Unbelief

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
— Isaiah 53:1

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
— Jeremiah 17:9

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
— 1 Corinthians 1:18

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
— Hebrews 3:12

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
— Isaiah 53:5-6

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
— 1 Peter 2:24

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
— Luke 24:25-27

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
— Luke 4:18-19

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
— Colossians 2:14-15

A Horrible and Shocking Thing is Done, by J.C. Ryle. The following contains an excerpt from his work, “Calvary”.

I know no greater proof of man’s depravity, than the fact that thousands of so-called professing Christians see nothing lovely in the cross. Well, may our hearts be called stony, well, may the eyes of our mind be called blind, well, may our whole nature be called diseased, well, may we all be called dead in sin—when the cross of Christ is heard of, and yet neglected. Surely we may take up the words of the prophet, and say, “Hear, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth: A horrible and shocking thing is done.” Christ was crucified for sinners, and yet many professing Christians live as if He was never crucified at all. Would I know how exceedingly sinful and abominable sin is in the sight of God? Shall I turn to the history of the flood, and read how sin drowned the world? Shall I ponder what sin brought on Sodom and Gomorrah? No. I can find a clearer proof still—I look at what happened on Calvary. There I see that sin is so black and damnable, that nothing but the blood of God’s own Son can wash it away. There I see that sin has so separated me from my holy Maker, that all the angels in Heaven could never have made peace between us. Nothing could reconcile us, short of the death of Christ.

Ah, if I listened to the wretched talk of proud men, I might sometimes imagine sin was not so very sinful; but I cannot think little of sin when I look at Calvary. I find no balm for a sore conscience and a troubled heart, like the sight of Jesus dying for me on the accursed tree. There I see that a full payment has been made for all my enormous debts. When I look at the cross, I feel sure that there is a way to Heaven for the very vilest of men.

Would I find strong reasons for being a holy man?

I will look at Calvary and the crucifixion. There I see that Jesus gave Himself for me, not only to redeem me from iniquity-—but also to purify me. He bore my sins in His own body on the tree, that I being dead unto sin, should live unto righteousness. Ah, reader, there is nothing so sanctifying as a clear view of the cross of Christ. It crucifies the world unto us, and us unto the world.

How can we love sin when we remember that because of our sins, Jesus died for our sin?

Would I learn how to be contented and cheerful under all the cares and anxieties of life? What school shall I go to? How shall I attain this state of mind most easily? Shall I look at the sovereignty of God, the wisdom of God, the providence of God, the love of God? It is well to do so. But I have a better argument still. I will look at Calvary and the crucifixion. I feel that He who did not spare His only begotten Son, but delivered Him up to die for me—will surely with Him, give me all things that I really need. He that endured that pain for my soul, will surely not withhold from me anything that is really good. He that has done the greater things for me, will doubtless do the lesser things also. He that gave His own blood to procure an eternal home for me, will unquestionably supply me with all that is really profitable for me along the way.

Ah, reader, there is no school for learning contentment that can be compared with Calvary and the foot of the cross.

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