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

It does not matter who we are. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (10:13)

And Romans 1-11 make it clear that everyone needs to call on the name of the Lord because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (3:23)

But…

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? (10:14-15)

And yet, they have not all obeyed the gospel. (10:16)

In the language of Paul’s day, the word “obey” is from the root of the verb “to hear”. It meant to place one’s self under what one heard so as to surrender to it. It was used of hearing the door and getting up to open it. It is hearing with consequent action. In regard to the Gospel, it is hearing about Jesus and believing in Him so that the Gospel is obeyed.

Growing up in church I heard the Gospel regularly without hearing the Gospel. Until the night I heard God and hearkened to His voice by believing in His Son. Hearing, I finally heard.

Hearing, do you hear?

“None so deaf as those that will not hear.” (attributed to Matthew Henry)