What Does The Bible Say About Unbelief

It is essential for us Christians to be able to understand what unbelief means and what its consequences are. When we say unbelief, it is basically the refusal to believe. In theology, unbelief in God is the condition of unbelievers or people who refuse to believe in the One True God. The Bible tells us that unbelief involves spiritual blindness. Unbelievers have this determined refusal and resistance to trust in the power and existence of God. Being resistant to God means being resistant to the truth. Denying the Lord Jesus Christ means denying what is the truth. Jesus said in John 14:6, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Even the Apostle Paul understands what it means to be an unbeliever. He said in 1 Timothy 1:13, “even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.” By the mercy of God, he was able to believe. The passage tells us that it is by the mercy of God that we believe. It is God alone that can remove the scales from our eyes that blind us from what is the truth. Once God opens our hearts, we then start to see His amazing love for us. Our faith begins to grow, and we now see Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Becoming a believer is made possible because of the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that moves us from a position of unbelief to a position of faith.

Consequences of Unbelief

It is clear in the Bible that the unbelieving ones will not enter the Kingdom of God (Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”). The truth is that in our natural condition, all of us since the fall of Adam and Eve are characterized by unbelief. It is only by the grace of God and our belief in the works and person of Jesus Christ that we are rescued from sin and misery (Ephesians 2:8-10). You might see unbelievers who are happy and celebrating life, but the time will come when God will pour out His wrath against them. Unbelievers hate God and they treat Him as enemies. Their minds are governed by the flesh, and they are hostile toward God. They do not submit to God’s law, nor can they do so (Romans 8:6-11).

Believing and having faith in Jesus Christ is the only cure for unbelief. No matter how hard we rub our eyes, we still cannot have faith and belief in God if it is not by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). Christians are saved not by their own works or their free will but because of the grace of God. It is God Himself Who has changed our hearts. God gave us a heart of flesh instead of leaving it in its natural condition—like a stone, dead and unable to please Him (Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.). It is God who gives us new hearts, and it is He Who puts a new spirit in us.

Help My Unbelief

In Mark 9:24, we hear the cry of a father, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” Let us humble ourselves and depend on the grace of God. It is only by His power that we are able to see the truth. Confession is an important part of our faith. We need to confess our sins and at the same time receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. There are times when belief and unbelief can exist side by side but let us remind ourselves how powerful prayer is. Always remember that unbelief steals God of His glory in every way. There is only darkness in unbelief and this darkness often leads us mankind to sin. Let us enthrone our beliefs in God in our minds, hearts, and souls. Believe in Jesus Christ and share such beliefs with other people. Spread the Gospel of Christ to the unbelieving ones and have pity on their soul. Remember that you were also once an unbeliever. As you rejoice in the Glory of God, don’t forget to pray every day that you may be able to help unbelievers have faith by sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Christ.