Is it sin or unbelief that denies salvation?

[Willa]

Boash, you said it well. Pride keeps us from receiving God's grace and the free gift of faith. We are justified by faith. It is the sin of unbelief and the pride that hardened our hearts that keep us from salvation.

My friend's dad died not believing in God. My friend was having difficulty with the claim of Jesus that no man can come to the Father but by Me, after that. She was buying into the All roads lead to heaven herecy. So she asked me why God didn't save her dad. I told her I didn't know. But it started me searching the Scriptures. I ended it with the verse: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." We are, after all, saved by grace through faith, --a gift from God. My friend's dad was a very kind man but also a very proud man. I loved him like a second dad because he was so much like my dad. But in the end my dad had humbled himself and received the Christ of the Bible. Her dad's parents had been Christians who gave their all to God. He resented that fact that they had supported their church and missions but failed to help him through school. So he was a self made man, proud of his achievement, who hated God because his parents put God first in their lives. The person who is proud will resist God's grace when it is offered him, and God will resist his pride. But God pours out His grace on the humble and poor in heart who are able to receive Him and His compassionate loving forgiveness; this forgiveness is provided in the new covenant, which was ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.

[Joceline]

Well, sin is what separated man from God (the fall). But what keeps man from God now since there is a way to Him. There are all sorts of reasons but when speakign about atheists, they don't believe they are sinful and therefore no need for God especially since they don't believe in His existence.

[truthseeker]

It is the conscious rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is believed to be the "Unforgivable Sin." 

[Guest DRS81]

These responses are absolutely wonderful. Thank you everyone. - DRS81  

[EndSeeker]

I read a great post on facebook the other day from a member of a band i listen to

I think it would fit well here, it went:

" Many atheists claim humans invented the concept of God to satisfy a subconscious need to belong to something greater than ourselves. But I respond; Why would humans ever develop a subconscious need which is impossible to satisfy? The fact that humanity longs to know God is evidence of the fact He is there to be known " - Mattie Montgomery.

Great quote yes?

[Guest DRS81]

" Many atheists claim humans invented the concept of God to satisfy a subconscious need to belong to something greater than ourselves.

 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

Jesus is alive!! Ha, Praise Him!!

[One With Him]

Jesus asked Peter "whom do men say that I am"? After Peter responded Jesus asked " but whom do you say that I am"? Peter's response, " The son of the living God". Jesus points out that only God could have revealed this to Peter. We Also know that John said it best of all in Chapter 3 verse 16; For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever BELIEVES in him will not parish but will have eternal life."

 

However the 12 also had unblief or a lack of faith when they could not cast the demon out of the man. "Why do you still not believe"? "How long will I suffer you"? Beliefe is a key part of every thing. If we do not believe then how can we or anyone else be saved? Known of us would believe in God if it was not for God. But with some people God has hardened their hearts because of the sin in their hearts. So yes we must believe to be saved. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God.

 

Jesus Loves You.

[JohnD]

For the past couple years, I've been telling atheists that it's not your sin that keeps you from Christ, it's your unbelief. Am I right by telling them this? How can an atheist believe it's their sin that keeps them from God when they think 'sin' is just a 'religious word'. I personally think that it's their unbelief rather than sin. In all reality, it is the sin of an atheist that keeps them from Christ, but since the veil is over their eyes, they lack understanding. Is lacking understanding a sin? Does an atheist lack understanding, or is it just based on ignorance. How can they understand something that they don't believe is real. Is there scripture that clears this up besides Romans 1:20. Because an atheist will just throw Romans 1:20 back in your face and say I do not see God when I see creation. John 3:18 says the atheist is already condemned for not believing in the son of God. The atheist would say how can I be condemned for something I believe is not real. Are these scriptures so deep in thought, that only God is able to understand? 

 

Atheist view - Sin doesn't exist/How can I believe in something that isn't real

Christian view - It is your sin/It is your unbelief vs. It isn't your sin/But it is your unbelief

 

Look up "7 Campus curses part 5" in video by the Late Walter Martin. In it he uses an illustration as to how moral relativism is false... therefore the wrongs committed ARE sin. Part 6 begins with the conclusion of the illustration.