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Do Actions Really Speak Louder Than Words?
When actions follow your words, it builds credibility.
When words follow your actions, it gives more meaning to your actions.
Many of us are prepared to demonstrate the gospel with our actions, but we are hesitant to spread the good news with our words.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ —Romans 10:14-15
Summary of the four rhetorical questions:
People cannot call on the Lord unless they believe in Him.
They cannot believe in Him if they do not hear the gospel.
And the gospel will not be heard unless someone preaches it.
And the one who preaches the message of the good news has to be sent.
The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time —Carl F. H. Henry
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says,
Lord, who has believed our message? —Romans 10:16
[Paul] must also explain how even Israel’s failure to believe was foreseen in Israel’s scriptures themselve. —N. T. Wright
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17)
The primary way to share the gospel is with our words.
How often do we share the good news? Do we give people an opportunity to hear the gospel?
Paul writes that faith comes through hearing and hearing through the Word.
A simple way to share the gospel is through the ABCs. Admit, Believe, Commit.
A - Admit
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God —Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23
B - Believe
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8
C - Commit
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. —Romans 10:9-10
Belief and Confession result in Righteousness and Salvation
While our actions are a truer reflection than our words, Paul tells us that the primary way to share the gospel is with our words.
As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ —Romans 10:11-13