FAITH AND UNBELIEF

 FAITH AND UNBELIEF

“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” Romans 11:20-21. Either one believes or does not believe. Justification is by faith. Romans 3:28. They who choose not to believe are not justified. The grace of God by which we are justified cannot be reached without faith. Romans 5:1-2. Faith is our access to the Lord Jesus Christ by whom we are justified. In the Roman epistle, Abraham is presented as that person who “believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3. Abraham had an understanding of God that what God “had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:21-22. Abraham’s faith became the foundation of his obedience to God. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8. Faith always hears the will of God, and obeys God. Without obedience, there is no faith. Our justification, therefore, comes to us when we obey the will of Christ. In the case of ancient Israel, many of them were unable to enter into the promised land because of disbelief. “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:19. Their unbelief was their disobedience. The consequence of that unbelief was disaster for them. They were denied entrance into the land that God had prepared and promised to them. Can not the same happen to us? We have been promised eternal life in heaven which God has prepared for those who are justified. Israel was God’s chosen people because of the promise made to Abraham, and was secured by Abraham’s faith. But, “because of unbelief they were broken off.”  The natural branches were not spared because God does not accept disobedience to his divine law. Justification unto life is God’s great work through Jesus Christ. By faith, we receive this gift which has been secured by the death of Christ on the cross. But, Christ is only our “propitiation through faith in his blood.” Romans 3:25.