Is Sincerity Alone Sufficient?

The apostle Paul warned the Colossians to not be deceived by the
philosophy and vain deceit of the world. Colossians 2:8 See to it that
no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, accord
ing to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of
the world, rather than according to Christ.

We who live in the twentieth century need to pay as close attention to
this warning as the Christians who lived in the first century. All
generations have their own philosophies and vain deceits that turn
people away from God, and ours is no exception. One of the more common
vain deceits of our generation is the idea that it doesn't make any
difference what we believe as long as we are sincere. According to this
concept, truth does not matter. Being obedient to God's commands does
not matter. As long as we are convinced within ourselves that we are
doing right, then everything is all right. Anytime someone says that it
doesn't matter what we believe as long as we are sincere, they must
willfully ignore the numerous warnings of deception that are throughout
the Bible. This is an indication of the pride of man. Man says it does
not matter what God says. All that matters and is important is what I
choose to believe. Since I believe it, therefore it is true! Some of
this thinking comes from people letting the standards of our cul ture
determine how the church ought to be. In our society, we enjoy reli
gious freedom and we should be thankful for this freedom in our country.
We must remember that just because man's government may allow us to
worship in different ways, this doesn't mean that God does!

The concept of sincerity being sufficient is itself a deception. One is
deceived when they sincerely believe what is false! Many claim they love
God based on an emotion they feel. Love involves emotion, but true love
for God includes following what Jesus said: John 14:21 He who has My
commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

Loving God does not mean that we can do whatever we want to as long as
we are sin cere. Loving God consists of searching for His ways and
submitting our will to His will. Jesus described true worship to the
Samaritan woman: John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must
worship in spirit and truth.

Worshipping God in truth is not optional! Jesus taught that those who
worship God "must" worship in spirit and truth.  "And" is a connector
that shows both are involved! Joshua 24:14 Now, therefore, fear the Lord
and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your
fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 1
Corinthians 5:8 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old
leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jesus rebuked some who claimed to be the people of God in the first cen
tury. Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in
heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many
wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew
you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' These appear to be
shocked that they are not accepted at the judgment. This indicates that
they were sincere in their service, but they were sincerely wrong!
Matthew 15:8-9 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor
Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they
worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

These men were very religious and were dedicated in their worship, but
they were following what men taught rather than what God taught in His
Scriptures. This is what many are doing with the multitudes of doctrines
being taught by modern denominations today.

Jesus also warned: Matthew 15:14  If the blind leads the blind, both
will fall into a ditch.

It doesn't make any difference if a blind man may be sincere in what he
is doing, if he follows a blind leader the wrong way, he will fall.
Paul's Warning To Timothy 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to
the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both
yourself and those who hear you.

Not only was Timothy to take heed to himself, but also "to the
doctrine." Why was it so important for Timothy to take heed to the
doctrine? It was so that Timothy and those who listened to him might be
saved! If both Timothy and his listeners were to be saved, he could not
be a blind leader, he had to be teaching the truth. The obvious
implication of this passage is if Timothy did not take heed to the
doctrine, neither he nor those who heard him would be saved. When we
compare this warning to the carelessness of so many today, we find a
great contrast. Too many believe and teach whatever they want regardless
of what the Word of God teaches! 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified
your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of
the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.

Christians are not purified by following the commandments of men, nor
are they purified by obeying whatever seems best to them. They are
purified by obeying the truth! The Beginning of Sin Involved Deception
Genesis 3:13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have
done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 2
Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by
his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and
purity of devotion to Christ. 1 Timothy 2:12-14 But I do not allow a
woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam
who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into
transgression. Deception involves persuading someone into sincerely
believing that which is false. Eve sincerely believed Satan, but she was
not excused for being deceived. Sincere Belief Does Not Change Reality
Genesis 37:31-35 So they took Joseph's tunic, and slaughtered a male
goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood; and they sent the varicolored
tunic and brought it to their father and said, "We found this; please
examine it to see whether it is your son's tunic or not." Then he
examined it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured
him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!" So Jacob tore his clothes,
and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days. Then
all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused
to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will go down to Sheol in
mourning for my son." So his father wept for him. Genesis 45:26 And they
told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all
the land of Egypt." And Jacob's heart stood still, because he did not
believe them. Sins Of Ignorance in the O.T. Leviticus 4:13-14 And if the
whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid
from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any
of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be
done, and are guilty; When the sin, which they have sinned against it,
is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin,
and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. Leviticus
4:22-23 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance
against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things
which should not be done, and is guilty; Or if his sin, wherein he hath
sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the
goats, a male without blemish: Leviticus 4:27-28 And if any one of the
common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any
of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be
done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his
knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a
female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. Leviticus
5:15-19 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the
holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the
Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by
shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass
offering: And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the
holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the
priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of
the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. And if a soul sin,
and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the
commandments of the Lord; though he wist [knew]  it not, yet is he
guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. And he shall bring a ram without
blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering,
unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him
concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall
be forgiven him. It is a tr espass offering: he hath certainly
trespassed against the Lord. Numbers 15:22-28 And if ye have erred, and
not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto
Moses, Even all that the Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses,
from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforward among your
generations; Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance
without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation
shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour
unto the Lord, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according
to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. And the
priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children
of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they
shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, and
their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance: And it shall be
forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the
stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people we re in
ignorance. And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a
she goat of the first year for a sin offering.  And the priest shall
make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth
by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall
be forgiven him. Hebrews 9:6-8 Now when these things have been thus
prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle,
performing the divine worship, but into the second only the high priest
enters, once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for
himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy
Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet
been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing. Willful
Sin Numbers 15:30-31 But the person who does anything presumptuously,
whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the
Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has
despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that
person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him. Hebrews
10:25-27 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the
manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you
see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for
sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery
indignation which will devour the adversaries. We Should Pray Concerning
Sins of Ignorance Psalm 19:12-13 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse
me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous
sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And
I shall be innocent of great transgression. The Responsibility of
Ezekiel Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does
not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and a sword comes
and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his
blood I will require from the watchman's hand.' Ezekiel 33:8 When I say
to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die,' and you do not
speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his
iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. Sins of Ignorance
in the N.T. Luke 12:45-48 But if that slave says in his heart, 'My
master will be a long time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves,
both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of
that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an
hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a
place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master's will
and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many
lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a
flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given
much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him
they will ask all the more. This indicates degrees of punishment, but
both the willful sinner and the ignorant sinner are both guilty!
	
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they do." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among
themselves. John 16:2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue,
but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is
offering service to God. Acts 3:14-19 But you disowned the Holy and
Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to
death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact
to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His name, it is
the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know;
and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health
in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I know that you acted in
ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God
announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ
should suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and return, that
your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord. Acts 13:27-29 For those who live in
Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances
of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by
condemning Him. And though they found no ground for putting Him to
death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. And when they had carried
out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the
cross and laid Him in a tomb. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 But we speak the
wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before
the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for
had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Romans
10:1-3 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that
they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for
God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted to the righteousness of God. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore,
gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope
completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts
which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called
you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  because it is
written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." The Example of Paul Acts
23:1 And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have
lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this
day." Galatians 1:13-14 For you have heard of my former conduct in
Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to
destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries
in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of
my fathers. 1 Timothy 1:12-13 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has
strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into
service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a
violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly
in unbelief. All Are Sinners Whether They Know It Or Not Romans 3:23 For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God Romans 4:15 ...Where
no law is, there is no transgression. This shows that all are under
God's laws because all have sinned. It doesn't make any difference
whether we know God's laws or not, we are still sinners! Romans 5:13
...Sin is not imputed when there is no law. 1 John 3:4 ...Sin is the
transgression of the law. (KJV) 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is
sin... Do Not Be Deceived 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that
the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of
God. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good
morals." Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Ephesians 5:3-6 But do not
let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is
proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or
coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For
this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or
covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of
these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Do Not Be Deceived! Acts 17:26-31 and He made from one, every nation of
mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their
appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they
should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move
and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are
His offspring.' Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think
that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed
by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of
ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should
repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in
righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished
proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.




Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc