“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.” (Colossians 3:5-6)
Unbelief that resides in the depths of a depraved, unredeemed heart is the result of Adam’s fall and will lead to a rejection of the light of the Gospel of God and distrusting his promises. This state of unbelief is the source of all evil in the world and can be traced back to the Garden when Eve, and then Adam, chose to believe and act on the words of the serpent over God’s command (Gen. 3:1-13). When God’s promises are wholly disregarded in this fashion, this level of depravity reflects “a heart of unbelief,” (Heb. 3:12).
A heart of unbelief is in rebellion against God. When one refuses to follow the light he has been given or hears the Gospel and refuses to believe, this is the unpardonable sin that prevents a person from entering the kingdom of heaven.
But even Christians do not believe perfectly. In fact, a great example is shared in both Matthew and Mark where we read of the father who had a demon-possessed son. He brought his son to Christ’s disciples, but they were unable to cast out the demons that tormented him night and day. So the father then came to Jesus, asking if it were even possible for his son to be healed from such a horrific existence. Christ’s response was “all things are possible to him who believes,” to which the father replied, “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). And when the disciples questioned the Lord as to why they were unsuccessful at casting out the demons from this boy, Christ had a similar response, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Remove hence to yonder place.’ It shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you,” (Matt. 17:18-20).
When a Christian allows a spirit of unbelief to take up residence in their heart, it breeds confusion and makes them incapable of doing what they otherwise would have been able to do if they had believed (Matt. 17:16). It deprives them of experiencing the promises of God, as those Israelites who perished in the wilderness and were not allowed by God to enter into the land of promise because of their unbelief (Heb. 3:19). And it robs a believer of all the blessings that come from practicing faith (John 20:29).
Maintaining a spirit of unbelief is a dangerous practice because it will eventually completely harden one’s heart against the Spirit of God (Heb. 3:12-13). It calls the truth of the Gospel into question, extinguishes the light of the glory of God, and can even prevent that one from ever entering God’s eternal rest (Heb. 3:18-19). Edward Leigh said, “This evil heart is a great evil; from its nature as an inward evil, and its effects which indisposes us to all good, being the root of other evils.”[1]
Take heed to guard your heart against the dangers of doubt and unbelief, for such is the origin and fountain of all disobedience.
Contemplations:
- God is against all those who take delight in scorning his words, his people, and Christ himself. How long will people remain in unbelief? How long will Christians doubt as well?
- People often revel in unbelief and take joy in it, not realizing that unbelief is the epitome of disobedience (Heb. 11:6). Man was not made to fulfil his own lusts but to serve the living God who made all things for himself, even the wicked for the Day of Judgment.
- You are against all those who live and practice unbelief, Lord, those who completely dismiss a godly fear of the Creator God who is Faithful and True. “God is angry with the wicked every day,” those who do not believe and trust in you (Ps. 7:11).
- And what do you think of those Christians, Lord, who refuse to be reformed by you? A barren soul will never grow rich in faith and spiritual understanding. Should your people not let the Word of God dwell in them richly? (Col. 3:16). And how? In all knowledge! (Col. 1:10).
- Distrust and unbelief also pertain to remembering what You have done for us, Lord. As Mark 6:52 states, “They remembered not the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened.” David was under great discomfort, until he remembered the years of the right hand of the Most High (Ps. 77:10). Remind me to do as Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:21, “This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope.”
Further References for Col. 3:5-6:
Eph. 5:5; Gal. 5:24; Mark 7:21; Jer. 6:13.
[1] Thomas Wilson, A Complete Christian Dictionary (London: E. Cotes and are to be sold by Thomas Williams, 1661), 690.
