When Jesus healed the sick and lame and cast evil spirits out of a man ... for all to see, the religious Pharisees accused Him of doing these miracles by the power of Satan. Matt.12:24. Jesus responded, "He that is not with me is against me ...." Matt.12:30. So the Pharisees complained, "We would see a sign from thee." Matt.12:38.
Their response was ludicrous, to say the least. Jesus healed known sick and lame people, cast out evil spirits and even raised the dead, and yet they wanted to "see a sign". If they didn't accept any of the miracles Jesus had already done, what kind of additional sign could they want? Jesus, of course, knew their problem was unrepentant sin, even though they were religious leaders, and He scolded them ..."An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Jesus said, "The only sign you are going to get is my crucifixion and resurrection from the dead."
This entire confrontational discussion was plainly showing the degree of unreasonable disbelieve of those who simply "will not" believe, no matter how many signs and proofs God might put before them. It was not a matter of more proof that they needed; it was a matter of their unbelieving self-will which negated undeniable proof. When Jesus was later taken, by the Jewish elders, chief priests and scribes, before the Jewish council, he was asked, "Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe". Lk.22:67. Jesus knew their unbelieving hearts.
Jesus wants those who seek the true God, peace and forgiveness, to believe on Him by faith, which comes from the word of God, not by the sight of visible signs and miracles. Even the devil believes in what he sees with his eyes but that does not save him. "Faith cometh by hearing .... the word of God." Rom.10:17. So Jesus asks, of those seekers .......
So the core of the matter of faith and belief is based on sincere acceptance of Christ within the "will or will not" of the heart of the person. That is what Jesus meant when He said ....
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Jn.5:40.
The amazing thing to me is, how is it possible that anyone cannot see God in His creation ... even if there were no other testimony or proof given.
The Psalmist cried out, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." Psm. 19:1. How can one look at the starry night sky or the scorching sun set in a dark blue sky by day, and not know God is real?"The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory." Psm. 97:6
The mystery of unbelief is exposed in 2 Thess.2:7.... "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." The only thing restraining and preventing the absolute domination of this world by Satan and unbelief is the Holy Spirit of God in the lives of God's people .... true Christians. God's Holy Spirit is holding the door of faith open for all who will believe on and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. The very moment Jesus returns for His true church and bride, the born-again Christians, even as they are ruptured up out of this earth, the Holy Spirit, who lives in them, will be ruptured up with them into the presence of God. Then, the presence of Christians and the Holy Spirit will be "taken out of the way" , and Satan, who occupies the Anti-Christ and his minions, will have free sway in the world, and the tribulation period will begin. Only the two witnesses (Rev.11:3), who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, will interrupt the evil reign of Satan's sovereigns and of unbelief. The amazing thing to me is, how is it possible that anyone cannot see God in His creation ... even if there were no other testimony or proof given.
The Psalmist cried out, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." Psm. 19:1. How can one look at the starry night sky or the scorching sun set in a dark blue sky by day, and not know God is real?"The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory." Psm. 97:6
The proof of GOD is here in plenty, in His creation, in His Holy Spirit's moving, in His Church, In His people and in His Holy word ... the Bible, so that there is no excuse for unbelief. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Rom.1:20.
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