"Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."—Matthew 17:19-21.
The disciples could not cast out the demon and Jesus told them it was because of "their unbelief". He did not say they had no faith or a weak faith. The apostles had previously been casting out demons.
Luke 10:17-18
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
The apostles had faith, since they apparently attempted to cast out this demon, but it would not leave.
Sometimes this scripture is interpreted to mean that the demon would not leave except though prayer and fasting. But Jesus cast the demon out, and He did not pray and fast before He did it. Jesus had perfect faith, without unbelief.
The apostles unbelief probably came about when they saw the actions of the demon possessed man and had not encountered such actions previously. They may have begun to doubt their ability to cast the demon out and to have fear. Whatever their thoughts, their thoughts did not line up with having perfect faith.
Jesus also did not tell the apostles to go someplace and study some scriptures some more to get a stronger faith. Jesus told them that fasting and praying would drive out unbelief. Less unbelief equals a stronger and more perfect faith.
Our goal in this life is to become like Jesus.
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
2 Corinthians 3:18
New American Standard Bible
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
"Beholding in a mirror" would be reading the Bible. We can see in the Bible who we are supposed to be. But unless we "do" the actions in the Bible that Jesus did we will not be conformed into His image. The evidence of having a strong faith is by being able to do the things Jesus did, and does.
The disciples could not cast out the demon and Jesus told them it was because of "their unbelief". He did not say they had no faith or a weak faith. The apostles had previously been casting out demons.
Luke 10:17-18
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
The apostles had faith, since they apparently attempted to cast out this demon, but it would not leave.
Sometimes this scripture is interpreted to mean that the demon would not leave except though prayer and fasting. But Jesus cast the demon out, and He did not pray and fast before He did it. Jesus had perfect faith, without unbelief.
The apostles unbelief probably came about when they saw the actions of the demon possessed man and had not encountered such actions previously. They may have begun to doubt their ability to cast the demon out and to have fear. Whatever their thoughts, their thoughts did not line up with having perfect faith.
Jesus also did not tell the apostles to go someplace and study some scriptures some more to get a stronger faith. Jesus told them that fasting and praying would drive out unbelief. Less unbelief equals a stronger and more perfect faith.
Our goal in this life is to become like Jesus.
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
2 Corinthians 3:18
New American Standard Bible
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
"Beholding in a mirror" would be reading the Bible. We can see in the Bible who we are supposed to be. But unless we "do" the actions in the Bible that Jesus did we will not be conformed into His image. The evidence of having a strong faith is by being able to do the things Jesus did, and does.
