The Frowardness of Unbelief

Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

Deuteronomy 32:20

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very fraudulent generation…

1. Unbelief is a very froward thing, because, in the first place, it gives God the lie. Can anything be worse than this? God saith, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt, be saved," and the unbeliever replies, "I cannot believe that Jesus will save me." Oh, soul, can you dare to look up to the Cross of Jesus and say, "There is no life in a look at the Crucified One for me"? Can you even think of the Holy Spirit, and then say that He has no power to change a heart so black and hard as yours?

2. Again, unbelief is great frowardness, because it refuses God's way of salvation. No man can read the Scriptures without seeing that God's way of salvation is not by work nor by feelings, but by trusting in the Son of God, who has offered a full atonement for sin. Now the sinner says, "Lord, I would do or suffer anything if I might thereby be saved.

3. Unbelief is a very froward thing, again, because it very often makes unreasonable demands of God. When Thomas said, "Except I put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe," he was speaking very frowardly. I have heard the sinner say, "Oh, sir, if I could have a dream, if I could be broken down with anguish, or if I could enjoy some remarkable revelation, then I would believe God"; this also is frowardness.

4. Unbelief is very froward, next, because it indulges hard thoughts of God. Do you say that "Salvation by faith is too good to be true"? Is anything too good to come from God, who is infinitely good?

5. And yet again, unbelief is a very froward thing because it disparages the Lord Jesus. Oh, soul, dost thou doubt the infinite virtue of the Divine sacrifice? Dost thou question the power of the intercession of the risen Lord?

6. And do you not think it is another instance of great frowardness that unbelief casts reflections upon the Holy Spirit? Not save thee? Who art thou that thou shouldst stand out against the witness of the Spirit of truth? Wilt thou refuse the three-fold witness of the Spirit, the water, and the blood?

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