Beautiful Preachers of the Gospel

February 6th, 2025
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 10:14-15 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

It was the prophet Joel whom Paul quoted in v. 13, saying, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (2:32). Noting a progression of steps necessary to reach “whoever,” Paul highlights God’s commission to all Christians to go and preach the gospel. Preaching begins with God’s calling of those who are commissioned to take the gospel to the world (Matt. 28:19-20). Then that preached message rings in the ears of those who hear the truth about Jesus and believe that He is the Messiah, the Christ. Those that are compelled to trust in Christ for salvation then call upon Him to save them, and they are subsequently declared righteous by God.

The beginning of the entire process concerns God who sends forth those He chooses to save—all of whom are called to preach the gospel. Sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, to proclaim the gospel, Jesus appointed apostles, or “sent ones.” As eyewitnesses to Christ’s baptism, ministry, and resurrection (cf. Acts 1:21-22), both their oral and written testimonies comprise the foundation of the Church, Christ being the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:19-22). These apostles, to include Paul, started churches and appointed elders to oversee them. These churches have, throughout history, sent out those who are truly saved by preparing them for gospel ministry. These are the ones that Paul spoke of, quoting from Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” Isaiah’s context was for hope to the Israelites who would eventually go into Babylonian exile but who would later be told that they would return to their land. Those who brought this good news were beautiful in the sight of the exiles. So, if those who proclaimed the good news of release from Babylonian exile were welcomed, how much more those who would proclaim eternal salvation in Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ!

That salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ runs contrary to all other religions. Yet He who said such was a Man who fulfilled hundreds of OT prophecies, who died, and who was resurrected. Of course no one will trust in Jesus and call upon His name for salvation unless they hear His summons through a preacher (cf. 2 Cor. 5:20; 13:3)—those evangelists who proclaim the gospel. They are like the heralds of ancient times who, before the development of mass media, went into the city marketplaces and squares with the task to inform everyone about various news and entertainment shows being put together. In going to these populated places, the role of the herald was vital for important information to be spread. So, saving faith must be preached by heralds of the gospel, always containing the revealed word of God.

Food for Thought

If everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved, then it is vital that all have a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. No one believes in someone or something they’ve never heard. Our churches today, insofar as we are obedient to the commission of Christ to take the gospel to the world (cf. Matt. 28:19-20), must therefore be about the task of equipping saints and sending them out into the harvest. As John Stott said, “Christ sends heralds; heralds preach; people hear; hearers believe; believers call; and those who call are saved.” If churches fail to equip the saints for the ministry of evangelism through the teaching of Scripture, there will be no heralds of the gospel. With no gospel-preaching, folks will never hear the voice of Jesus. And if they never hear Jesus’ words, they will not believe in Him. Consequently, they will never call upon Him and be saved. Perhaps God has someone out there waiting for you to preach to them?