By REV. CARL G. RALSTON
Church of the Lord Jesus Christ
Today, Christians will tell you they believe the Bible and that it is God’s word. We can look at Jesus’ disciples not long before he was crucified; they asked Jesus to increase our faith (Luke 17:5).
Jesus did not say that he would or would not give them their request, but in the 10th verse his answer to that request was, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you , say, we are unprofitable servants. We have done that which was our duty to do.”
We all should be well aware that, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We should know, “this first that no prophecy of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). The next verse reads, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The Word of God — we all agree — is our road map to heaven. It tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrew 11:6).
We have now established that faith comes by hearing the word of God. We are not taking the scripture out of text when we add to our subject of unbelief of the church, by reading: “And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
It is one thing to claim to know Jesus, and another to be obeying the Gospel. As it says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Jesus also warned the church that in the last day’s perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient of parents, unthankful, unholy. (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Timothy made mention of the last days; we find many men of the Bible did also.
The Apostle Peter speaks about the last days in the present tense saying, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear” (1st Peter 4:17-18). He also wrote, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible” (1st Peter 3:1-4).
When Moses crossed the Red Sea, the children of Israel were elated that God had brought them out of bondage. But soon, the same year, unbelief took their hearts. Even Aaron, Moses’ brother, was a victim of unbelief.
The children of Israel had made a golden calf to worship. “For the Lord has said unto Moses, say unto the Children of Israel ye are a stiff-necked people. I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment and consume thee, therefore now Put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee” (Exodus 33:5). Prior to Moses’ death, God gave Moses another law and ordinance: “The women shall not wear the which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 22:5).
For the one who will study the word to show themselves approved unto God. They can see that the ministry has failed to preach the whole gospel and unbelief has filled the gap that has been left open because of it, and many are the gaps in their wicked and perverse world. May God help us to preach the whole gospel.