Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8700 Threats to the life of faith  »  8742 faithlessness  »  8744 faithlessness, as disobedience

A lack of faith and obedience to God, which is seen especially in the lives of unbelievers. However, Scripture makes clear that believers can occasionally lapse into faithlessness towards God.

Faithlessness among the ungodly

In their character and lifestyle

Psalm 101:3-5; Psalm 119:158 See also Psalm 10:4; Psalm 14:1; John 16:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:2; Titus 1:15-16

Examples of faithless men

1 Samuel 25:2-3 Nabal; Esther 3:5-6 Haman; Matthew 2:16 Herod the Great; Acts 19:23-27 Demetrius

The faithless appear to prosper

Jeremiah 12:1 See also Job 21:7; Psalm 73:3-5,12; Malachi 3:15

Faithlessness results in judgment

Proverbs 14:14; John 3:36 See also Psalm 73:17-18,27; Malachi 4:1; Mark 16:16; John 8:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; Revelation 21:8

Faithlessness among the Jews

Their failure to trust God for deliverance

Isaiah 31:1 See also Isaiah 22:8-11; Isaiah 30:1-2,12-13

Their rejection of the gospel

John 12:37-38 See also Isaiah 53:1; John 3:11-12; John 5:37-40; John 8:45; John 10:25-26

Specific examples

Matthew 13:58 pp Mark 6:5-6 the people of Nazareth; Matthew 19:21-22 pp Mark 10:21-22 pp Luke 18:22-23 the rich young ruler; Acts 28:24 Many Jews reject Paul's ministry in Rome; 1 Timothy 1:13 Paul's own persecution of the church arose from unbelief in Jesus Christ.

Israel's estrangement from God

Matthew 21:43 See also Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:41 pp Mark 12:9; Romans 9:32-33

The acceptance of the Gentiles

Romans 11:17-21 The Jews' rejection of the gospel opens the way for Gentiles to be incorporated into the people of God, represented here as branches grafted onto a cultivated olive tree.

Israel's faithlessness is partial and temporary

Romans 11:5 Though the people as a whole have rejected Jesus Christ, a faithful remnant remains; Romans 11:11-12,23-27 God's purpose for the faithful of Israel is their ultimate salvation.

Faithlessness among believers

Lack of faith is rebuked

Matthew 14:30-31 See also Matthew 6:30-32 pp Luke 12:28-30 worrying about food and clothing; Matthew 8:24-26 pp Mark 4:38-40 pp Luke 8:23-25 Fear during a storm at sea; Matthew 17:17-20 pp Mark 9:17-19 pp Luke 9:40-42 inability to cast out a demon

Causes of faithlessness

Matthew 16:8-10 failure to learn from the lessons of the past; Luke 24:25 failure to accept teaching that has been given

See also

1310  God as judge
2309  Christ as judge
6169  godlessness
7140  people of God
8710  atheism
8718  disobedience
8721  doubt
8726  doubters
8834  unbelief