Thank you for the Biblical question, “What is the biblical definition of a unbeliever? What are some biblical examples of a unbeliever? In the Bible could a person’s belief be seen in their actions, or are there examples of a person just saying they believe and having no actions?”
Here are some thoughts for one consideration:
A. A person may be considered an unbeliever for failing to enter a personal relationship with God and refusing to acknowledge YHWH as God in his or her life.
In the Old Testament, a person’s response to enter into the Covenantal Relationship is reflected whether one is a follower of YHWH or not. Exodus 19 says this, “Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites” (NIV). Notation, all citations are from the NIV.
For men who declare that they believe in YHWH, circumcision is the first sign that would reflect one’s belief in God. Those who refuse to enter that covenantal relationship would be seen as an unbeliever.
Jesus said this in Matthew 23, “15 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”
I cite two biblical examples as Ruth.. In the Biblical narrative of Ruth, she says this in chapter 1, “At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. 15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.”
Orpah, although married into a Jewish family, remained as a Canaanite. She went back to her country and to her gods. Ruth committed ts staying with Naomi and declaring that the LORD God is her God. She entered into a Covenantal Relationship with God while Orpah did not. Orpha is an unbeliever.
One other example would be Naaman before he was cleansed of his leprosy and after healing of his leprosy through the words of his maid. I Kings 5 says this, “13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy…Now I know there is no God in all the world except in Israel…17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. 18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.”
Naaman worshiped the god of the Canaanite prior to meeting Elisha but after his experience of being healed, he declared that he will only worship the LORD God of Israel. He asked for forgiveness when he has to enter the temple of Rimmon to bow down with his king since the king worship the Canaanite gods.
Thus, in the Old Testament, an unbeliever is a person who is not “converted” or enter into a Covenantal Relationship with God. That person is outside of the family of God.
B. In the New Testament, an unbeliever is a person who fails to enter a Covenantal Relationship with God and refuses to believe God’s offer of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Chris who is the Son of the Living God who came to redeem him or her from their sins.
The Biblical narrative of John 3 with Nicodemus and the John 4 of Jesus at the well with the Samaritian woman shows their belief before and after their meeting with Jesus.
The Apostle Paul’s testimony before king Agrippa and Festus was compelling to them in Acts 26, “ 19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” 24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
King Agrippa and Festus heard the testimony of the Apostle Paul of his conversion. Festus thought Paul was mad while Agrippa ponder more deeply the words of Paul. His comment states that he has not yet come to a place of faith, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Neither King Agrippa or Festus had come to a place of faith in Jesus Christ. They heard about him, but they haven’t made a personal commitment.
James declared that faith without works is dead in James 2. It is not enough just to say that I believe when there is no transformation of life or good deeds done from that faith. If there is genuine faith in Jesus Christ, there will be some evidence of it. The Spirit of God is active in that person’s life.
James says this in chapter 2, “14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
The Apostle Paul says that God has good works for believers to do after they believe. The believer is not working for his salvation but demonstrates good works as a result of one’s faith. He says this in Ephesians 2, “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Believers are saved through faith and it is by their faith that reflects his or her belief in Jesus Christ.
No one can judge the heart of a person. A person may seem to us to have the absence of good works in one’s life. We don’t know what God is doing in that person’s life before he can work through that person’s life. Thus, one should be slow to judge or assess that one is not a believer because she or doesn’t see any good works at the moment.
Summary: Salvation is a gift from God. If a person has come into a Covenantal Relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God will be working in that person’s life or will work through that person’s life. God knows the heart, so we are to suspend judgment on whether one is a believer or not.
-Kingston