The Terrible Sin Of Unbelief

Text: Matthew 13:53-58

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (07/14/02)

Introduction:   

I want to talk to you today about one of the worst sins in all of the Bible!!!

You may be shocked when you discover what it is, and that many Christians (most, if not all at some time) are guilty of this terrible sin.

I’m not speaking of murder, I’m not talking about adultery or fornication, I’m not talking about blasphemy, I’m not addressing the sin of drunkenness.

I am speaking of the terrible sin of unbelief.

KEY VERSE: Matthew 13:58  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

EXPLAIN CONTEXT

Mark 6:6A  And he marvelled because of their unbelief…..

It is a terrible sin because it is the one sin in which a person is condemned for eternity.

Revelation 21:8  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.

NOW, You may think that only the lost are guilty of this sin, but in the book of Hebrews the saved are admonished…

Hebrews 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

It is a terrible sin because it keeps the believer from the fullness of God’s power in their life, from receiving all the precious promises of God’s Word, and from experiencing spiritual victory in this life.

GIVE EXAMPLES:  Your Christian experience is not a happy one.

Overcome by trials / At the brink of depression / You are under the power of sinful worry or anger / You are unsatisfied in life /  Your marriage is not what God wants it to be / you are not fulfilled in serving God

Why?  The sin of unbelief.

Take quick note of the following points from Heb. 3:12….

1. Unbelief is Pervasive

“in any of you”

We are to GUARD ourselves…

Proverbs 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

We are to GUIDE others….

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2. Unbelief is a Principle of the Heart

It is written not as an evil head of unbelief, but an evil heart!!!

3. Unbelief is Presumptuous

Why? Because it departs from the living God!!!

ILLLUS: Jumping off a building and denying the law of gravity.

You are now living outside the realm of established principles or laws that govern the physical world & you won’t last long!!!

“in departing”  There is a departure from God to…

Trust in man / Trust in self

Jeremiah 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

It may be subtle, it may be slight, but it is there.

There is the diversion of our deepest affections for things or people other than God.

Even if it is momentarily, the drift has begun.

There are often contributing factors to unbelief in a saint:

Pressure of Circumstances / Depression / Association with Skeptics / Conflict over truth.

Unfortunately many use these as an excuse for their unbelief.

Blameshifting rather than accepting responsibility of our heart in the matter!!!

We need to wake up and discern unbelief in our own lives!!

Here are some helps from today’s text for discerning unbelief.

I. The Context of Unbelief vs.54-56

The soil in which unbelief flourishes

A. Religion

“in their synagogue” vs.54

Men have their systems and organizations.  And religion is not the answer to the problems of man.  Religion fosters unbelief.

How often have you heard someone say - “We have our own beliefs”

(EXPLAIN CONTEXT) of Romans 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

ALSO SEE Hebrews 3:16-19 & Hebrews 4:6-11

B. The Familiar vs.55-56

These folk knew all about Jesus.  They knew His earthly family.

Their familiarity bred skepticism, contempt and unbelief.

Scriptural truth can become so familiar to us that we have contempt, disdain for and even despise the precious principles of God’s Word.

Some folk with deep problems in their life will say, “don’t preach at me” – “don’t go quoting the Bible to me”.

Here’s one “Just because it’s not in the Bible, doesn’t mean it’s not true”.

What are these folk saying?  - The Bible is Passe, too familiar, maybe out-of-date.  Give me something other than the tried and true!!!

It’s unbelief!!!!

C. The Miraculous

Vs. 54 speaks of Christ’s wisdom and His mighty works.

Even creation is marvelous and miraculous pointing to our living God.

Psalms 19:1  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Romans 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

And what could be more miraculous than the salvation of a soul?

II. The Currency of Unbelief

What are its qualities or characteristics?  In what ways is it manifested?

You may think the coin of unbelief to be rejection or outright repudiation of the truth.

You might be surprised to learn that it is more innocent than that….

A. Astonished vs54

ASTONISHED – Lit. “to strike out” “to be exceedingly struck in mind by the very thought of something”.  “to be amazed”, to be beside oneself with amazement.

The question is  - “For what reasons were they astonished?”

Were they astonished for the right reasons or the wrong reasons?

They were not astonished by the person of Christ, nor by the mighty works in themselves.  They were not amazed at His doctrine.  They were not even astonished by their need for Christ.

They were astonished that one they knew, to them a common man, could do these things.

B. Questioning

Psalms 78:41  Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Psalms 78:19  Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

The Israelites were not flat-out rejecting God’s truth, but they were questioning His ability to provide.

Instead of saying “Can God” they should have triumphed in the reverse statement “God Can!!”

GOD CAN! – Use you, give you victory over ___________, heal you, solve your problem etc.

Ephesians 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

EXPLAIN CONTEXT OF THESE NEXT VERSES…..

Daniel 3:17-18  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

GOD CAN!!!, but even if He chooses not to we will not be guilty of the sin of unbelief in Him!!!

C. Offended

OFFENDED – Stumbled

Why do people stumble over the Lord Jesus Christ and His truth.

1. Because of Human Reasoning

2. Because of False Expectations

3. Because of the Opinion of the Majority.

Vs. 56 “Are they not all with us?”

III. The Curse of Unbelief vs.58

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

Mark 6:5  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

The curse of unbelief is in the fact we limit God by our unbelief.

Unbelief is a curse to our spiritual growth / to our homes and marriages / to our church.

GIVE EXAMPLES:

Conclusion:     (Review)

MAIN POINTS:

1. The Context of Unbelief

2. The Currency of Unbelief

3. The Curse of Unbelief