word

 This morning we begin worship with:

Romans 10:14-17

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? 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!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

While the mind of many a reformed believer goes to sovereignty of God and "Unconditional Election" and "Irresistible Grace", when the missionary mandate is mentioned.  That does not make Paul's question moot!  Somebody must deliver the message, that without God's grace we are all dammed.

These two things (God's sovereignty and our actions) come together beautifully in that last sentence:

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

While faith must be preceded by hearing the gospel, our passage explains that not all who are told the gospel respond.  That response is only at the voice of our Shepherd, "the word of Christ".

John 10:3b-4 
The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.