Snap Shot
From Alphabricks Sin we saw that sin is a transgression of God’s law which, in turn, separates us from Him. The root of sin is unbelief. Salvation is experienced—heaven is gained and hell is shunned—by overcoming unbelief:
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18 ESV).
Unbelief as the Roadblock to Salvation
“Do not misunderstand. Hereafter, no one will go to hell because of many different other sins. All who enter hell do so for but one sin—that of not believing in the Son of God: “He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3.18). Men are judged not because of killing or committing arson; they are judged for but one reason—they do not believe in the name of the Son of God. Not believing in the name of the Son of God is tantamount to not having a proper relationship with God.”[1]
Thus, it is not any particular sin that one practices that prohibits a right relationship with God the Father through His Son, it all comes down to a single word (sin): unbelief.
Again, Nee speaks so succinctly,
“A sinner remains unsaved not because Christ cannot save him or because Christ has not shed His blood to redeem him, but because he will not believe. If a person really believes in God’s word, glorious days will come to that one.”[2]
Unbelief as a Believer’s Obstacle
In Believing His Word
After salvation, unbelief is still a factor in one’s walk with the Lord. It sounds odd, but the faith exercised in overcoming unbelief for the personal salvation experience is not automatically accessible in a believer’s walk. While principally it is, practically we all must work through particular areas of unbelief in embracing God’s promises for us.
The Apostles are prime examples of such:
“Afterward he [Jesus] appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen” (Mark 16:14 ESV).
Even after personally walking, talking, and dining with the Lord, the Eleven still had to walk through their unbelief regarding His resurrection and the Word they had heard concerning it several times before.
In Receiving His Blessings
In the gospel of Mark a man brought his demon-possessed son to the apostles to be delivered—and the son was not healed. Coming down the mountain, Jesus saw and then entered the situation:
“And Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’’ (Mark 9:21-24 ESV).
While there are times that personal experience may help us exercise faith in overcoming unbelief; other times all we can do is cry out to the Lord, “Help my unbelief!”
In Having His Rest
The writer of Hebrews stated:
“So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19 ESV)
as he referenced the cause of Israel’s inability to initially enter the Promised Land.
In comparing the rest of the Promised Land to a believer’s rest in Christ, the writer continued,
“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:11 KJV).
Labour here means to “give diligence” and for today’s believer the Scripture is saying give diligence to faith, for unbelief keeps us from entering the rest in salvation (generally) and in personal situations in particular:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29 ESV).
Conclusion
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 ESV) is true whether we seek Him, without unbelief, for salvation or the blessings in His promises.
