Dr. David Jeremiah Reviews Two Bible Verses That Shook His Faith in Christ

Dr. David Jeremiah is a highly respected evangelical pastor, author, and founder of the Turning Point Ministry. His teachings, books, and sermons have reached millions of Christians around the world, offering spiritual guidance and encouragement. Known for his deep understanding of the Bible and his unwavering faith in Christ, it may come as a surprise that there was a time in his life when two particular Bible verses shook his faith to its very core.

In a candid reflection on his spiritual journey, Dr. Jeremiah opened up about a season of doubt that was sparked by his wrestling with the meaning and implications of two Bible verses. These moments of doubt, he admitted, led him to question his relationship with Christ and caused him to experience a crisis of faith. This transparent confession of his own struggles has resonated with many believers who have gone through similar seasons of doubt.

Here, we delve into the two Bible verses that caused Dr. David Jeremiah to momentarily lose faith in Christ and how he eventually regained his belief, coming out stronger on the other side.

### **The First Verse: Matthew 7:21-23**
_”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”_ (Matthew 7:21-23, NIV)

The first verse that caused Dr. Jeremiah to wrestle with his faith comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, in which Christ warns that not everyone who claims to be His follower will inherit the kingdom of heaven. It was this passage that caused Dr. Jeremiah to pause and reflect on his own life and ministry.

“I had been preaching the gospel for years, teaching others about Christ’s love and salvation, yet when I came across these verses, I was struck by the sobering thought that even those who seem to serve Christ faithfully might still hear those terrifying words: ‘I never knew you.’ It shook me to the core,” Dr. Jeremiah explained.

The implications of this passage are profound. It suggests that even those who preach, perform miracles, and cast out demons in Christ’s name might not be recognized by Jesus on Judgment Day. For Dr. Jeremiah, this led to a personal crisis: “Was I truly known by Christ? Or was I merely going through the motions, fooling myself into thinking I was saved when, in fact, I was not?”

The depth of this question caused Dr. Jeremiah to examine his heart and his motivations. He began to question the sincerity of his own faith, wondering if he, like the individuals described in this passage, was doing things in the name of Christ but without truly knowing Him.

### **The Second Verse: Hebrews 6:4-6**
_”It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”_ (Hebrews 6:4-6, NIV)

The second verse that shook Dr. Jeremiah’s faith comes from the book of Hebrews. This passage has long been a point of theological debate among Christians because it seems to suggest that those who once believed in Christ but then “fell away” can never return to repentance.

Dr. Jeremiah recalls reading this passage during a particularly difficult period in his life. He felt a deep conviction that his struggles and doubts were leading him away from Christ. “I read these verses and thought, ‘Have I fallen away? Is it possible that I have lost my salvation and that there is no hope for me to return to the fold?'” Dr. Jeremiah shared.

For someone who had dedicated his life to teaching others about the eternal security of salvation, this passage seemed to challenge everything he had ever believed. The thought that someone could lose their salvation after once experiencing the joy and enlightenment of faith was a source of deep anguish for him.

“I felt like I was in a spiritual wilderness,” Dr. Jeremiah recalled. “These verses seemed to suggest that I was beyond redemption if I had ever turned my back on Christ. It was an overwhelming sense of hopelessness that I had never felt before.”

### **The Crisis of Faith**

As Dr. Jeremiah grappled with the meaning of these two Bible passages, he entered a period of intense spiritual crisis. For the first time in his life, he found himself questioning not just aspects of his theology but the very foundations of his faith in Christ.

“I couldn’t reconcile these verses with the God I had come to know—a God of love, mercy, and grace,” Dr. Jeremiah said. “It felt like everything I had preached and believed was being called into question. I wondered if I had been leading people astray by preaching about the assurance of salvation when these verses seemed to suggest otherwise.”

During this period of doubt, Dr. Jeremiah withdrew from his usual preaching schedule and took time for prayer, study, and reflection. He sought counsel from trusted friends and mentors, who reminded him of the importance of interpreting Scripture in its broader context.

### **The Journey Back to Faith**

Dr. Jeremiah’s journey back to faith was not an overnight process. It involved a deeper understanding of the Bible, the nature of God’s grace, and the assurance of salvation. He came to realize that the verses that had caused him so much anguish were not meant to instill fear in believers but rather to serve as warnings to those who were never truly committed to Christ in the first place.

Regarding Matthew 7:21-23, Dr. Jeremiah concluded that the passage was addressing those who outwardly appear to be Christians but lack a genuine relationship with Christ. “It wasn’t about people who were sincerely following Christ but about those who were using His name for their own gain,” he explained. “I came to understand that the verse was a call to authenticity in our faith, not a condemnation of those who are truly seeking to follow Christ.”

As for Hebrews 6:4-6, Dr. Jeremiah found comfort in the understanding that this passage was written to a specific audience dealing with unique circumstances. “The book of Hebrews was addressing Jewish Christians who were tempted to return to the old covenant and abandon their faith in Christ. The warning was not about losing salvation but about the dangers of turning away from the one true sacrifice—Jesus Christ.”

With these new insights, Dr. Jeremiah emerged from his crisis of faith stronger and more grounded in his beliefs. “I came to realize that my doubts were not a sign of weak faith but an opportunity to deepen my relationship with Christ,” he said. “God is not afraid of our questions, and sometimes it’s in the wrestling that we find the most profound answers.”

### **Conclusion**

Dr. David Jeremiah’s reflection on the two Bible verses that shook his faith serves as a powerful reminder that even the most devout believers can experience moments of doubt. However, it is often through these struggles that our faith is refined and strengthened. By confronting his doubts head-on and seeking a deeper understanding of God’s Word, Dr. Jeremiah was able to emerge from his crisis of faith with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to Christ. His story is an encouragement to all believers who may be facing similar challenges, reminding them that doubt is not the end of faith but a part of the journey toward a deeper relationship with God.