Unbelief - Doubt - Faith

Some people just do not believe. As Jesus said about those who crucified him, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). They did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, and people today still disbelieve. Although Jesus was real, witnesses - both disciples and secular, testified to his Existence. However, some refuse to accept fact, while others just don't believe that God came in the flesh, and suffered death in our places.

Of course, Christians have faith. God too knows Himself, That is "the faith of God" (Romans 3:3). It seems that the greatest faith a human can have is "the faith of Abraham" (Romans 4:16) because he was willing to sacrifice his only remaining son, just as God did His. Abraham had great faith. However, it only takes "a little faith" to be a Christian (Matthew 6:30).

Even the apostles had little faith in Jesus until He died. If they had believed Jesus would die for mankind, as He implied and then stated, the apostles and other disciples would have been born-again. They had not the faith of Abraham, and hence, were not at that time truly Christians. They didn't really know Jesus; they merely followed Him. We saw with Peter that he didn't trust Jesus because he denied him three times. It seems that the apostles were unbelievers until they finally saw the Light after the darkened skies of Calvary. Then even Peter came on board! Thomas was the last unbeliever. He is noted for doubting.

"Remission of sins" is only by the blood of another shed in propitiation for the believer (Hebrews 9:22). The believers before the time of Jesus shed the blood of innocent animals as a substitution for the Messiah's. The sincere worshipers knew to whom they were sacrificing! The Word told them. As such, Abraham was as much saved by the blood of Jesus as was Paul. In fact, Abraham had more faith than Paul because Paul met the resurrected Savior. It took less faith for him.

The earliest disciples were just that - followers. A few realized Jesus's purpose. Those on whom he worked miracles had faith in Him as God. Somehow, God inclined them to accept Jesus as Savior even before Jesus redeemed them. Those lame, blind, dead in Lazarus' case, demon-filled, and having other issues knew that Jesus could heal.  Their "faith made them whole" (Luke 17:9 and several other places). During His life, the apostles had yet to be made whole. They were not unbelievers but doubters. They failed to realize Jesus's power, and that there indeed was power in the blood!

If we look at thief No. 2 on the cross, and let's do that:

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors (wrong-doer; Thief #1) which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other (wrong-doer; Thief #2) answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I said unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Both thieves saw the blood. Thief #1 saw and rejected the lifeblood flowing from Jesus. Although he couldn't save himself, Jesus could. He didn't trust Him to do that. He was an unbeliever. On the other hand, Thief #2 saw the blood of Jesus, trusted Jesus, and insisted on Jesus's innocence. His trust was faith. Because he knew that Jesus could save him, Jesus did. A few hours later, after Jesus died, Thief #1 was in Hell, but Thief #2 was with Jesus in Paradise.

We know where Jesus's body was that day. It was in the tomb, but where was Jesus? That day He was with Thief #2 welcoming him a mansion in God's House (John 14:2), and Comforting him! Thief #2 had great faith that day! His faith "made him whole".

The two examples here are Thief #1 - the unbeliever, and Thief #2 - the one with faith.

Where were the doubters? Only the Book of John mentions "disciples" being at the crucifixion. I would hope that included the apostles! Maybe they weren't there. We know that Peter was afraid. Whatever the case, Jesus's death made Thief #2 a Christian. Catholics identified the first man "saved" by the blood of Jesus - Dismas (Latin) or Demas (Coptic). We should remember him not for what he was, but who he became - the first saint. In my doctrine, he was the first person saved by the actual propitiation of Jesus's blood!

In between the unbelievers and the faithful were the doubters. They knew Jesus, followed Him, but never trusted what He said. Those who crucified Jesus "knew not what they do". It seems that since Jesus died for everyone, the apostles and other disciples were included as guilty. Neither did they know what they did! They had yet to believe in a trusting manner.

Some of the women: the three Mary's and Salome, specifically, and many other women, were at the crucfixion. It seems the men disciples had a weak stomach and were few because the women were mentioned specifically. Likewise, the first to venture to the tomb were women.  The doubters stayed in their locked room in fear of the same death but the women ventured out.

Doubting is sinful. It is Satan and his dark angels who cast doubt on us. Doubt comes from deception. The way Satan deceives is through sin. An increase in sin raises more doubt. The apostles who had little faith in Jesus were sinful because they were doubters. Jesus pointed out their doubt:

Luke 24:38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?  

They weren't born-again because they followed Jesus, but were when their faith increased. That was when Jesus miraculously appeared in the locked room (John 20:19). Belief in the resurrection is essential doctrine. Even the apostles didn't truly believe in Jesus as God until he returned to life and appeared to them. Paul preached often on the importance of the resurrection. If any follower does not believe that Jesus arose and still lives, then he or she is a doubter.

Modern people accept the propitiation of Jesus but do they really trust Him? When people sin, they either fail to believe there is a penalty for sin, or have some doubt about Jesus and their own resurrection. Indeed, sinning is a sign that the believer has doubts.

John 20:17 "...Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Jesus said that to Thomas even after the miracle of the resurrection. Thomas doubted but then believed. If Jesus had remained in the tomb, the apostles would have all stayed doubters. Because some don't accept that, they are doubters - to the extent that they disbelieve! Eternal life is only for those who actually trust that there is a resurrection. Otherwise, belief is not trust and is in vain. Denying the resurrection is taking Jesus's Name in vain because only by the Name of Jesus can one be saved (Acts 4:12).

Did you ever think of that?

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

God incarnate was called Jesus (Matthew 1:25).  God Is without Name but was called Jesus. It boils down to taking the Lord's Name in vain is denying the divinity of Jesus! Doubting Jesus is severe violation of the Third Commandment. We must believe, and not doubt. That's what Dismas did first - he did not doubt!