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Unbelieving Believers?
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
Hebrews 3:12–15
People from many different cultures, backgrounds, languages, national identities, and regions have been saved through the centuries. But despite the differences, all of us have gotten saved in the exact same way. That is because there is only one way to salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Christians are often referred to as believers in recognition of the fact that we trust Christ by faith.
Yet even we who have trusted Christ as our Saviour, struggle with our belief from time to time. Even John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man ever born, went through a period of doubt: “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19).
During times of doubt, we are more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. When we fail to keep our faith strong, it has an impact on every part of our lives. The writer of Hebrews warns us that when our hearts are not believing, they will become hard, and we will be ensnared by sin. This is one reason that those who have served God for years may become entangled in sin. The roots of these great falls can usually be traced back to a lack of faith that was allowed to grow over time.
This is why it is so important that we give God’s Word continual entrance into our hearts and respond to it in faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Hebrews 3:12–15
People from many different cultures, backgrounds, languages, national identities, and regions have been saved through the centuries. But despite the differences, all of us have gotten saved in the exact same way. That is because there is only one way to salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Christians are often referred to as believers in recognition of the fact that we trust Christ by faith.
Yet even we who have trusted Christ as our Saviour, struggle with our belief from time to time. Even John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man ever born, went through a period of doubt: “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19).
During times of doubt, we are more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. When we fail to keep our faith strong, it has an impact on every part of our lives. The writer of Hebrews warns us that when our hearts are not believing, they will become hard, and we will be ensnared by sin. This is one reason that those who have served God for years may become entangled in sin. The roots of these great falls can usually be traced back to a lack of faith that was allowed to grow over time.
This is why it is so important that we give God’s Word continual entrance into our hearts and respond to it in faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Today’s Growth Principle:
The stronger the relationship you have with the Word of God, the stronger your faith will be.
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