What did Paul mean in this statement to the church in Rome? What is the context of Romans 10:17? Can faith be so easily accessible?

The former Pharisee Paul was well versed in the Old Testament, and when he addressed Jews, he often referenced passages from renown prophets. While it is more work, a good method of study is to observe what Old Testament passages Paul cited and the context he intended with his message to the New Testament church in Rome.

Before Paul states, "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ," he makes a reference to Moses' indication of "righteousness based on the Law" in a contrast to "righteousness based on faith" (Rom 10:5-6). This contrast emphasizes the human failure of keeping one's commitment to the Law and maintaining righteousness in God's eyes. By speaking of Jesus Christ in the context of Moses and the Law (Rom 10:6-10), the apostle associates Jesus Christ with the word of God (Deut 30:12-14).

The association of Jesus Christ with the word of God is precisely what the apostle John wrote in the introduction of his gospel.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. (John 1:1-4)

With the Law, Moses writes that God's moral standard, taken to heart by the faithful, will bestow God's promises of blessing on the obedient (Deut 30:6-10). As the stewards of God's word, there is no excuse for not knowing how to be holy, "the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it." Because of the failure of the nation of Israel to uphold their covenant commitment, Paul writes of the implications of God's New Covenant, that Jesus Christ died for one's sins, and His resurrection was proof of eternal life that was available for those who believe in Jesus Christ's death in atonement. With that genuine faith, the Holy Spirit is bestowed, and together with the words of Jesus Christ, God's moral standard of holiness can be known. Because Jesus Christ fulfilled the purpose of the Law, God's word comes through Jesus Christ, "But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart'" (Rom 10:8).

This concept of faith, believing in the reality of God and placing a trust in His word and promises, is introduced by God Himself when He is making the Old Covenant:

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. (Ex 19:3-8)

In like manner, when His Father is inaugurating the New Covenant, Jesus seeks to establish the reality of His Father through the historical reality of Himself being present on earth who human beings can see, hear and touch; faith is based on the truth of Jesus Christ's real existence:

As Paul writes, "the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom 10:9)," he writes within the context of the Great Commission (Matt 28:16-20) and the fact that Jesus is in the Believer (Rom 8:10; 2 Cor 13:5; Gal 2:20) and through the Believer, the world sees and hears Jesus Christ.

For Jews, Paul's reference to Isaiah is a reference to Isaiah's messianic prophecy; Isaiah's good news is the good news of Jesus Christ. With faith in God, holiness and righteousness is no longer based on one's compliance to the Law but to a trust in Jesus' sacrifice and words.

Despite the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the availability of salvation to all, Paul states that many will not pay attention to the good news. With his quotation of Isaiah, he is referring to the same attitude that people had towards the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah's time.

By preaching the gospel to all who hear, faith is simply believing in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and placing a trust in the good news that our sins are forgiven. This was a foreign concept to the Jews who were conditioned to maintain their righteousness (holiness) by complying to the Law.

As once the Pharisee Saul, Paul was fully cognizant of the history of the Jews. God emphasized the relationship between "hearing" and "doing" (Ex 19:5-8; Deut 28:1-2; 30:11-14). The conditional Mosaic Covenant invoked a human being's responsibility of hearing (and doing) the word of God, and through this relationship, the nation of Israel became the "people of the Law."

Paul knew that the figurative phrase "hard heart" described an obstinacy towards God's call and command. Proverbs characterized the ungodly as hard hearted or stiff necked for their steadfast refusal to listen to God (Prov 28:14; 29:1); unbelief was at the core of a "hard heart" (Ps 95:8-11).

Paul knew that despite being chosen as God's own people (Gen 17:7; Ex 19:5-6), the Jews hardened their hearts (2 Chron 36:13; Zech 7:12), which the prophet Isaiah confronted the nation of Israel for in their failure to listen to the word of God.

Because the nation of Israel no longer wanted to listen to God, they would be unable to (Isa 6:9-10). God's word would still be proclaimed; but, they would be unable to understand (Isa 28:12-13). God's judgment would be the destruction of the nation (Isa 6:11-13), and it occurred with the Babylonian Exile (2 Chron. 36:17-20).

It is in this context that Paul continues his argument to the church in Rome that, while the name of Jesus is not mentioned explicitly in the Old Testament, the prophets of God did speak of Jesus Christ.

From the very beginning, when the Law was established, the song of Moses prophesized that the nation of Israel would forget about God and fail in their covenant commitments. Instead they would worship idols and make God jealous, and in return, God would make the nation jealous when He makes other nations His people.

Paul cites this passage as a reminder of what was happening: Gentiles are coming to faith and becoming God's elect, and the Jews should too.

And despite their history of covenant infidelity, God did not forsake them in the course of His commitment to the promises He made to Abraham.