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Some Die Once – Many Die Twice [Part 8]
In today’s Part 8 of our series of Blog Posts from our upcoming book titled “One Way or Another Your Eternal Destination is Guaranteed” we will look at the question: “What is a Believer and What is an Unbeliever?”
A believer is a soul who knows, who is fully certain of—convinced in mind and heart—that God’s Holy awesome truth is revealed to us.
Strong’s Definition:
“A believer is not just one who knows and believes in the One Almighty Triune God, but also is persuaded of; and hence places confidence in, trusts, and is committed unto relying upon the Lord Jesus” [being the Son of God and his personal Savior from God’s Wrath and to have the promised eternal life].
[Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible © 2001 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Greek Pisteuo translated to the English word believe Greek Dictionary number 4100 pg 202]
What is an Unbeliever?
Simply put, an unbeliever is a person who does not know nor believe in God, and therefore, does not have hope for being resurrected to eternal life. The political leaders in Israel in Jesus’ time on earth were called Saddūcees. Someone has said, “They are sad … you see.”
Acts 23:8a
For Saddūcees say that there is no resurrection…
No Hope
Those who do not believe that God the Father resurrected His only begotten Son do not have the hope of looking forward to their eternal future in a resurrected, glorious body:
Philippians 3:20-21
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Unbeliever
The unbeliever is blinded from—or not able to discern—the truths set forth in the Bible. This disbelief in divine revelation rejects the truth of the gospel message that advises the only way to God’s heaven is by belief in Jesus Christ. Therefore, the skeptic does not trust the truth of the Son of God being equally God with the Father and that Jesus was raised from the dead to live forever more. Nonbelievers do not accept the Bible’s teaching that God is the Creator, but they are not all categorized exactly the same; some are called atheist, some agnostics, some freethinkers, and others doubters: all taught by man.
Psalm 118:8
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Strong’s Definition:
The unbeliever is a person who decides to not be persuadable with obstinate rejection of the will of God; hence disobedient unbelief.
[Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible © 2001 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Greek apeitheia translated to the English word unbelief number 543 pg 32]
Webster’s Definition:
[The] unbeliever is one who does not believe; an infidel; one who discredits revelation, or the mission and doctrines of Christ.
[New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, Published by CONSOLIDATED BOOK PUBLISHERS, Chicago, © 1952, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971, by Processing & Books, Inc. 1977. ISBN: 0-8326-0021-0 P. 908 under definition of unbelief.]
Believer vs. Unbeliever
Unlike believers who have been indwelt with the Holy Spirit, the unbeliever cannot grasp the meaning of the writings in the Bible, because these words of God are spiritually discerned. Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit to have ability to discern:
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.
Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted [had faith], after you heard [understood] the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with [indwelt by] the Holy Spirit of promise.
Ephesians 1:17
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation [ability to decipher—to see and understand] in the knowledge of Him.
Ephesians 3:16b-18a
To be strengthened with might through His Spirit in[indwelling] the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend…
God’s Wrath
The unbeliever cannot envision nor foresee that there is a coming time of great trouble to be brought on by God’s furious wrath due to this very unbelief. The soul is lost, but can be saved simply by swallowing one’s pride, repenting, and believing that he is forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus for having offending God:
Romans 5:8-9
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, Much more then having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10
How you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray that people will come to the saving knowledge of the Truth before it’s too late, and love their children to teach them the Truth. Next Blog Post, on September 19, 2024: “The Body is a Temporary Housing for the Spirit and Soul”
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How to Receive Eternal Life Posts
Would you like to find out why believers have hope of Eternal Life and how to develop a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ? Check out these blog posts if your answer is “yes.”
Receiving Eternal Life as easy as A-B-C-D
Why do I need the God of the Bible?
Resources:
Check Out these Interesting Resources:
Gospel Folio Press – William MacDonald – Believers Bible Commentary
Warren Henderson Publishing
Christ-centered Books and Messages to Enhance Your Spiritual Growth
Solving the Spiritual Dilemma
And check out our latest book “Solving the Spiritual Dilemma” which answers many questions about the hope believers have and how to develop a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
or go directly to Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, unless stated otherwise. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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