UNBELIEF IS GROSS SIN.
I shared with some friends yesterday that the Lord has really been dealing with me lately that unbelief is sin. Funny thing, they said the same. Isn’t that interesting that God would be dealing with the same fellowship of people in the same way? It’s as if there’s one Holy Spirit who deals with the fellowship and unity of a local Body. Mind blown. Crazy I know.
You should take note when God sends people your way to tell you the same thing. It’s not a coincidence and we are all not talking together. The Holy Spirit is at work among His people. Unbelief is gross sin. What do I mean? I mean when God speaks a Word, when the preacher preaches a Word from the Bible, when two people say the same thing to you from the Spirit, when you read a Word from Scripture, whether it’s a warning or a promise; and you do not take God at His Word, it is sin.
“Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”
Romans 11:19-22 ESV
This unbelief of which Paul speaks is not an unbelief “in God or in Christ”, for there are many who say they believe that God exists; but rather is an unbelief in God’s Word. When you do not believe what He says in His Word or by His Spirit, by His prophets, teachers, preachers, and messengers; then you are undermining His character, and ultimately calling Him a liar. You are telling Him you do not believe.
“Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the Lord hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’ Then I said to you, ‘Do not dread nor be afraid of them’. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ YET IN SPITE OF THIS WORD YOU DID NOT BELIEVE the Lord your God, who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.” Deuteronomy 1:26-33
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12-19
Hear me and heed this warning. The unbelief the Bible speaks of here is an unbelief in God’s Word. His Word represents His character. Jesus is the Word incarnate. Most of today’s Christians are completely ignorant of God’s nature and character. Why? Because 1) they have been fed a diet of sugar. They have only been told God loves them and “God would never do that” 2) they have not been taught the whole counsel of God 3) they refuse to read the whole Word of God, skipping and twisting Scripture 4) they have unhitched their faith from the OT, calling it outdated and archaic. 5) they are lazy and/or apathetic believing a one time confession is all that is required of them. 6) they believe the original lie, “Did God really say? 7) they want to be encouraged instead of rebuked, they have itching ears 
they love themselves, their own dreams more than they love God.
Here’s another list of things that are left out of today’s gospel: 1) God chastens, rebukes and disciplines His children 2) God’s love was displayed on the cross and is only appropriated through the cross 3) God will not be mocked 4) God’s kingdom has laws and requirements 5) don’t say “law”, people will freak out 6) don’t say “obey” people will freak out 7) God has not changed His character, the same God who flooded the earth of the wicked and saved 8 righteous souls is the same God who died on the cross and rose from the grave God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble 9) you must be born again 10) God’s love does not annul His holiness 11) you must separate from the world and be different 12) hell is a real place of torment. And much much more.
The introduction of the internet has done some good for the gospel, but also has allowed false teachers and false preachers to have great success. Many are misled. Most in our country are apostate. The American church’s candlestick has not been lit for a long time and she is in danger of having her lampstand removed. And who is to blame? Those who have been apathetic in their walk. Those who are lazy and undisciplined. Those who refuse to discipline and crucify their flesh. Those who treat the church as a prostitute and hop from congregation to congregation. Those who are selfish and self-centered and like a pre-K kid whining, “I don’t want to do that.” Those who fear the reprisal of man more than those who fear God. Hireling shepherds who refuse to discipline the church, and the flock who refuses to fall under discipline. The list goes on.
All of these things display a heart of unbelief.
You don’t really believe God, because you refuse to take Him at His Word. You don’t believe His Word is true and alive and sharper than any two-edged sword. Your rebellion is displayed in your disobedience to His laws and commands and to the authority of His true shepherds who are trying to correct and train you in righteousness. At least be honest with yourself and about your condition.
Everyone is crying for revival. And we must have a revival. But as Tozer said, “God will not revive mice”. We need a true movement of humility and repentance. We are all to blame. Fall on your knees and repent for your unbelief. Cry out to Him with a humble and contrite heart and He will respond in mercy to us and perhaps our true repentance will bring a revival to our homes, churches, cities and country.
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page