Topical Bible: Unbelief: They Who are Guilty of Shall Die in Their Sins

◄ Unbelief: They Who are Guilty of Shall Die in Their Sins ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Unbelief, in the biblical context, refers to the rejection or lack of faith in God, His promises, and His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. It is a condition of the heart that leads individuals away from the truth and light of the Gospel, resulting in spiritual death and eternal separation from God.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible consistently warns against unbelief, emphasizing its grave consequences. In the Gospel of John, Jesus explicitly states the peril of unbelief: "Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). This passage underscores the necessity of faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Savior to avoid dying in one's sins.

Old Testament Warnings

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of the consequences of unbelief. The Israelites, despite witnessing God's miraculous works, often fell into unbelief. In Numbers 14:11, the LORD expresses His frustration: "How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?" . Their unbelief led to a generation perishing in the wilderness, unable to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:22-23).

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues to highlight the dangers of unbelief. In Hebrews 3:12-13, believers are warned: "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" . This passage emphasizes the communal responsibility to encourage faith and guard against the deceitfulness of sin that leads to unbelief.

Jesus' Ministry and Unbelief

Throughout His ministry, Jesus encountered unbelief, even among those who witnessed His miracles. In Mark 6:5-6, it is recorded that Jesus "could not do any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them. And He was amazed at their unbelief" . This illustrates how unbelief can hinder the work of God and the reception of His blessings.

Eternal Consequences

The ultimate consequence of unbelief is eternal separation from God. Revelation 21:8 lists the "unbelieving" among those who will face the second death: "But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death" . This stark warning serves as a call to faith and repentance.

Call to Faith

The Bible calls individuals to turn from unbelief and embrace faith in Jesus Christ. In John 3:18, the promise and warning are clear: "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son" . Faith in Christ is presented as the only means of escaping the condemnation that comes from unbelief.

Conclusion

While the Bible presents unbelief as a serious spiritual condition with eternal consequences, it also offers hope through faith in Jesus Christ. The call to believe is a central theme throughout Scripture, urging individuals to trust in God's promises and receive the gift of eternal life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 8:24
I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Light of the World.
... were reserved for those who were guilty of the ... Because "they are from beneath,"
"of the world." The only ... am, ye shall die in your sins." Their unbelief was due ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the light of the world.htm

Against those who Fancy that in the Judgment of God all the ...
... God's angels), and will intercede for the guilty, both men ... image of His Son, in order
that they might be confounded by the bitterness of unbelief, and might ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 24 against those who fancy.htm

Adam's Sin
... as Cicero says of parricide, He who is guilty of it ... They believed not that they should
die; they could not be ... Thus, by unbelief they made God a liar; nay, which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 adams sin.htm

John Chapter viii. 21-25
... and light, as between faith and unbelief, as between ... Christ's blood as a gift, that
they might drink it ... their salvation, rather than be held guilty of shedding ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxxviii john chapter viii.htm

For whom did Christ Die?
... make intercession for them." O ye guilty ones, believe ... Had it been otherwise they
might have pleaded, "We ... expect mercy if you persist in such proud unbelief? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/for whom did christ die.htm

John iii. 17
... that they know God, but in works they deny Him ... but having believed once, he is not
chastised for unbelief. ... the delay advantageth at all the guilty, except he ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxviii john iii 17.htm

Characters and Names of Messiah
... and supreme; and they would be guilty of idolatry ... power of temptation and remaining
unbelief, have, at ... repeated and long-continued warnings, they die as suddenly ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon ix characters and names.htm

The Unbeliever's Unhappy Condition
... The coolness with which they pleaded "not guilty" has been ... In certain cases, the
root of this unbelief lies in another direction. It is fed by pride. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the unbelievers unhappy condition.htm

The Spirit not Striving Always.
... being childlike and trustful, they are full of trouble, and solicitude, and in fact
of unbelief. And they see, also, that this is a horribly guilty state of ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xvi the spirit not striving.htm

"The Eternity of Hell-Torments"
... thou, O worm, what blasphemy thou are guilty of, in ... yonder in those blessed regions
where they fit, clothed ... root of bitterness springing up of unbelief: but on ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the eternity of hell-torments.htm