Is Sincerity Enough?
Someone says, "I don't believe like you do, but I am sincere in what I believe. I am sure my sincerity will get me to heaven." Is there anything wrong with sincerity? Not at all if it is sincerity of belief in the right thing. The problem is, so many people are sincere in their unbelief. They feel that because they are sincere, all will be well with their future. They are under the impression that, ultimately, God will overlook their sins, and because they followed what they sincerely believed, they will have an open door into heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nowhere in the Bible do we read or find the faintest suggestion that because one is sincere in what he believes, he will go to heaven. Sincerity of belief in the wrong thing has sent millions to hell.
A tragic experience took place in a hospital in New York state. It occurred while a patient was being prepared for minor surgery. A trained anesthetist was administering a controlled mixture of oxygen and anesthetic gas when the tank of oxygen became exhausted and a new tank labeled oxygen was substituted. Almost immediately, according to the police report, the patient died. The attending surgeon and hospital officials suspected some kind of an accident and called the coroner. An autopsy revealed carbon dioxide poisoning. Upon examination, the oxygen tank was found to contain carbon dioxide. The tank had been mislabeled before it reached the hospital. An investigation was launched immediately to find the cause of this fatal mistake.
In preparing the patient for minor surgery, did anyone have the slightest thought of death? The manufacturer was sincere; the hospital authorities were sincere; the anesthetist and the surgeon were sincere; and certainly the patient was sincere. No one expected a tragedy to happen. But though all who were involved were sincerely mistaken about the oxygen, the incident demonstrates that sincerity is not always enough. Certainty must be coupled with sincerity.
God tells us in Proverbs 14:12, There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death. There are many deluded people who think because they are sincere, everything will turn out all right in the end. We cannot afford to gamble with our soul. We need to know for sure that we are prepared, and headed for heaven. One must be absolutely certain regarding eternal verities.
Too many things are mislabeled "salvation," these days, when in reality they will produce eternal death. How can we be absolutely certain about such an important matter as salvation? By taking the Lord Jesus Christ at His word. He said in John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any men enter in, he will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture. He did not say, I am ONE of the doors; He said, I am THE door. God has provided only one way of salvation, and that is through His beloved Son. He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. In Isaiah 43:11 we read, I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior. Don't look for another way. There is none. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me (John 14:6). We can know that we are ready for heaven if we sincerely believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you sure you will go to heaven when you die? Maybe you reply, "I am trying to believe." Trying to believe is a mistake as to the nature of faith. If you were to tell me your address and I were to say, I will try to believe you," How would you feel? You would say, "What, trying to believe me? Do you think I would tell you a lie?" People who "try to believe in Christ" appear to doubt His worthiness. He is the one Person in the universe we should find it the easiest to trust.
Don't get occupied with your faith. Like everything about you, it is disappointing and no amount of trying will improve it. Look away from self to God. We cannot trust ourselves, but we can fully trust our Savior. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18). Christ paid the price you and I could not pay. He shed His precious blood, which is the blood of God, as the price for your sins and mine.
No, your sincerity will not save you. Even so-called "great faith" will not save us. It is Christ who saves. No amount of good works, kind deeds, church attendance, Bible reading, praying, or anything else will save. It is the Lord Jesus, the Son of the living God, who alone can save.
Now, of course, after you believe on Christ He expects you to read the Bible, do good works, go to church, pray, and seek to share the Gospel with others. But none of these things in themselves can save. If they could, then there would have been no use for God the Father to send His Son from heaven to earth to die for you and me. No one should ever think that they don't need Christ. We must deal with the sin in our life. Numbers 32:23 says, Be sure your sin will find you out. And it will.
A five-year old boy carried a small suitcase down the front steps of his home and around the block. In fact, he kept trudging around the block until it began to get dark.
A policeman spotted him and said, "What's the idea?" "Running away," explained the boy sadly. "Look," said the officer, "I've had my eye on you and you have done nothing but walk around the block. Do you call that running away?" "Well, what do you want me to do?" cried the boy. "I'm not allowed to cross the street alone!"
Could it be that you have been trying to run away from God? Ever since Adam and Eve in the garden, there have been those who have thought they could run from God. But he sees every phase of our life. He knows all about the crooked deals, the unfaithfulness to our spouse, the unkindness, the hypocrisy. He sees it all. What can be done about it? Take it all to Jesus and repent. Receive Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord. Let Him forgive you of all your sin, and then go forth and allow Him to live through you and empower you for a life of victory and blessing.
J. Allen Blair
A Memory Verse For You From Dr. Blair's Memory Verse File:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:24
Happy 91st Birthday, Dr. Blair!
Dr. Blair's birthday is August 10th, 1913. He was born in Atlantic City, NJ and lived there until he went to the Moody Bible Institute, after which he attended college and seminary in the mid-west. Subsequently, he pastored churches in various cities for 27 years.
Happy 66th Wedding Anniversary
Dr. and Mrs. J. Allen Blair were married August 10, 1938.
REFLECTIONS with Dr. Blair
Whosoever will save His life will lose it and whosoever will lose His life for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:25). While I was recently reviewing this memory verse, I meditated on its remarkable truths. On New Year's Eve, 1934, while reading the Word of God, I was convicted of my miserable life and turned everything over to the Lord, as I received Jesus Christ. I didn't have much to offer God but He gave me everything. My life was changed completely that night, and it has never been the same since. This was the most wonderful decision I have ever made in life. Christ has been a wonderful Lord and cared for me day by day ever since. I gave Him my wretched, unhappy life, and He gave me a new life that will never end. I hope you have given yourself over to Christ. I guarantee you there is no peace or real satisfaction in life without Him. If you haven't learned this yet, I hope you will take my word for it and claim Christ as your Savior and Lord at this very moment.
RUSTY CHRISTIANS
Perhaps you received Jesus Christ as Savior but have gotten away from fellowship with Him, living your life in worry. Maybe you are a Rusty Christian
We want to help brighten your testimony without, and regain His peace within. The free message in print that we'll send you is titled, Rusty Christians. It is yours free when you write, call, or email us this month.