sermon on the mount.
lloyd-1977-studies~a1

We don’t have to push or coerce them, for it is only God’s grace that opens hearts, not our eloquence or persistence or even their openness.

Keller, T., 2000. The Centrality of the Gospel.
keller-2000-centrality~a2a