What does Jesus say about those who don’t believe in Him?

Jesus taught that those of God come to Him and that those not of God do not come to Him because they don't desire to know if what they are doing is of God or not.   Some words from the intercessory prayer of Jesus in John 17 give some foundation to the topic. Preceding this are additional words that also directly relate; John 15 and 16, (16:5-11):

"But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

Per John 17 the unity of believers first based upon the unity of Jesus to God and our unity is based on our unity in Jesus. 17:13-26:

"But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
 

The Scripture which says "My people perish for lack of knowledge" directly relates to this teaching.  God’s people can perish for lack of knowledge, and this goes hand in hand with the commandment that we keep His words, that we grow in the knowledge of the love of God and that we know His judgements so that we don’t find ourselves on the receiving end of the judgement of God instead of the blessings of God. God upholds His word higher than His name. God cannot lie.

These things are brought to the surface on this topic so that we might have the focus required to see what the point of division is between light and darkness. As we grow to know this fact we can grow to understand what matters most, and in knowing this, that we pursue that we are in the love of God wholly, not partially. Greater is the fall and judgment of those who knew VS never knew.

Looking again at the final situation of the day of the LORD and the lake of fire we again need to draw conclusions as God has forewarned us of what is to come, just as He warned Israel to "Choose life that ye may live!".

John 8:21-23

"Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going way, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."

So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?"

And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

.9:54-58

"Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.."

"Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

8:31

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’

8:42-47

"Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and come from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

How can we be His disciples except we believe in Him, who He claimed to be and abide in His word by doing what He said? This is the focal point of knowing what is pleasing to God. Then when we see that we might see better those things that are out of bounds of what Jesus taught.

8:52

"If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.".

8:58

"Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

8:23

"And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

Jesus taught about the great subjects of life that transcend generational concerns. What He said applies to all men of all generations. On the topic of life and death, the need for doing the will of God while alive, and the finality of death for those who don’t live as God directs. He taught about rich and poor, the faithless and the faithful, the profitable and unprofitable. Many of His teachings were done by comparison of one VS the other. This brings us to the teaching regarding what happens after death for those of God and those not of God.

John 5:24-30;

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent me."

Luke 16:19- 17:4

"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

"Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us."

"Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers what he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."

"Then He said to the disciples, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him."

One can imagine the offences felt by Lazarus each and every day as he lay at that gate of the rich man. Hungry, destitute, illness of infections that wouldn’t heal. He was at the gate of one who well had within his means to provide him food - even a little meal every day, yet all he received was scraps. He was at the gate of one who had it well within his means to help him get bathed and provide clean clothes. Perhaps it was also within his means to have some sort of medicine provided to help heal those sores. Going further, he might have had something that Lazarus could do for a job to earn what he received or to have done something profitable for him. It didn’t have to be much, just that it was enough for his needs. Yet the rich man didn’t care or think to care about it. The rich man was self absorbed in his own life of ease and wealth. The rich man must have had some knowledge of God and knew who Abraham was. Perhaps he even saw himself as a blessed descendent of Abraham, one blessed by God. Yet being blessed of God it would seem he had no concern of sharing those blessings with those who could use them most who were right at his door step. He likely kept the Sabbath and thought himself as right in Gods sight because he kept the Ten Commandments. So blessed with the things of this world, yet he lacked love, compassion, and to seek the righteousness of God and that of doing justly and loving mercy. How much different would the finality of their lives have been had the rich man shared the good things of his life with which he was so richly blessed? Yet the only comfort Lazarus had was that of the dogs. Even the dogs knew Lazarus had needs. I can imagine that as a dog senses when it’s owner is troubled and cannot do anything, by instinct the good dog at least gives the owner doggy kisses of licking, in this case the dogs licked the sores of Lazarus. Man was created in the image of God, yet those dogs showed more humanity than the rich man.

Matthew 16:21-27;

"But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."

Matthew 18:6-9;

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Who to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two ands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast if from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

23-35;

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed hem ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

"But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with mne, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him."

13:47-50;

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end fo the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

13:24-30;

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tars and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."

37-43;

"He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

10:27-28;

"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. An do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Luke 19:27;

"But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me."

Mark 6:10-11;

"In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city."

Mark 10 42-49; (Isaiah 66:24 is three times partially quoted by Jesus);

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where

"Their worm does not die

And the fire is not quenched.’

"And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having tow feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where

"Their worm does not die

And the fire is not quenched."

"And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire - where

"Their worm does not die

And the fire is not quenched."

"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

Isaiah 66:24;

And they shall go forth and look

Upon the corpses of the men

Who have transgressed against Me

For their worm does not die,

And their fire is not quenched.

They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."

I’ve heard some scholarly preachers negate that there is a place of eternal damnation and torment of sinful men, in that they claimed a certain teaching of Jesus to be figurative instead of literal. In my review of the teachings of Jesus there seems to be a definite pattern and consistency to the outcome of the life that rejects God and His word and will.

There are many applications to be made from what Jesus taught about those who don’t believe in Him. Towards the start of the study we found Jesus speaking of those who came to Him so that they could see that what they do is done of God and that those who do not come to Him don’t want their evil deeds to be exposed to His light, the light of His teachings from God.

I’ve heard many postulate situations and circumstances that would hope to lead the Christian to doubt the judgment of God and the teachings of Jesus. Rather than engage in the judgement of the Almighty God, it would be better to just abide in our trust that Jesus spoke the truth and that we be mindful of growing in His truth and living it out as our testimony of the Lord, that we do not deny His words. Destruction of body and soul in hell await those who disobey God.