DISCOURSE: 2213
PROGRESS OF UNBELIEF
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
THE Apostles, even as our Lord himself had done, spake of the day of judgment as near at hand. To individual souls it was so; because at the instant of our death our state is irrevocably and eternally fixed. But, as it respects the world at large, it was, and still is, far distant; there being many prophecies yet to be accomplished, previous to its arrival. The Thessalonian converts, interpreting too literally some expressions in St. Paul’s former epistle, had formed an expectation that the day of judgment was almost instantly to appear: the Apostle therefore, in this epistle, rectifies the mistake; and informs them that before that time there would be a most grievous apostasy in the Church, which would issue most fatally to the souls of all who should bear a part in it. It would originate in unbelief, and terminate in perdition.
The words which I have just read will lead me to trace the progress of unbelief; from its commencement, in the rejection of the Gospel, to its termination, in the destruction of the soul. When suffered to prevail, it leads to,
I. A wilful rejection of God’s mercy in Christ—
It is not from a want of evidence that men reject the Gospel—
[There is in the Gospel evidence enough to satisfy any candid inquirer. But men have an aversion to the truth. The Gospel requires of them a humiliation of soul, a renunciation of self-dependence, and a sanctity of heart and life, to which they are utterly indisposed. “They love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil [Note: John 3:19.]” — — —]
Their rejection of it arises altogether from “an evil heart of unbelief [Note: Hebrews 3:12.]”—
[The Gospel offers salvation, “salvation with eternal glory.” But, however desirous men may be of happiness, they will not accept it on the terms proposed. The truth is offensive to their pride, their worldliness, their carnal inclinations; and therefore they hate it and will not receive it, even though, “if received ill the love of it, it would save them [Note: ver. 10.].”]
As the just punishment of this unfaithfulness, they are often left to experience,
II.
A dereliction of God to judicial blindness—
Men, from love of error, often persuade themselves that it is truth—
[There are no persons more confident than those who reject the Gospel. some will pour contempt upon it, as foolishness: others will make it a stumbling-block, as opposing some opinions which they are determined to maintain. And so resolutely will both the one and the other exclude all light from their minds, that they will not only hold fast their delusions, but will really “believe their own lie” — — —]
To this delusion God himself will often “give them up”—
[“His Spirit shall not alway strive with man.” Both under the; Jewish and Christian dispensation, “he has given over to a reprobate mind” those who shut their eyes against the truth, and “did not like to retain him in their knowledge [Note: Psalms 81:11-12.Romans 1:28; John 12:39-40.].” Nor can there be any thing more just, than that, if we determinately “join ourselves to idols,” he should say, “Let them alone [Note: Hosea 4:17.].”]
This sentence once passed, the obstinate unbeliever suffers,
III.
A final abandonment to everlasting damnation—
The very thought of damnation is terrible in the extreme—
[Who can contemplate what is implied in that judgment, and not tremble at it? — — —]
Yet, to that shall the unbeliever be finally consigned—
[Plainly is this declared [Note: John 3:36.]: and our blessed Lord commanded all his servants to declare it to the whole world [Note: Mark 16:16.]. In truth, this is no other than the necessary consequence of unbelief: for the Gospel is the only remedy for the salvation of fallen man; and they who reject it have no other alternative than this. There is no medium between the salvation of the soul and its eternal condemnation: they who, through “love of unrighteousness,” disregard the one, must inevitably and eternally endure the other.]
Inquire then, I pray you,
1.
What is your disposition towards the Gospel?
[Do not too hastily conclude that you love it: for if you love it, you cannot but hate and abhor every kind of unrighteousness; yea, and Christ himself must be precious to your souls. “Examine yourselves” by such tests as these, before you persuade yourselves “that you are in the faith:” and remember, that there is nothing more fatal, or indeed more common, than an ungrounded confidence. Many are “given over to a strong delusion; and so believe their own lie,” that they will never admit a fear of damnation, till they are left to endure it without a remedy.]
2. What are your prospects in the eternal world?
[If they who reject the Gospel are given over to damnation, need I say, what is the happy state of those who receive the Gospel? But, if I had the tongue of an angel, I could not adequately declare what salvation is. This however I can declare, that it is yours, it is yours infallibly, if you believe in Christ, and cast yourselves altogether on him. Nothing have you to fear, if He be yours: for “in him you have both righteousness and strength;” righteousness, to justify you before God; and strength, to fulfil his holy will. Look then to the Saviour, and you may regard heaven as yours. Look to the Saviour; and, as from Pisgah’s top, you may survey the promised land, and live in the sweet anticipation of all its blessedness and glory.]