Who is an unbeliever?

[Davies]

Who is an unbeliever? The question may look so simple but...

1 John 5:10New King James Version (NKJV)

<sup class="versenum">10 </sup>He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.



I guess the best thing we can do is describe a unbeliever. It's one thing if a person confesses he doesn't believe, it's another thing going around and saying, 'He's an unbeliever.' Jesus said you would know a tree by its fruit. Even then, I think it would be important to remember that we were once unbelievers.



- Davies

 

[Aardverk]

................ The one who does not look at the evidence , but only (trust) what others say is not so much gullible, but is more a (follower) of others that may lead their path.

Ah yes, that's the word - "a follower".

 

[Jethro Bodine]

1 John 5:10New King James Version (NKJV)

<sup class="versenum">10 </sup>He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.



I guess the best thing we can do is describe a unbeliever. It's one thing if a person confesses he doesn't believe, it's another thing going around and saying, 'He's an unbeliever.' Jesus said you would know a tree by its fruit. Even then, I think it would be important to remember that we were once unbelievers.



- Davies

This is where I was heading, as time permitted.

The unbeliever is condemned as an unbeliever because they have rejected the voice of God that has gone out into the world to convict the world of sin and righteousness. The unbeliever has said that convicting voice is a lying voice, and that what it speaks to the world about sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come is a lie and can not be believed.

"(F)aith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1 NIV1984). That hardly means that that those who do believe the voice of God sent into the world believe blindly or simply accept what some church has taught them. It means being sure that what God has spoken right into their own heart about the reality of their guilt, and the remedy God has provided for us in Jesus Christ for that sin guilt, is true.

Believers accept the testimony God has given about sin and righteousness. Unbelievers do not accept that testimony, in effect calling God, who spoke that testimony by the sure voice of the Holy Spirit, a liar. Calling the Holy Spirit a liar and, thus, attributing his work to that of the devil is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. As long as a person persists in doing that there is no forgiveness available for the sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who speaks the truth of God about sin and righteousness to men's hearts. How can there be? They are rejecting the very message of forgiveness by which they could be forgiven and saved on the Day of Wrath.