The preachers quoted here treat unbelief as a sin and not a misfortune: an insult to God's truthfulness and the root of other evils in the heart. They describe it as the will's rejection of truth, as the oldest disease of fallen human nature, and as giving up on God's promises.
The New Testament word is apistia, faithlessness or disbelief.1 Hebrews warns, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12), and says of Israel in the wilderness, "they could not enter in because of unbelief" (3:19). J. C. Ryle wrote, "Unbelief is the oldest of the many spiritual diseases by which fallen human nature is afflicted."2
Scripture treats unbelief as sin, not as bad luck or mere ignorance. The Spirit convicts the world "of sin, because they believe not on me" (John 16:9). "He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (3:18). The reason is that it contradicts God: "he that believeth not God hath made him a liar" (1 John 5:10).
Its root is moral as well as mental. "Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Jesus asked, "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another?" (5:44). Paul says people "hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).
Believers are not free of it. A father cried, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24). Peter, sinking, was asked, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31). Unbelief has consequences even among those near to Christ: in his own country "he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (13:58).
Writers distinguish doubt from unbelief. Doubt is being in two minds, a faith that is troubled, where unbelief is a settled refusal. Scripture is gentle with the one and severe with the other: "of some have compassion, making a difference" (Jude 22).
The cure is the word and the sight of Christ. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Believers are to run "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), and to "exhort one another daily ... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (3:13).
- Strong's Greek 570, apistía: "faithlessness, i.e. (negatively) disbelief (lack of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness...".
- J.C. Ryle, "Unbelief a Marvel" (sermon).
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Unbelief is the oldest of the many spiritual diseases by which fallen human nature is afflicted.
J.C. Ryle
in Unbelief a Marvel
Read in context
Unbelief is a great sin; for it is an insult to the truth of God.
Favell Lee Mortimer
in Luke 1:18-23. the Unbelief of Zacharias.
Read in context
Unbelief is the root and the essence of all evils in the heart.
John Piper
in Battling the Unbelief of Anxiety
Listen at 6:31
And unbelief is the will's rejection of the truth that he's faced with.
Rolfe Barnard
in A Hindrance to God's Mighty Works: Unbelief
Listen at 23:14
Unbelief is also the root of all bitterness, rebellion and coldness.
David Wilkerson
in What Happens When Unbelief Sets In?
Read in context
So unbelief is insulting God who promised so many things.
Annie Poonen
in Unbelief is a Serious Sin
Listen at 40:59
Unbelief is folly because it is inconsistent with our own professions.
C.H. Spurgeon
in Folly of Unbelief
Read in context
Unbelief is such a terrible sin and it costs such a horrible price.
Chuck Smith
in Tragic Price of Unbelief
Listen at 32:04
Unbelief is when we run out of patience, we give up on the promises of God.
E.A. Johnston
in Falling Into Unbelief
Listen at 7:10
What Scripture says
- Hebrews 3:12 an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God
- Mark 9:24 Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief
- John 3:18 he that believes not is condemned already
- Matthew 13:58 not many mighty works there because of their unbelief
- Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
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