Unbelief and
Doubt
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God’s
Attitude Toward Unbelief
What warning is given
in the Bible concerning unbelief?
“See to it,
brothers, that none of you has a
sinful, unbelieving heart that turns
away from the living God.”
Hebrews 3:12.
In whom does the Lord
have no pleasure?
“But my righteous
one will live by faith. And if he
shrinks back, I will not be
pleased with him.” Hebrews
10:38.
Against what are we
warned when rebuked of God?
“And you have
forgotten that word of encouragement
that addresses you like sons: “My
son do not make light of the
Lord’s discipline, and do not
lose heart when he rebukes you.”
Hebrews 12:5.
Whom does the Lord
chasten?
“Because the
Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts
as a son.” Verse 6.
Examples
of, and Lessons from, Unbelief
What kind of report
did the ten spies bring back
concerning the Promised Land?
“And they spread
among the Israelites a bad report
about the land they had explored.
They said, “The land we explored
devours those living in it. Al the
people we saw are of great
size.” Numbers 13:32.
What
did Caleb say of the ability of
Israel to take it?
“The Caleb
silenced the people before Moses and
said, “We should go up and take
possession of the land, for we can
certainly do it.” Verse 30.
What
did the ten spies say?
“But the men who
had gone up with him said, “We
can’t attack those people; they
are stronger than we are.”
Verse 31.
Why
did many fail to enter into
God’s rest anciently?
“And to whom did
God swear that they would never enter
his rest if not to those who have
disobeyed? So we see that they
were not able to enter, because of
their unbelief.”
Hebrews 3:18,19.
How does the Apostle
Paul speak of the unbelieving ones
who failed to enter Canaan?
“And with whom
was angry for forty years? Was it
not with those who sinned, whose
bodies fell in the desert?”
Verse 17.
What
practical lesson should we learn from
their perverse course?
“Therefore, since
the promised of entering his rest
still stands, let us be careful
that none of you be found to have
fallen short of it.” Hebrews
4:1.
Note – God does
not change. If He was grieved at the
unbelief of the Israelites, and
refused them admittance to Canaan in
consequence, He cannot permit us to
enter the heavenly rest as long as we
indulge in unbelief.
What
should all labor to do?
“Let us
therefore, make every effort to
enter that rest, that no one will
fall by following their example of
disobedience.” Verse 11.
When told of the
disciples’ failure to heal an
afflicted son, what did Christ say of
that generation?
“O
unbelieving generation,”
Jesus replied, “how long
shall I stay with you? How long shall
I put up with you? Bring the boy to
me.” Mark 9:19.
What did Christ say to
Thomas because he did not believe the
testimony of his brethren concerning
His resurrection?
“Then he said to
Thomas, “Put your fingers
here; see my hands. Reach out your
hand and put it in my side. Stop
doubting and believe.”
John 20:27.
Note – The Lord
rebuked Thomas for his unbelief,
because he would not accept the
testimony of so many credible
witnesses who had seen Him. How much
more reprehensible is the unbelief
which holds out against the present
“cloud of witnesses” of
prophecy fulfilled and fulfilling!
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