What I am getting from the quotes above: many people believe there is no such thing as Christian Unbelief. If a person does not believe Jesus correctly, they are an unbeliever and not a Christian.
While it's crucial to have a
correct understanding of who Jesus is—acknowledging Him as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the risen Lord—Scripture also shows that
understanding and faith can grow and deepen over time.
The essence of being a Christian is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with Him, as stated in John 3:16 (NKJV): "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." This verse highlights belief in Jesus as the foundational criterion for salvation and eternal life. However, the New Testament also recognizes the diversity of individuals' understanding and the process of growth in faith. For instance,
the disciples themselves, even after spending extensive time with Jesus,
had moments of misunderstanding and lack of faith (e.g., Mark 4:40, Luke 24:25-27).
Moreover, the story of the man whose son was healed by Jesus in
Mark 9:24, who exclaimed, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" illustrates that faith can coexist with doubt and that sincerity of heart matters to God. This indicates that while correct belief about Jesus is essential, God is also patient and merciful with our process of coming to fuller understanding and deeper faith.
It's important to distinguish between willful rejection of core truths about Jesus and the honest journey of faith, which can involve wrestling with doubts and growing in understanding. The New Testament encourages believers to grow in their knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18) and to bear with one another in love, recognizing that we are at different stages in our spiritual journey (Ephesians 4:2).
In summary, while a correct understanding of Jesus is central to Christian faith, Scripture teaches that faith is also a journey. Believers are encouraged to seek a deeper knowledge of Christ, and the Christian community is called to foster an environment of grace and patience, helping one another grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus.