Wednesday | 23 September 2026
The word is always first proclaimed to the first, or natural, man. It is heard by the first man. Paul highlighted that we can only hear if the word is preached to us by a messenger sent by Christ. In his letter to the Romans, he asked the questions: ‘How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”’ Rom 10:14-15.
The word that is preached to us is then able to dwell in us richly. Col 3:16. The Spirit takes of what is Christ’s – that which is proclaimed through messengers – and reveals it to us so that we can believe and obey the word. Our obedience is the evidence that we are being led by the Spirit.
Characteristically, a person who is being led by the Spirit is compelled to fellowship in Christ because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of fellowship, and fellowship is the source of illumination. Faith for personal, responsible action springs from this illumination as obedience. It is then expressed in fellowship, for faith works by love. Rom 5:5.
At the last Passover, where He initiated the agape meal of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ gave to His disciples the name, the word, and the glory of God. The name gives to us the love of the Father. The word gives to us our sanctification, which is necessary for our expression of love and the word in the unity of fellowship. In this fellowship of offering, the glory of God is expressed to the world. We have further detailed these three aspects that belong to oneness in the Lord in the paper, ‘The love and worship of our Creator’. Importantly, these elements give to us the capacity to establish faith in others. He then sends us into the world so that our hearers will believe in Christ through our word. Joh 17:18,20.
Further Study:
Romans 10
References:
Rom 10:14-15
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? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’
Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Rom 5:5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Joh 17:18
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
Joh 17:20
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.