THE PENALTY OF UNBELIEF
By W. G. Guy
NOTHING CAN HOLD BACK WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED EXCEPT UNBELIEF
Matthew 13:54-58 – And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
God made provision through Jesus Christ to provide us with all that we could possibly need.
Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
This provision is not only for forgiveness and salvation, but also for healing and deliverance from the oppression of evil spirits (demons).
Matthew 17:18-20 – And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Believing God, His Word and what the Lord Jesus Christ said provides the benefits of what God has promised. Failure to believe and trust His Word is a failure to receive what God has provided through Jesus and His Word. The importance of faith and believing is repeated over and over in scripture. If it a statement in scripture is said more than once then it is vitally important.
Habakkuk 2:3-4 – For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Here a prophet received a vision of what is to be fulfilled beginning at the coming of Jesus and we are told to wait for it to come to pass. Carnal man does not accept such things because they are not humanly understood – but the just shall receive these things by faith.
Romans 1:16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The gospel message reveals all that God has provided through Jesus Christ; to deny all His wonderful provision is denying the whole and complete gospel message. Those who deny any part or the gospel will obviously not have access to that part that God has provided because it must be received by faith.
Galatians 3:11 – But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Living a godly life under the law, or human works and efforts, does not qualify anyone to receive what God has freely offered that we obtain through faith. Such human effort is considered to be sin – human attempts to obtain what God has already provided in Christ.
Romans 14:23 – And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Unbelief has the same penalty as sin because you cannot receive anything from God without faith (and faithfulness). Unbelief and sin separates you from God, this means that you do not enjoy divine fellowship with the Savior, the Healer, the Deliverer, or the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 – Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:)
While living our mortal lives here on earth we are to be cognizant of His presence with us and live accordingly being faithful to Him and His Word.
Hebrews 10:38-39 – Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
To be on the receiving end of all that God has provided we are instructed to simply trust God and believe what He and His Son, Jesus, said.
John 6:28-29 – Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Too many people simply do not believe! Unbelief denies what God has provided and goes contrary to His Word.
Hebrews 11:1 & 6 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ….But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The penalty of unbelief is you do not receive what God has provided since you don't believe or accept it. The question is, do you want the penalty for unbelief and lose out on what God has provided, or do you prefer the reward that comes from belief in Him and His Word through faith and faithfulness?
Remember: NOTHING CAN HOLD BACK WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED EXCEPT UNBELIEF – Selah (think on that)!
By W. G. Guy
NOTHING CAN HOLD BACK WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED EXCEPT UNBELIEF
Matthew 13:54-58 – And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
God made provision through Jesus Christ to provide us with all that we could possibly need.
Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
This provision is not only for forgiveness and salvation, but also for healing and deliverance from the oppression of evil spirits (demons).
Matthew 17:18-20 – And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Believing God, His Word and what the Lord Jesus Christ said provides the benefits of what God has promised. Failure to believe and trust His Word is a failure to receive what God has provided through Jesus and His Word. The importance of faith and believing is repeated over and over in scripture. If it a statement in scripture is said more than once then it is vitally important.
Habakkuk 2:3-4 – For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Here a prophet received a vision of what is to be fulfilled beginning at the coming of Jesus and we are told to wait for it to come to pass. Carnal man does not accept such things because they are not humanly understood – but the just shall receive these things by faith.
Romans 1:16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The gospel message reveals all that God has provided through Jesus Christ; to deny all His wonderful provision is denying the whole and complete gospel message. Those who deny any part or the gospel will obviously not have access to that part that God has provided because it must be received by faith.
Galatians 3:11 – But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Living a godly life under the law, or human works and efforts, does not qualify anyone to receive what God has freely offered that we obtain through faith. Such human effort is considered to be sin – human attempts to obtain what God has already provided in Christ.
Romans 14:23 – And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Unbelief has the same penalty as sin because you cannot receive anything from God without faith (and faithfulness). Unbelief and sin separates you from God, this means that you do not enjoy divine fellowship with the Savior, the Healer, the Deliverer, or the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 – Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:)
While living our mortal lives here on earth we are to be cognizant of His presence with us and live accordingly being faithful to Him and His Word.
Hebrews 10:38-39 – Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
To be on the receiving end of all that God has provided we are instructed to simply trust God and believe what He and His Son, Jesus, said.
John 6:28-29 – Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Too many people simply do not believe! Unbelief denies what God has provided and goes contrary to His Word.
Hebrews 11:1 & 6 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ….But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The penalty of unbelief is you do not receive what God has provided since you don't believe or accept it. The question is, do you want the penalty for unbelief and lose out on what God has provided, or do you prefer the reward that comes from belief in Him and His Word through faith and faithfulness?
Remember: NOTHING CAN HOLD BACK WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED EXCEPT UNBELIEF – Selah (think on that)!
