What Truly Causes People to Be Lost: Unbelief or Lawbreaking?
In Christian circles, there is often confusion over a critical question: What causes a person to lose salvation? Is it breaking God's commandments, or is it unbelief and rejecting Christ? The answer is not only important for theological understanding but also for how we live our lives and relate to God under the New Covenant.
Let’s turn to the Bible to explore the root of the problem—and the true solution.
1. Two Biblical Definitions of Sin
The New Testament offers two complementary definitions of sin:
a) Sin is the Transgression of the Law
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
(1 John 3:4)
This definition shows that breaking God’s commandments—such as lying, stealing, coveting—is sin. This has always been true. God’s law is righteous and good (Romans 7:12), and transgressing it is wrong.
b) Sin is Unbelief in Christ
“...He will reprove the world of sin… because they believe not on me.”
(John 16:8–9)
Here, Jesus identifies unbelief—not trusting or receiving Him—as the true underlying sin. In fact, unbelief is the root, and all other sins are the fruit. Before someone lies or steals, they are already distrusting God in their heart.
2. Salvation Is by Faith, Not Law-Keeping
One of the clearest teachings in the New Testament is that salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not by trying to keep the law perfectly:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8–9)
The law shows us our guilt (Romans 3:20), but it cannot save. That’s why Paul boldly declared:
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
(Romans 10:4)
This means the law has been taken out of the equation as a means of attaining righteousness. Our relationship with God is no longer defined by how well we perform but by our connection to Christ.
3. Why People Are Ultimately Lost
According to Scripture, people are not lost because they break commandments. If that were the case, everyone would be lost, since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). Rather, people are lost because they refuse to believe and receive the salvation offered through Christ.
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already…”
(John 3:18)
Unbelief is the cause of condemnation—not individual acts of sin. This aligns with Hebrews 3:19, which says of Israel:
“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
Unbelief is the barrier that keeps people from being saved, even though Christ has already reconciled the world to God (2 Corinthians 5:19).
4. What About the Commandments?
Does this mean the commandments are unimportant? No. They still define what is good and evil, but they are not the basis of salvation.
“By the law is the knowledge of sin.”
(Romans 3:20)
Obedience to God's law is the evidence of true faith, not the means of earning salvation. As John wrote:
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar…”
(1 John 2:4)
True faith produces surrender. And surrender leads to obedience—not out of fear, but out of love and trust in Christ.
5. A New Relationship Based on Trust
The problem between God and man has never been merely legal—it’s relational. The fall in Eden was not just a broken law; it was a broken relationship. Sin began with distrust of God's character, and salvation begins when that trust is restored through Jesus.
God’s solution was not more rules—it was a person: Jesus Christ, who lived in perfect trust and obedience to the Father and reconciled humanity to God by His life, death, and resurrection.
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more… we shall be saved by his life.”
(Romans 5:10)
Conclusion: Faith, Not Failure, Determines Destiny
So what causes a person to be lost?
Not primarily the breaking of the law, though that is sin.
But ultimately, it is unbelief—the refusal to trust, receive, and abide in Christ.
“Without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6)
“This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)
Jesus has already dealt with sin. The only question now is: Will we believe?
Let us cling to Christ by faith, and live—not to earn righteousness—but because His life is in us, and we are sons and daughters of God.