Easy To Believe?

"And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13: 58)

"And he marvelled because of their unbelief." (Mark 6: 6)

"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." (Mark 16: 14)

The sin of unbelief! The root cause of all man's ills! Man's rejection of the gospel and word of God is proof of the depravity of his heart and soul. He has "...an evil heart of unbelief..." (Hebrews 3: 12) Man, because of sin, has an "obstinate" heart. (Deuteronomy 2: 30; Isaiah 48: 4)

"Obstinate" means - "perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion," and "not easily subdued, remedied, or removed." (Merriam-Webster)

Such is the state of the heart of the sinner. Because of the "evil heart of unbelief" sinners are well described as - "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Timothy 3: 6)

It is as easy for a sinner to change his unbelieving heart as it is for him to create a universe. The unbelief that resides in the unrenewed heart manifests itself in violent resistance to the truth of God.

"Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was." (II Timothy 3: 7-9)

It is because the heart and mind are corrupt and evil that it therefore is opposed to and strongly resists divine revelation, especially that part called "gospel."

Concerning the true knowledge of God and salvation, man is a "reprobate," one who is wholly devoid of judgment about spiritual things. It is the folly of sin. Spiritually speaking, the sinner is "senseless." His unbelief and hardness of heart are amazing!

"Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." (Titus 1: 15)

Unbelief of the truth of the gospel, refusal to believe in Christ, are the results of the filthy and depraved state of the inner man, of the sinner's heart, mind, and conscience.

"Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6: 43-45)

"But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (vs. 64, 65)

Jesus said that "no one can come to him," that is, to "believe" on him and in the gospel message, without the exercise of omnipotence. It is a work that requires the same power of God as was used by him in creation and in resurrecting the dead. "No man CAN come," and will not come, unless the power of God is exerted in "drawing" the heart of the sinner! It must be "given" to a man to believe. His faith must be the work of God in his heart. He cannot make himself believe but must look to the Lord, the "author" of "faith" (Hebrews 12: 2), to give and create it.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21: 8)

Friend, does your heart resist the truth of God's revelation? Do you find it impossible to "believe" on Christ? Then, you must recognize your need of revelation, of mercy from the Lord, for only he can make one a believer. Come to him and humbly beg - "Lord, Help my unbelief!" (Mark 9: 24)