Unbelief, is it a sin?

[jimmyjimmy]

I left Christianity for a few years, and was an atheist. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit led me back to faith. I guess I could have viewed what happened, as a coincidence or something, and ignored it. Dismissed it as not being divine intervention. But, would that have been sinful if I had done that? Having said this, I asked Jesus for forgiveness that I 'left' the faith. Interestingly, He loved me even when I was 'gone.' Would we all do the same if someone betrayed us? Left us? If you are married, and your spouse just left for a few years, would you keep chasing and seeking them, the way Jesus sought after me?

Following Christ in ALL things, isn't easy. Be careful how you judge others, as we are not to condemn anyone. Only God can ultimately judge someone's heart. Many people came to me when I was an atheist, asking me to 'return' to faith, but I honestly felt indifferent at the time. Now, I look back at that former self, and can't imagine abandoning my faith. Ignorance is bliss as they say, and I'm not sure if one is truly lost and ignorant...if that is 'sinful.' What do you think?

Thank you for sharing your story.

I'm curious, would you say that your return was God's doing or yours?

 

[Foghorn]

Now,this answer may be very hard to take,especially by intellectuals. But all sins are forgivable except for the sin of unbelief.

I'm not asking if sins are forgivable.

 

[Deidre32]

Thank you for sharing your story.

I'm curious, would you say that your return was God's doing or yours?

God's. But, I had to cooperate with His grace.

 

[Deidre32]

A wonderful testimony of God's grace concerning which the conversation could diverge in many ways. In hopes of keeping more closely to the thread, one might highlight that in your "atheist period," you "honestly felt indifferent" to pleas to believe in God (or the like)--perhaps as incidentally I also "felt indifferent" to God in my own atheist period. Unbelief of this sort not only suggests a violation of divine argument (I mean such as evident in the creation) and command, but also a deadening of sensibility, an indifference to things that matter most to our Creator (and to some, Savior), a blindness (or ignorance, albeit at root willful) even to our own design and purpose. Unbelief has its effects.

And thus Jesus' salvation is from sin and unbelief, His mercy on those unworthy of it.

I like how you describe this. Seeing that I believed before I identified as an atheist, I heard the Gospel. But, it still felt like a gradual falling away, and not a deliberate 'rejection' of God. Just a gradual walking away...sort of like walking backwards and someone is standing in front of you, and before long, you can't see the person anymore in front of you. Because that's how far you've walked backwards. That is how I moved away from faith, but Jesus never moved away from me. This is what i've come to learn. He lets us leave, and that is how much He loves us.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

I want to believe and have prayed for the gift of faith, but God hasn't answered yet. So I hope not.

 

[Dave-W]

Can men disobey God's commands? How is that?

Absolutely we can disobey. But if we do, we suffer the consequences.

I heard one bible teacher say that our freedom of choice is one thing God Himself holds sacred.

Is God powerless to have His commands obeyed? Where is His Sovereignty in that?

Not powerless. He CHOOSES to let us obey or not. His sovereignty is exhibited in that He can get His ultimate goals and purposes done with or without our cooperation.

 

[Dave-W]

I noticed you used the term unbelief. Is there a difference in unbelief and disbelief?

Yes. Unbelief is a choice. Disbelief is more involuntary.

 

[Dave-W]

I want to believe and have prayed for the gift of faith, but God hasn't answered yet.

Faith comes by HEARING and hearing by the [spoken] word of God. Rom 10.17

Today if you hear HIS voice do not harden your heart. Heb 3.15 quoting Psalm 95.7-8

 

[GracetotheHumble]

I'll take it a step further. Not only is unbelief sin, I believe that it is the unpardonable sin.

Persistently refusing the Holy Spirit's calling to believe is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Foghorn]

I'll take it a step further. Not only is unbelief sin, I believe that it is the unpardonable sin.

Persistently refusing the Holy Spirit's calling to believe is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

I agree.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

I'll take it a step further. Not only is unbelief sin, I believe that it is the unpardonable sin.

Persistently refusing the Holy Spirit's calling to believe is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

As soon as the Holy Spirit calls, I'll believe.

 

[Deidre32]

I'll take it a step further. Not only is unbelief sin, I believe that it is the unpardonable sin.

Persistently refusing the Holy Spirit's calling to believe is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Do you mean unpardonable, as in when an unbeliever dies?

Not all people who are unbelievers, feel that they are refusing the Holy Spirit's calling. They simply just don't ...believe. I don't think it's for me to decide who will be pardoned by God, and who will not be. But, I suppose if this is just your opinion, and you don't encourage others to agree as though it were fact, that's a different thing.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I have heard this silliness before and it is complete candy land fantasy. The word blasphemy is speaking bad words against God. Just look up the word "blasphemy." Even the context of Jesus using that word is talking about that. See Matthew 12:24-33.

Think. This sin will not be forgivable in this life or the one to come (which is the Millennium). There will be no unbelievers in the Millennium. Christ will be living and reigning for 1,000 years here upon this Earth after it is purified by fire.


...

 

[GracetotheHumble]

Do you mean unpardonable, as in when an unbeliever dies?

That is when our sins will be judged so, yes.

Not all people who are unbelievers, feel that they are refusing the Holy Spirit's calling. They simply just don't ...believe.

But they are refusing the Holy Spirit's calling. The bible says that God has poured out his Spirit on all flesh. The Holy Spirit is there nudging all of us and convicting us of sin and trying to lead us to Christ.

I don't think it's for me to decide who will be pardoned by God, and who will not be. But, I suppose if this is just your opinion, and you don't encourage others to agree as though it were fact, that's a different thing.

No, it's not for you to decide who will be pardoned by God. But unbelievers who lived their lives refusing the Holy Ghost will have their part in the lake of fire. That's a fact.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

That is when our sins will be judged so, yes.



But they are refusing the Holy Spirit's calling. The bible says that God has poured out his Spirit on all flesh. The Holy Spirit is there nudging all of us and convicting us of sin and trying to lead us to Christ.



No, it's not for you to decide who will be pardoned by God. But unbelievers who lived their lives refusing the Holy Ghost will have their part in the lake of fire. That's a fact.

What if the Holy Spirit hasn't nudged you? You claim the Holy Spirit reaches out to everyone, but I don't see that as happening at all.

 

[GracetotheHumble]

What if the Holy Spirit hasn't nudged you? You claim the Holy Spirit reaches out to everyone, but I don't see that as happening at all.

I think you better reconsider. The Holy Spirit is there convicting you of sin. Maybe you aren't listening and you feel that is why he isn't calling. He usually speaks is a still small voice.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

I think you better reconsider. The Holy Spirit is there convicting you of sin. Maybe you aren't listening and you feel that is why he isn't calling. He usually speaks is a still small voice.

I have been praying and hoping for the Holy Spirit to call for over 40 years. I'm listening, but haven't heard even the smallest whisper.

 

[Extraneous]

I have been praying and hoping for the Holy Spirit to call for over 40 years. I'm listening, but haven't heard even the smallest whisper.

In my experience, the Spirit speaks into our heart, Paul says that Gods love is shed abroad in our hearts. God writes his law onto our hearts as well. Its all about our heart. Maybe God has spoken but you haven't tuned your spiritual ear to hear him. Christ said, let him who has ears hear. This isnt necessarily a voice we hear, but instead a communion with Gods spirit in our heart and mind. The bible says that God will send the spirit of truth as well, and this isnt a voice we hear exactly, buts heard in our hearts and minds.

John 14:17
Romans 5:5
Hebrews 10:16

 

[GracetotheHumble]

In my experience, the Spirit speaks into our heart, Paul says that Gods love is shed abroad in our hearts. God writes his law onto our hearts as well. Its all about our heart. Maybe God has spoken but you haven't tuned your spiritual ear to hear him. Christ said, let him who has ears hear. This isnt necessarily a voice we hear, but instead a communion with Gods spirit in our heart and mind. The bible says that God will send the spirit of truth as well, and this isnt a voice we hear exactly, buts heard in our hearts and minds.

John 14:17
Romans 5:5
Hebrews 10:16

I completely agree.

And might I add that the Holy Spirit also communes with our spirit so we can feel him spiritually. This is one way he nudges us.

 

[AHH who-stole-my-name]

It's been my experience that the conscience is what is used to guide a person. The seeds of love have already been planted there and they grow when controversy strikes and the need for action is at it's height. I think God places people in our lives that are to be used as way points along the path we are destined to walk through life.

This is why I don't chose to hate. It is simply to not deny me the right to experience what God has in store for me.