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THE WORST SIN OF THE WORLD
Text:
Hebrews 3
Let
us follow in our imagination the path of Israel from Egypt to the
Promised Land. As we journey like a Bedouin through its barren wastes it
appears their route produced one giant cemetery. Much of the time
there are isolated graves, but often there are mass burials
where
…the people made the golden calf
(Deuteronomy 32:4)
…the people complained and God consumed them with fire (Numbers
11:1)
…Israel accepted the report of the 10 spies at Kadesh Barnea
(Numbers 14)
…Korah, Dathan, and Abiram with 250 princes raised opposition to
Moses (Numbers 16).
By
the time we reach the banks of the Jordan River just outside of
the promised land we have passed the graves of over 600,000
fighting men besides the graves of the women.
The
reason: Hebrews 3:19 "So
we see they could not enter in because of their unbelief."
The same chapter contains the exhortation in verses 7-9.
"Today, if you will hear His voice Do not harden your
hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness,
where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty
years."
UNBELIEF
PLACED MANKIND UNDER A CURSE
At The
Heart of the Sin of Eve Was Unbelief
Satan
asked, "Hath God
said…?"
Satan raised a question of doubt about what God said then, "You
shall not surely die." Satan plainly denied
what God said was true.
When
Eve believed Satan, she was guilty of unbelief towards God.
This
Sin Brought Spiritual Death
To Adam and Eve - Genesis
2:17 "...In the day that you eat of it you shall surely
die."
To All their descendents - Romans 5:12; 1st Corinthians 15:22
All descendants became:
*Sinners
by nature - Ephesians 2:1-3
*Sinners
by choice - John 3:19
Unbelief Is the Parent of All
Others Sins
A
man or woman who does not have faith in God is capable of any sin.
Trace any wickedness
to its root and you will find a heart of unbelief.
UNBELIEF
PLUNGED NATIONS
INTO DARKNESS
Unbelief
Was The Starting Point Of Heathen Darkness
Romans
1:18-28 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all...who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because
what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it
to them...so they are without excuse..."
Nations Rise or Fall According to Faith or Unbelief
Israel's
exaltation or humiliation among the nations can be charted
according to their faith or unbelief.
Their military fall may have followed by a few years their
spiritual fall, but it always came and vice versa.
Follow
the gospel trail and those nations that most widely received the
gospel rose most in spiritual, material, moral, and military
blessing.
It
is true that some godless nations have risen in power, but only as
rods of punishment for nations that departed from faith.
That is what God said of Assyria.
(Isaiah 10:5). "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My
anger..."
As
America has progressively departed from God, so have powers
capable of bringing down America.
Isaiah 10:6, "I will send him against an
ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath...".
UNBELIEF
PLAGUES THE WORK OF GOD
Unbelief Kept Israel out of the Promised Land
They
believed the ten unbelieving spies.
Only
two men believed God was able to give them the land and forty
years later only these two men of that generation entered the land.
Unbelief
Hindered Jesus at Nazareth
Matthew
13:53-58. Jesus
had as much love, compassion and willingness to perform miracles
for those of His hometown as for those of any other
place. They had just
as great needs as any other place, yet
He
did not do many mighty works because of their unbelief.
Unbelief
Hinders Believers From Courageous Action
Unbelief
would have:
Ø
Kept
Moses and Israel from crossing the Red Sea
Ø
Made
David cower before Goliath
Ø
Caused
the three Hebrew children to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image
Ø
Cause
Paul and Silas to despair while in the jail at Philippi.
Unbelief
Hinders Churches
From
great soul-winning efforts
From
moving ahead when God has revealed the direction to go and the
people get their eyes
on the obstacles instead of God
UNBELIEF
PUTS MANKIND UNDER CONDEMNATION
John
3:18-20: "He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not
condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already..."
It
Did To Those in Noah's Day
Genesis 6:5: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of
man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually". Evil left no
room for faith in God.
It
Did To Those in Christ's Day
John 8:24: "...You
will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I Am, you
shall die in your sins.". Note that "He" following I am
in most translations is in italics. This means "He" was not
in the original revelation, but supplied by the translators.
Unbelief Puts Mankind Under
Condemnation In Any Day
Unbelief
is the one sin for which there is no forgiveness.
Name any other sin and God has provided a means to forgive
it, but God has no way to forgive the sin of unbelief.
John 3:18, 3:36.
FAITH
- THE ONLY REMEDY FOR UNBELIEF
Achieved
only by "hearing the word of God
Romans
10:17 : "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God."
Will
you truly "hear" the word of God to you?
John 1:11, 12. "He came to His own and His
own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to
them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who
believe in His name:"
Believers should never forget that
Jesus taught us, "...with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:6
Copyright © 2002 Thomas E Berry
All Scriptures quoted from the NKJV unless otherwise noted
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