Unbelief, or the failure to trust God, holds back his blessing and leads to condemnation and spiritual death.
The nature of unbelief
Not trusting God
because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.
Rebelling against God
Hebrews 3:12 See also Psalm 78:40; Hebrews 3:16
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
Disobeying God
Hebrews 11:31 NIV footnote. See also Ephesians 2:2; Hebrews 3:18–19, Hebrews 4:11
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
Questioning God's truthfulness
1 John 5:10 See also Psalm 106:24; 1 John 1:10
Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
Unbelief as the result of the devil's work
Taking away God's word
Luke 8:12 parallels Matthew 13:19, Mark 4:15
The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Causing spiritual blindness
2 Corinthians 4:4 See also Romans 1:21; 2 Corinthians 4:3; Ephesians 4:18
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Unbelief as the result of not belonging to God
John 10:26 See also John 5:38, John 8:44–45, John 12:37–40; 1 Corinthians 2:14
But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
Unbelief hinders Jesus Christ's miracles
Matthew 13:58 parallel Mark 6:5–6
And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.
The consequences of persistent unbelief
Failure to receive God's reward
Hebrews 3:19 The “rest” that God's people enjoyed on entering the promised land is here taken to symbolise the final reward prepared by God for his people. See also Hebrews 4:1–2, Hebrews 4:6; Jude 1:5
So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.
Exclusion from the people of God
Romans 11:20 See also Hebrews 6:4–6
That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
Death in sin
John 8:24 See also Psalm 106:43; Mark 4:12; Acts 10:43
That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
God's wrath
John 3:36 See also Romans 1:18, Romans 2:5, Romans 2:8
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
Condemnation by God
John 3:18 See also Mark 16:16; Luke 12:46; John 12:48; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; Revelation 21:8
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.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.