Hebrews 1:1-3; Romans 10:13-17 , I Peter 2:9-12 ,; I Peter 3:14-16
What are the most important presuppositions for Christianity? One may be found in Genesis 1:3, “And God said…” That God speaks to humankind is foundational to our faith. That God acts is of great importance but unless God speaks, how can we know what the actions of God mean?
Why does God speak? He speaks so that we might know Him. We can know something about God by looking at His acts, i.e., creation. Romans 1 indicates that in addition to knowing something about God, we are responsible for what we know, that is we are “guilty before God” because we know something about God and yet reject that knowledge and follow after all manner of sinful behavior.
This, however, is not the word of God. Adam knew God by His voice not His creation. God spoke to Noah. God spoke to Abraham. Hebrews 1:1-3a says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” God speaks to humankind through humans, ultimately through the greatest of humans, His Son, Jesus Christ.
This is why we believe (Rom 10:13-17). God has spoken to us through Christ as revealed in His Word. This is why we share what we believe. We are sent by Christ to proclaim His Word. This is also the basis for defending our faith. We are not trying to prove to the world we are right, but rather that we have received mercy (See 1 Pet 3:14-16 & 1 Pet 2:9-12).
Without the Word we do not know Christ. Without Christ there is no faith and without the faith we have nothing to share or to defend.
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