Is Unbelief a Sin?

                                   "Does it sound reasonable to say that Jesus died for
                                    all persons, but that many are not saved only because
                                    they refuse to believe on Jesus?

                                    It may, at least until you think about the nature of that
                                   unbelief.  Is their unbelief a morally neutral choice,
                                   just believing or not believing?  Or is it a sin?

                                   The obvious answer is that unbelief is a sin, in fact
                                   the most damning of sins. 

                                   But this means that if we really believe that Jesus died
                                   for all sins, then He must have died for this sin too,
                                   and the result of this line of reasoning is that even the
                                   sin of unbelief will not keep a person out of heaven."
                                                                                  James Montgomery Boice


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          What does the Bible say about unbelief?  Is it a sin?  


                                                      "[The Holy Spirit said], ' ... They (the unfaithful of
                                                        Israel) always go astray in their heart; they have
                                                        not known my ways.  As I swore in my wrath,
                                                        they shall not enter my rest.' "

                                                        "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you
                                                        an evil, UNBELIEVING heart, leading you to
                                                        fall away from the living God.  But exhort one
                                                        another every day, as long as it is called 'today,'
                                                        that none of you may be hardened by the
                                                        deceitfulness of sin (unbelief)."
                                                                                                      Hebrews 3:11-13


                                                        "... And to whom did He swear that they would not
                                                        enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?
                                                        And so we see that they were unable to enter be-
                                                        cause of their unbelief."
                                                                                                      Hebrews 3:18-19


          Just as those Israelites, who didn't trust God, and  died in the wilderness, were victims
     of their own unbelief, anyone today who doesn't have faith in Jesus Christ will not
     enter His rest (His peace, assurance of salvation and a future home in heaven).
     God considers their unbelief sin.

                                                         "For good news came to us just as it did
                                                          to them, but the message they heard did
                                                          not benefit them, because they were not
                                                          united by faith with those who listened.
                                                          For we who have believed enter that rest,
                                                          as He has said.

                                                                                    'As I swore in my wrath,
                                                                                    They shall not enter my rest,'
                                                          although His works were finished from the
                                                          foundation of the world."
                                                                                                   Hebrews 4:2-3
                                                                                    


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          Anyone who is disobedient and does not follow God's commandments does not
     know Him or love Him.
    

                                                         "For this is the love of God,
                                                          that we keep His commandments."
                                                                                         1 John 5:3


          God commands everyone to believe in the Son for eternal life.  Those who don't,
     disobey Him, and will not have eternal life.  They are condemned because of their
     unbelief.


                                                          "Whoever believes in the Son has
                                                           eternal life; whoever does not
                                                           obey the Son shall not see life,
                                                           but the wrath of God remains on him."
                                                                                         John  3:36


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          Now that we've established that unbelief is a sin, let's go back to the question -
     "did Jesus die (atone) for all the sins of everyone in the world?

          Or did His death atone only for certain people? - those who place their trust
     in Him.

         Obviously, Jesus' atonement is effective only for those who believe.  Unbelievers
     are still in their sin, and stand condemned before God.


                                                      "Everyone who believes in Him is not
                                                       condemned, but everyone who does
                                                       not believe stands condemned already
                                                       because he has not believed in the name
                                                       of God's one and only Son."
                                                                                             John 3:18


          Jesus' atonement brings redemption, sanctification, reconciliation with God the
     Father, and justification only for those who believe.  All of these together add up
     to salvation - those who are redeemed, sanctified, reconciled with God the Father,
     and justified, are saved.

          This is how His death is effective or definite.  It saves His people.

          Does it sound reasonable that Jesus' death justifies, redeems, reconciles to God,
     sanctifies, and saves SOME  people, but others are only made saveable?  NO!

          Jesus came to save His people,

                                                 "[The angel told Joseph]. ' ... He will save His
                                                  people from their sins.' "
                                                                                       Matthew 1:21

          and that is what He accomplished with His life and death and resurrection.


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          Here's what Jesus' death accomplishes for His people.


                                                  "Since we have now been JUSTIFIED by His
                                                   blood, how much more shall we be SAVED
                                                   from God's wrath through Him!

                                                   For if, when we were God's enemies, we were
                                                   RECONCILED TO HIM THROUGH THE
                                                   DEATH OF HIS SON, how much more,
                                                   having been reconciled, shall we be SAVED
                                                   through His life!

                                                   Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God
                                                   through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom
                                                   we have now received RECONCILIATION."
                                                                                            Romans 5:9-11


                                                  "How much more, then will the BLOOD OF
                                                   CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit OFFERED
                                                   HIMSELF unblemished to God, cleanse our
                                                   consciences from acts that lead to death, so that
                                                   we may serve the living God!
                                                                                                      Hebrews 9:14

          Jesus intercedes for the people for whom He died!

                                                  "For this reason Christ is the mediator of
                                                   a new covenant, THAT THOSE WHO
                                                   ARE CALLED MAY RECEIVE THE
                                                   PROMISED ETERNAL INHERITANCE --
                                                   NOW THAT HE HAS DIED AS A RANSOM
                                                   TO SET THEM FREE FROM THE SINS
                                                   COMMITTED UNDER THE FIRST
                                                   COVENANT."
                                                                                              Hebrews 9:15


          He does NOT intercede for those who are not His, only the ones the Father
     gives Him.


                                                  "I pray for them.
                                                   I am not praying for the world,
                                                   but for those you have given me,
                                                   for they are yours.

                                                   All I have is yours, and all you
                                                   have is mine."
                                                                                         John 17:9-10a


          His people are made holy by His death.


                                                   "And by that will (God's), we have been
                                                    made holy through the sacrifice of the
                                                    body of Jesus Christ once for all (time).
                                                                                                Hebrews 10:10


         Christ's death brings salvation to His people.


                                                    "For Christ died for sins once for
                                                     all (time), the righteous for the
                                                     unrighteous, TO BRING YOU
                                                     TO GOD."
                                                                                            1 Peter 3:18


          Christ's death redeemed and purified "A PEOPLE THAT ARE HIS
     VERY OWN."


                                                     " ... our great God and Savior,
                                                      Jesus Christ, WHO GAVE HIMSELF
                                                      FOR US TO REDEEM US from all
                                                      wickedness and to purify for Himself
                                                      a people that are His very own, eager
                                                      to do what is good."
                                                                                       Titus 2:-13b-14


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                          "If Jesus died for the sins of ALL men, then why are not
                           all free from the punishment due because of their sins?

                           You answer, 'Because of their unbelief.'

                            I ask, 'Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not?
                            If it is, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it,
                            or He did not.

                            If He did, why must that hinder them more than their
                            other sins, for which He died?

                            If He did not (suffer the punishment for their sins),
                            He did not die for all their sins.' "
                                                                                 John Owen