I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      After Christ’s crucifixion, the apostles refused to believe that He could be alive until they saw Jesus for themselves.

                                                             1.      We often remember “doubting Thomas,” who was not present when Jesus first appeared to the apostles after His resurrection and refused to believe that the Lord was alive without seeing Him (John 20:24-29).

                                                             2.      However, the other apostles were likewise guilty of doubt until they saw Him for themselves, and some even had lingering doubts after seeing (Matt. 28:17; Mark 16:10-11; Luke 24:37-43).

B.      Therefore, it should not surprise us if doubt is sometimes a problem for Christians today.

                                                             1.      None of us have had the benefit of witnessing the Lord with our own eyes, so we are subject to the same doubts as the apostles were after the crucifixion.

                                                             2.      However, we have a benefit that they did not yet have – the full revelation of God’s word.

II.      FAITH IS HARD

A.      Simply stated, faith is belief without sight.

                                                             1.      We believe in many things because we see them, but we have faith if we believe without seeing.

a.       When Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God,” Jesus replied, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:28-29).  Jesus spoke of those who have faith in Him.

b.       Notice the two parts of the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1:

i.         “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…” (we cannot see the things  hoped for – Rom. 8:24-25);

ii.        “…the conviction of things not seen.”

                                                             2.      True faith manifests itself in action: we do things we would not otherwise do because we believe in things we cannot see.

a.       “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2Cor. 5:7)

b.       “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’” (Jas. 2:18)

B.      Therefore, we must learn to believe in God without depending on our eyes.

                                                             1.      We receive Christ through faith, which comes through hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17; John 17:20; 20:30-31).

a.       It is not that the ears are more sacred than the eyes.  The point is that we must believe the word of God, which can be received by hearing with the ears or by reading with the eyes.

b.       Truly, it is the heart that God desires.  We could not all be there to witness the Lord’s resurrection, but we can all hear or read the word of God and believe it in our hearts (Matt. 13:10-17).

                                                             2.      If we refuse to believe because we cannot see with our eyes, then we will never believe in God, for “no man has seen God at any time” (John 1:18).  If we will not trust in the unseen God and His word, then we can never please Him (Heb. 11:6).

C.      Faith in Christ is made difficult because many things contrary to Christ are competing for our hearts.

                                                             1.      As God requires us to believe in the unseen things, He also requires us to forego many things of the world that we can see.  We must choose the unseen God or the visible world (1John 2:15).

                                                             2.      There are also other faiths that compete against the faith of Christ within our hearts, such as false religions, philosophies and traditions of men, and so-called knowledge and false science (Col. 2:8).  We must fight against these things lest they take over our hearts (2Cor. 10:3-6; Jude 3).

III.   DOUBT – THE EASY WAY OUT

A.      It is easy to doubt, disbelieve, criticize, and do nothing.

                                                             1.      Rather than making the effort that is required to believe in Christ and remain faithful, it is much easier to let doubts get the better of us.

a.       Faith is active, not passive.  As we saw above, Christ calls on Christians to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3).

b.       Faith requires strength, diligence, and perseverance.  Those who are spiritually lazy make themselves susceptible to overwhelming doubt and disbelief.

                                                             2.      Criticism, pessimism, and cynicism are common responses to the gospel of Christ.

a.       Whether it was the Pharisees who criticized Jesus or the unbelievers who mocked Christians for believing in the second coming of the Lord (2Pet. 3:3-10), doubters have always tried to hinder believers from their faith.

b.       Many people have chosen to become agnostics, believing that there is insufficient evidence to know anything about God.  They doubt God’s existence because they cannot see Him, and so they do nothing in regard to God.

c.        Even within the church, critical and pessimistic attitudes prevent the growth of individuals and congregations.

                                                             3.      Those who embrace doubt and disbelief do so because it is easier than believing.  If they believe in Christ, then they know they will have to change, which will require effort and sacrifice that they are unwilling to give.

B.      Consider how doubting God and His word affects us:

                                                             1.      Doubt destroys the foundation of faith.

a.       The Scripture says that our faith is the victory that overcomes death and the world (1Cor. 15:54-57; 1John 5:4-5).  If we allow doubt to take over our hearts, then we are defeated, and Satan wins.

b.       Doubt destroys our ability to be pleasing to God regardless of what else we may do.  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Heb. 11:6).

                                                             2.      Doubt saps the energy and life from and individual and a congregation.

a.       A Christian who doubts is described by James as “double-minded” and “unstable in all his ways” (Jas. 1:6-8).

i.         He is double-minded because his mind is divided between God and something else.  Therefore, he must purify his heart and become single-minded for God (Jas. 4:8).

ii.        He is unstable in all his ways because of his double-mindedness.  He will vacillate between God’s ways and man’s ways, making him unstable.

iii.      His doubt hinders his prayers, for his heart does not trust in God.

b.       An individual Christian or a congregation that doubts the Lord and His ways will not give the necessary effort that is worthy of Christ.

i.         Why make the effort to teach the lost if one doubts that the word of God can reach them?  Why try to edify the church if one doubts that it can grow?

ii.        These kinds of attitudes lead to individuals and churches that are dead and “unworthy of the calling with which (they) have been called” (Eph. 4:1).

                                                             3.      Doubt leads to failure.

a.       When we doubt the Lord, we become like Peter when he was walking on the water.  As long as he focused on the Lord, he walked.  But when his attention was drawn away, he failed.  Jesus said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:22-33).

b.       When we doubt that Christians can overcome the obstacles of the world through Christ, we have failed before we have begun.  Remember that God wants our hearts, which includes our belief, our love, and our trust.  If we do not give Him these, then we have failed.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      Ultimately, the responsibility for your faith rests on you.

                                                             1.      The Lord said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7).  No one can ask, seek, or knock for you.

                                                             2.      Regardless of what your parents, spouse, or fellow Christians may believe, you have to believe for yourself.

B.      Therefore, be diligent to build your own faith and erase your doubts.

                                                             1.      Just as Paul told Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2Tim. 2:15).

                                                             2.      “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.  Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (1Tim. 4:15-16).