Doubting Our Doubts

Luke 7:9

Doubt And The BibleFacts and warnings about doubt

(Gen. 3:1; Rom. 14:23; James 1:5-8)Doubt is not always negative

Sometimes it moves us to investigateMatters of faith

Nature of faith calls for investigation (Heb. 11:1)Am I really a Christian?Are my sins really forgiven?Does the Lord really love me?Can I count on His promises?

Doubt can be a real motivatorHowever, through investigation we

strengthen our faithThis limits the effect of doubtNothing is gained by not investigating

and wallowing in doubt

The Doubts Of The ApostlesThe apostles also questioned things

Doubted the report (Mk. 16:11-13; Lk. 24:8-11)

Even late in the account (Mk. 16:14)

It is easy to fault themThey had been with Him for three

yearsHe had repeatedly told them of His

impending death and resurrection (Mk. 8:31)

Even His enemies knew of His teaching on this (Matt. 27:63)

A great contributor to doubt is fearFear of failureFear of rejectionFear of the world and its opinion

We must never allow fear to overwhelm us and produce permanent doubt

The Doubt Of ThomasCharacter of Thomas

Practical (Jn. 14:5)Devoted (Jn. 11:16)

Thomas may have doubted, but he did ask for evidence (Jn. 20:24-25)

He received it (Jn. 20:26-27)Doubt was gone (Jn. 20:28)

Help To Overcome DoubtCan we understand the apostles’

doubt?FearEvents contrary to experienceShame

Yet, they received evidence to calm them.Peace (Jn. 20:19)Jesus in their midst (Jn. 20:19)Commissioned (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15)

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

1 John 4:4; 5:4-5 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world…For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Acts 17:11

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.