"Faith and Unbelief...

[GRACE ambassador]

...And Their Effects
​

“Now The God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing....”—Rom. 15:13
​

It is most interesting to observe the effects of faith and unbelief upon the lives of
God’s children. We see this especially in connection with the Incarnation and the
Resurrection of Christ.

THE INCARNATION​

Aged Zacharias doubts the Divine Promise as to the Birth of our LORD’s forerunner
(Luke_1:18) and is rebuked by the angelic messenger.

“And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in
the Presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show
thee these glad tidings.

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until
the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest
not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season” (Luke_1:19,20).​

As a further result, it was impossible for the chastened priest to pronounce the
usual blessing upon the waiting multitude after the offering of the evening
sacrifice. We are told (Ver. 10) that “the whole multitude of the people were
praying without” at the time. But Zacharias, now stricken dumb, could give
them no word of blessing. Rather we read:

“And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he
tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he
could not speak unto them...” (Luke_1:21,22).​

Symbolically this demonstrates the inevitable effect of unbelief upon the lives of
God’s people. Where unbelief enters, the testimony is silenced. In contrast to the
doubts of a seasoned man of God, we find sweet, young Mary accepting in simple
faith a message which would be considered much more difficult to believe: that
she, a virgin, should bring forth a child.

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of The LORD;
be it unto me according to thy word...” (Luke_1:38).​

Result: a song! From Mary’s heart and lips have come to us the glad Magnificat,
which begins with those inspired and inspiring words:

“...My soul doth magnify The LORD, And my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke_1:46,47)...​

"
(CR Stam)

FULL study:
Faith and Unbelief

GRACE And Peace...

 

[BeyondET]

Interesting a similar account in the OT with Abraham actually laughing at the idea yet his faith was strong so I assume it depends on the circumstance.

Romans 4:19
Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah's womb.

 

[farouk]

Interesting a similar account in the OT with Abraham actually laughing at the idea yet his faith was strong so I assume it depends on the circumstance.

Romans 4:19
Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah's womb.

I do love the "by faith", "by faith", "by faith" passage with Old Testament examples, in Hebrews 11..........

 

[BeyondET]

I do love the "by faith", "by faith", "by faith" passage with Old Testament examples, in Hebrews 11..........

Thanks for the scripture, lead me to this verse below,, seems Sarah and Abraham at least in the beginning found it amusing

Genesis 21
6Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.

 

[Robert Gwin]

...And Their Effects
​

“Now The God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing....”—Rom. 15:13​

It is most interesting to observe the effects of faith and unbelief upon the lives of
God’s children. We see this especially in connection with the Incarnation and the
Resurrection of Christ.

THE INCARNATION​

Aged Zacharias doubts the Divine Promise as to the Birth of our LORD’s forerunner
(Luke_1:18) and is rebuked by the angelic messenger.

“And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in
the Presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show
thee these glad tidings.

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until
the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest
not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season” (Luke_1:19,20).​

As a further result, it was impossible for the chastened priest to pronounce the
usual blessing upon the waiting multitude after the offering of the evening
sacrifice. We are told (Ver. 10) that “the whole multitude of the people were
praying without” at the time. But Zacharias, now stricken dumb, could give
them no word of blessing. Rather we read:

“And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he
tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he
could not speak unto them...” (Luke_1:21,22).​

Symbolically this demonstrates the inevitable effect of unbelief upon the lives of
God’s people. Where unbelief enters, the testimony is silenced. In contrast to the
doubts of a seasoned man of God, we find sweet, young Mary accepting in simple
faith a message which would be considered much more difficult to believe: that
she, a virgin, should bring forth a child.

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of The LORD;
be it unto me according to thy word...” (Luke_1:38).​

Result: a song! From Mary’s heart and lips have come to us the glad Magnificat,
which begins with those inspired and inspiring words:

“...My soul doth magnify The LORD, And my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke_1:46,47)...​

"
(CR Stam)

FULL study:
Faith and Unbelief

GRACE And Peace...

It is essential Grace that one believes God is, and becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking Him. Heb 11:6

 

[Webers_Home]

.
Faith is believing somethin' you know ain’t true.
- Mark Twain -

Twain wasn't that far off the mark seeing as how Heb 11:1 says, in so many
words, that faith is the evidence of things not seen.

Well that kind of evidence would never hold up in a court of law because it's
subjective rather than objective; i.e. that kind of faith is basically what
people feel in their gut rather than having reason to believe.
_