The Sin of Unbelief

HP: You jump to unwarranted conclusions. First, because Christ gave this command to his disciples, what evidence do you have that it was “their duty alone” to see that the gospel was carried out? If I give you a command, is that proof that the command was solely to you? I certainly do not believe it would necessitate any such conclusion.

Next, you have stated or implied that all men have received the gospel. Is it even within the realm of possibilities to you that before they could go an preach this gospel message, that some may have died before they were reached? If they of necessity had already had the gospel preached to them, or would in spite of any or all other efforts, why would any need to be sent?? Are we giving serious thought to the implications of our positions?

 

HP: You tell us. Does God require impossibilities out of man?

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Heavenly Pilgrim

HP: You tell us. Does God require impossibilities out of man?

HP: What does the red herring you now bring to the table have to do with the question we were discussing about God requiring or nor requiring impossibilities out of man??

 

HP: Good point. :thumbs:

I believe it would be accurate to say that unbelief is not necessarily sin. When Thomas doubted, Jesus did not say anything to him that would indicate his lack of belief was sin, but rather simply encouraged him to believe by added demonstration. Belief is not something we always turn on and off like a water spout, but rather at times we go through periods of uncertainty and trial. At times we simply do not know what to believe. Our minds and hearts are at many times in the process of developing belief.

Could we agree that to be in a state of unbelief or weak faith, may or may not be sin?

 

HP: It has nothing to do with the question at hand. If not a red herring, could it possibly be a pink tuna?

HP: Although I do not see any connection to the question, I will attempt an answer. First your illustration is not applicable for it involves a stark contradiction. What is impossible is for one to conceive of the possibility of your illustration. I believe it to be an utter impossibility for a Chrsitian man to raise his children without telling them the gospel message. That is an impossibility.

Now getting back to the question at hand, God never requires impossibilities out of man. To do so would be the worst kind of taskmaster, requiring that which God knows full well no man can accomplish. What kind of a wicked tyrant would do that?

HP: That is not to say that the individuals themselves would not stand fully accountable to God for failure to do that which they had knowledge of, now would it?

HP: Yet another red herring. Regardless if every Christian does their full duty at all times, those that end up lost will be lost in the end due to their own willful rebellion against known commandments of God. God requiring their blood at our hands does not negate or takeaway from their own personal guilt.

HP: What I have done or failed to do is between my God and myself.

HP: It takes those that stay by the stuff as well as those that ‘go.’ Both share in the harvest. We need to be faithful to the Lord’s work wherever that calling might or might not lead. I certainly would encourage those to go who feel so led of the Lord, but I would never simply or blindly encourage ‘all’ to head out on a foreign missionary venture.