Faith makes us see preciousness in Christ; but unbelief sees no form, beauty, or comeliness in him (1 Pet 2:7; Isa. 53:1-3). By faith we have our life in Christ’s fulness; but by unbelief we starve and pine away (Gal. 2:20). Faith gives us the victory over the law, sin, death, the devil, and all evils; but unbelief lays us obnoxious to them all (1 John 5:4-5; Luke 12:46).

The sin of unbelief is deadly. “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God” (Heb 3:12). Unbelief is the sin that will keep us from entering God’s rest (Heb 3:19). And the opposite of unbelief is faith. “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened” (Heb 4:2). Those who place their trust in the finished work of Jesus enter into God’s true Sabbath rest. These are glorious truths, but how do I know if I have unbelief in my heart? What does unbelief look like? John Bunyan, in his book Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, lays out 25 marks of unbelief, as contrasted by faith. I was encouraged to read these prayerfully, and ask the Lord to search my heart.

1. Faith believes the Word of God; but unbelief questions the certainty of the same (Psa. 106:24).

2. Faith believes the Word, because it is true; but unbelief doubts it, because it is true (1 Tim. 4:3; John 8:45).

3. Faith sees more in a promise of God to help than in all other things to hinder; but unbelief, notwithstanding God’s promise, says, How can these things be? (Rom 4:19-21; 2 Kings 7:2; John 3:11-12).

4. Faith will make you see love in the heart of Christ when with his mouth he gives reproofs; but unbelief will imagine wrath in his heart when with his mouth and Word he says he loves us (Matt. 15:22-28; Num. 13; Matt. 25:24).

5. Faith will help the soul to wait, though God defers to give; but unbelief will take the huff and throw up all if God makes any tarrying (Psa. 25:5; Isa. 8:17; 2 Kings 6:33; Psa. 106:13-14).

6. Faith will give comfort in the midst of fears; but unbelief causes fears in the midst of comfort (2 Chron. 20:20-21; Matt. 8:26; Luke 24:25-27).

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