What is an unbeliever?

Is it always possible to tell the difference between the believer and the unbeliever?

In the context we are considering, an unbeliever, then, is restricted to those who do not believe the evangel. Paul gives two classes of unbelievers: Jews and Gentiles. To the Jew, the evangel, the word of the cross, is a snare, a stumbling stone; it offends him. To the Gentile, the evangel, the word of the cross, is stupidity; he is insulted by it. Consequently, an unbeliever is someone who has never believed the evangel.

Unbelievers may pretend to believe; such “faith” as they evidence is only feigned faith. At some point, their true colors may become evident, but not necessarily. They may live their whole lives pretending to be believers. Peer pressure may be involved; or social standing; then again, deception or fraud may be the motive.

Clearly, not all who profess faith possess faith. In addition to feigned faith, some people, probably a great many, think they have faith, but do not. Religion is an established feature of society. People belong to churches for many reasons. Not all church members are believers. Many simply grow up in the church; they know the language, they hear the stories, and they think they are believers. Some people choose churches like they choose a country club or a bank; and for similar reasons, whether social, economic, political, or business. They may believe that they are believers. But mere familiarization with the language of faith is not faith. It has been rightly said that many church members have just enough acquaintance with Christianity to be “inoculated” against the real thing. Thousands respond to “altar calls,” but may, in fact, simply be responding to intellectual or emotional manipulation, even as peer pressure. (And of course I am speaking here not only of parishioners but of teachers as well.)

But a believer with some incorrect or incomplete doctrine, is not an unbeliever. A believer who does not walk in accord with the doctrine he holds, is still a believer. Peter, when acting hypocritically (Gal.2:11-14), was still a believer. Paul and Barnabas, when they argued violently and “recoiled” from each other (Acts 15:39), were still believers. A believer who sins, is still a believer (1 Cor.5:5). A believer who lives according to the flesh, is still a believer (1 Cor.3:3).

There is discipline within the ecclesia. Sinful deportment is to be dealt with severely (1 Cor.5:5). Schism is not to be tolerated (Titus 3:10). “Tough love” had to be shown; but the recipients of such discipline were still brothers, fellow believers (2 Thess.3:6).

Paul even dealt with believers who held to false teachings. These he tried to correct, showing the implications of their error. Paul’s instructions to Timothy as to how to deal with error among the saints was to “. . . not be fighting, but be gentle to all, apt to teach, bearing with evil, with meekness training those who are antagonizing” (2 Tim.2:25). Even, in the preaching of the word, when it is necessary to “expose, rebuke, entreat,” it is to be done “with all patience and teaching [i.e., instruction]” (2 Tim.4:2). But Paul assures us that all believers, those faithful and those not faithful, those in error and those pure in their doctrine, will all be saved, and will be participants in the resurrection (1 Cor.3:14-15; 1 Thess.5:4-14;). They are, therefore, believers.

So it is not always possible to tell the difference. We cannot know the hearts of men.