Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8743 faithlessness, nature and causes of

8743 faithlessness, nature and causes of

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8742 faithlessness » 8743 faithlessness, nature and causes of

The abandoning of a commitment to the Lord, seen in disowning him, wandering from the truth and becoming entangled with the world, and resulting in judgment.

Warnings against faithlessness

2 Timothy 2:12-13 See also Matthew 10:33 pp Luke 12:9; Luke 9:62; Hebrews 10:35-39; Habakkuk 2:3-4

Ways in which faithlessness is seen

Turning away from the Lord

Hebrews 3:12

Abandoning the gospel of grace

Galatians 1:6

Becoming entangled in the world

2 Peter 2:20-22 See also Proverbs 26:11; 2 Timothy 4:10

Causes of faithlessness

False teaching

2 Timothy 2:17-18 See also Galatians 1:7; Galatians 4:8-11; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Peter 3:17

Persecution and trials

Matthew 13:20-21 pp Mark 4:16-17 pp Luke 8:13 See also Matthew 24:9-13

Concern for money and possessions

1 Timothy 6:10 See also Proverbs 30:8-9; Matthew 13:22 pp Mark 4:18-19 pp Luke 8:14

Love growing cold

Matthew 24:12 See also Revelation 2:4

Sexual desire

1 Timothy 5:11-15

Faithlessness brings punishment

Church discipline

1 Timothy 1:18-20 These men had been excluded from the church, a sanctuary from Satan's power.

God's judgment

Matthew 10:33 pp Luke 12:9 See also Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-27

The faithlessness of those who fall away

The absence of true faith

1 John 2:19

True faith is proved by perseverance

See also James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:5-7

Israel's faithlessness in the OT

Israel's unfaithfulness led to God's rejection

Psalm 78:56-59

Warnings not to repeat Israel's unfaithfulness

Psalm 95:7-11; Hebrews 3:7-12; Hebrews 4:1-2