Consequences of Doubt in New Born Christians
Consequences of Doubt in Newborn Christians
Doubt can be a significant challenge for new Christians, potentially hindering their spiritual growth and relationship with God. The Bible warns about the dangers of doubt, with Acts 13:41 cautioning against being "doubters" who fail to believe despite clear evidence [2].
The consequences of doubt in newborn Christians can be severe. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, a lack of confession of Christ can lead to negative consequences, including the fear of man preventing one from confessing Christ (John 7:13; 12:42,43) [1]. Furthermore, the fear of man can be a characteristic of the wicked, leading to unholy fear (1Sa 15:24; Joh 9:22) [3].
In the view of Reformed theologians, doubt can be a result of the ongoing struggle with sin and unbelief. John Calvin notes that believers can experience doubt and trembling, especially when faced with temptations and the weight of their sins [8]. However, Calvin also emphasizes that faith must be certain and secure, and that believers can find assurance in the promises of God [9].
The patristic tradition also addresses the issue of doubt in newborn Christians. Augustine writes that Christians do not always beget Christian children, and that the uncertainty of the New Academy is distinct from the certainty of the Christian faith [6, 7]. This highlights the importance of recognizing that doubt can be a natural part of the spiritual journey.
The consequences of persistent doubt can be dire. According to Hebrews 6:6, those who fall away after having been enlightened can no longer be renewed to repentance, as they are, in effect, crucifying Christ again [4]. This severe warning underscores the need for newborn Christians to cultivate faith and perseverance.
In the Reformed tradition, Charles Hodge emphasizes the importance of self-examination and faith in partaking of the Lord's Supper [5]. This highlights the need for believers to continually assess their faith and seek to deepen their relationship with God.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
- Acts “Acts 13:41 (BBE) — See, you doubters, have wonder and come to your end; for I will do a thing in your days to which you will not give belief, even if it is made clear to you.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Unholy — A characteristic of the wicked -- Re 21:8. Is described as A fear of idols. -- 2Ki 17:38. A fear of man. -- 1Sa 15:24; Joh 9:22. A fear of judgments. -- Isa 2:19; Lu 21:26; Re 6:16,17. A fear of future punishment. -- Heb 10:27. Overwhelming. -- Ex 15:16; Job 15:21,24. Consuming. -- Ps 73:19. A guilty conscience leads to -- Ge 3:8,10; Ps 53:5; Pr 28:1. Seizes the wicked -- Job 15:24; 18:11. Surprises the hypocrite -- Isa 33:14,18. The wicked judicially filled with -- Le 26:16,17; De 28:65-67; Jer 49:5. Shall be realised -- Pr 1:27; 10:24. God mocks -- P”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 6:6: If--Greek, "And (yet) have fallen away"; compare a less extreme falling or declension, Gal 5:4, "Ye are fallen from grace." Here an entire and wilful apostasy is meant; the Hebrews had not yet so fallen away; but he warns them that such would be the final result of retrogression, if, instead of "going on to perfection," they should need to learn again the first principles of Christianity (Heb 6:1). to renew them again--They have been "once" (Heb 6:4) already renewed, or made anew, and now they need to be "renewed" over "again." crucify to themselve”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 68: this sacrament demands should exist in the heart, without producing supreme love and gratitude to Christ, and the fixed purpose to forsake all sin and to live devoted to his service. Our Church, therefore, teaches that it is required of them who would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves, of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon Him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience. It is, however, not to be inferred from this that a man must be assured that he is a true believe”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 17 [IX.] -- CHRISTIANS DO NOT ALWAYS BEGET CHRISTIAN, NOR THE PURE, PURE CHILDREN, (part 2): to produce a Christian soul. Believe then the truth, and see that, as it has been possible (as [you yourselves admit) for one who is not a Christian to be born of Christian parents, for one who is not a member of Christ to be born of members of Christ, and (that we may answer all, who, however falsely, are yet in some sense possessed with a sense of religion) for a man who is not consecrated to be born of parents who are consecrated; so also it is quite po”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 18.--HOW DIFFERENT THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE NEW ACADEMY IS FROM THE CERTAINTY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.: As regards the uncertainty about everything which Varro alleges to be the differentiating characteristic of the New Academy, the city of God thoroughly detests such doubt as madness. Regarding matters which it apprehends by the mind and reason it has most absolute certainty, although its knowledge is limited because of the corruptible body pressing down the mind, for, as the apostle says, "We know in part."(1) It believes also the”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: from the experience of believers, who, in recognizing the grace of God toward them, not only feel disquietude (this often happens), but sometimes tremble, overcome with terror, 290 290 As to the imperfection, strengthening, and increase of faith, see Book 4. chap. 4 sec. 7, 8. so violent are the temptations which assail their minds. This scarcely seems consistent with certainty of faith. It is necessary to solve this difficulty, in order to maintain the doctrine above laid down. When we say that faith must be certain and secure, we”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: 3:18 ). In such degrees of ignorance much doubt and trembling is necessarily implied, especially seeing that our heart is by its own natural bias prone to unbelief. To this we must add the temptations which, various in kind and infinite in number, are ever and anon violently assailing us. In particular, conscience itself, burdened with an incumbent load of sins, at one time complains and groans, at another accuses itself; at one time murmurs in secret, at another openly rebels. Therefore, whether adverse circumstances betoken the w”