We find these words several times in the letters addressed to the seven churches of Asia as recorded in Revelation 2,3. Briefly let us look at the first one, that being the church at Ephesus. They were a hard working group of Christians. They took a stand against evil and those who promoted evil. Jesus, then, through John warns them they had left their first love (Rev. 2:4). Then, in verse 7, we find the words of our title. The use of the word churches would, therefore, imply that not only Ephesus but other congregations as well should be able to read the message to Ephesus.
The use of the word “hear” implies something to do with the heart of the listener. Paul, writing to the same church, told them that when they read what he had written they would understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:4). Understanding what Paul had written required them to know the words Paul uses and make proper application. It is, therefore, not just reading but rather comprehension of what one has read. Those in Berea received the word with all readiness of mind (Acts 17:11). The readiness of mind means they were ready to accept what Paul taught them.
Let us increase our knowledge in this area. What follows in Acts 17:11 which helps us to understand the wording of “readiness of mind” is that they searched the scriptures daily to verify what they had heard. Why did they search the scriptures? The scriptures, Old Testament, is what Paul had to teach them the truth. They could go back to the Old Testament prophecies and match them up with the life of Christ. Once they matched them up, they knew that what Paul had taught them was the truth.
How do we use this knowledge for us today? Did the Holy Spirit guide them to the prophecies about Jesus or did they come to those prophecies based on what Paul taught? If it requires a guiding by the Holy Spirit how then can we use it today to come to faith? Faith is based on evidence (Heb. 11:1). If the Spirit must guide me to prophecies or any other part of scripture, then only those who get the guiding can be saved. On the other hand if those in Berea came to certain prophecies as a result of Paul’s teaching then I can come to faith when I accept that what Paul has taught is the truth.
Paul speaks about the Gentile world, before Christ being dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). They were walking according to the course of the world works in the children of disobedience (verse 2). How then did they cease to be children of disobedience? In verse 7 we are told that God’s grace was given in kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. How then did the Gentiles come to know about Jesus? A Gentile city called Corinth gives us insight. The Corinthians hearing, believed. Does it stop there? No, the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8). Paul said when he came into Corinth he was determined to not preach anything but Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Cor. 2:2).
In his first letter to them he reminded them if they kept in memory what he had preached, they could be saved (I Cor. 15:2). How then were they able to make application of prophecy? You see, Paul states that Jesus died, was buried and arose from the dead (verses 3,4). According to scripture would mean the Old Testament since that was the only Bible available. How then did those in Corinth come to faith?
Paul preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Were there prophecies in the Old Testament that spoke about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus? How, then, did the people in Corinth find those prophecies? Was it by the Holy Spirit guiding them to the prophecies or was it a result of Paul’s teachings? If it was a result of Paul’s teachings then it is something that I can come to believe in for the same reason they did (John 20:30,31).