How does saving faith actually come to a person?

In Romans 10, Paul lays out a chain of unavoidable questions: "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?" In this study, Dr. Toby Holt traces that chain to its point: faith is not conjured from within, nor absorbed from the air — it comes through the Word of God proclaimed. If you have come to saving faith, it is because someone told you about Jesus.

Dr. Holt shows the apologetic and missionary weight of this: the gospel is "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16), and God has chosen to spread it through sent messengers. Paul's heart broke for his fellow Israelites, and that same burden now rests on every believer who has received the message: you have been sent to share the same gospel that reached you.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Paul's heart break for his Jewish contemporaries? Because they had zeal for God but not according to knowledge, seeking to establish their own righteousness rather than submitting to the righteousness of God in Christ.

2. What did Israel need, and is God finished with His covenant people? They needed to hear and believe the gospel. Paul insists God has not cast away His people; salvation comes to Jew and Gentile alike through faith in Christ.

3. Why is the gospel called "the power of God unto salvation"? Because it is the God-appointed means by which He saves. Faith comes by hearing the Word, so the proclamation of Christ is not optional but essential.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." — Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This study is part of New Geneva Theological Seminary's teaching on apologetics and defending the Christian faith. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Who is your neighbor?

That was the question that Jesus asked the proud, arrogant lawyer. The man said that he’d kept the law. The man said that he’d loved his neighbor as himself. But Jesus knew better. Jesus knew that was only true if he neutered the word of any meaning. And so Jesus asked him, “who is your neighbor?”

Join us as we consider the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan.’

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why did the lawyer try to test or trap Jesus in Verse 25?

B) What was a ‘Samaritan,’ and what was their reputation?

C) What does ‘mercy ministry’ look like to those in need?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Does the church need revival? Does it need reformation?

Throughout history, there have been a number of ‘revivals’ when God’s people have increased in size, health, and ministry. And in every single case, these revivals involved a renewed emphasis on God’s Word. In today’s study of 2 Kings 23, we’ll see that one of the most famous revivals in history came about after the ‘rediscovery’ of the law during the reign of King Josiah.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why did the ancient Israelites tumble into sin so frequently?

B) What does a biblical ‘revival’ look like? How can we be sure?

C) What would a reformation of your own practices involve?

Life is short. Act accordingly.

In today’s study, we consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians, in which he referred to our mortal bodies as “earthen vessels.” In other words, Paul likened our human bodies to pottery – easily broken, and not built to last. Now, is that a depressing thought? Well, it would be, except that Paul said that these “earthen vessels” house an eternal treasure, which can never be lost or destroyed. Join us as we consider this treasure further, in today’s study of 2 Corinthians 4.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

1) What is the difference between what’s ‘eternal’ and ‘temporal?’

2) What does it mean to be a good ‘spiritual’ investor?

3) What did Christ say about laying up treasures in Heaven?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

When Exodus began, God’s people were laboring over a building project – Pharaoh’s. But by the time Exodus ends, an entirely different building project is in view (the Tabernacle). In our final study of the Book of Exodus, we consider the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a game changer for the people of Israel. With that said, what was this tent designed for? What was its purpose?

Other Questions That We’ll Answer: A) Why was God so specific about the Tabernacle’s construction? B) Why was Moses not permitted to enter into the Tabernacle? C) Ultimately, what did the Tabernacle point toward?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Are you and I able to look upon God’s face? Why or why not? What about when we’re in Heaven – will we be able to look upon God then?

In today’s text, we’ll consider Moses’ request to see God’s face. And we’ll also consider God’s response, and how He safely tucked Moses into the ‘cleft in the rock.’

Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What did the ‘cleft in the rock’ typify? What was it all about? B) Why did God say He would not go with the Israelites in Exodus 33? C) Why was Moses so concerned by this? Why did they need God’s presence?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

The ‘golden calf’ incident is a dark blot in Israelite history. While coming down the mountain, Moses heard the sound of warfare from below. But he soon found that it wasn’t warfare – it was singing and adulation toward an idol. The people had broken God’s law. Terribly. Egregiously. And to demonstrate what they’d done, Moses shattered the 10 Commandments before their eyes.

Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What were the people thinking? And why did Aaron help? B) Were the people trying to replace Jehovah altogether? C) What was the immediate punishment that they received?

Does God care how we worship Him? According to Exodus 28, the answer is YES. In the last fifteen chapters of Exodus, we read about the construction of the Tabernacle. In these chapters, God gave the people some meticulous, specific details for the Tabernacle’s components and design. He also gave specific details for the clothing of the priests – including a phrase they were to wear on their foreheads, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”

Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What was the significance of God meeting with His people in the tabernacle? B) In what way did the Tabernacle reflect or anticipate Heaven? C) How are you and I considered “priests” as NT believers?

What was the Ark Of The Covenant? In Exodus 25, God told the Israelites to construct an ‘ark,’ and to place the ark in the Tabernacle. But what was the purpose of the Ark? And what was the significance of the ‘mercy seat’ that was on its top? These questions will be the focus of today’s study.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What do we know about the ark’s construction and origins?

B) What was the ark’s history as it was moved from place to place?

C) And finally, where is the ark today? Egypt? Ethiopia? Where?

The Israelites had seen ‘animal sacrifices’ before. On many occasions, they’d seen blood on the altar. However, they’d never been sprinkled by that blood (the way that Moses did in Exodus 24). Why did Moses do this? And what was the point of this “blood oath” or covenant that the people had entered into with God? That will be the focus of today’s study.