What role does faith play in receiving God's word?

Faith comes by hearing, as Paul explains in Romans 10:17, and it is through the effectual working of God's word that sinners are brought to faith. When God's word is proclaimed, it is not merely a message of human opinion but the very truth of God, actively working in the hearts of those who hear it. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, we see that the reception of God's word leads to genuine faith and transformation. Therefore, faith is both a gift from God and a means through which believers respond to His word, acknowledging its divine authority and embracing its implications for their lives.