MAN'S SINCERITY IN BELIEF CANNOT SAVE HIM.
By Wm. Penniman
SINCERITY comes from the Latin word sencerus, from sine, "without," and cero, "wax," signifying without wax, as pure honey, which is not mixed with any wax. Says Bucks Theological Dictionary:— The Greek word eilikrineia, translated sincerity (2 Cor. 1:12), signifies a judgment made of things by the light and splendor of the sun, as, in traffic, men hold up goods they are buying, to the light of the sun, to see if they can discover any defect in them. Thus those who are truly sincere can bear the test of light, and are not afraid of having their principles and practices examined by it. This word, however, like many others, is abused, and often becomes a subterfuge for the ungodly and indolent, who think that their practice is nothing, but that sincerity, or a good heart, as they call it, is all in all. But such deceive themselves, for a tree is known by its fruits; and true godly sincerity will evidence itself by serious inquiry, impartial examination, desire for instruction, unprejudiced judgment, devotedness of spirit, and uniformity of conduct. It is not in the providence of this article to show the importance of sincerity in Christian character, but mostly to show that sincerity, or a supposed honesty, in believing an untruth will not save or shield the sinner in the judgment. While it is true that one cannot be saved without "godly sincerity" (2 Cor. 1:12), it is equally true that one cannot be saved with a sincerity which is not godly. The Lord commands us (Joshua 24:14), to fear and serve him in sincerity and truth. If we do this, we are safe, but if we persist in serving Satan in sincerity and in falsehood, we are lost. Many texts might be quoted to show how essential sincerity is to the Christian, but sufficient is already given to prove this point. In the outset we will say that we know not what allowance the Judge of all the world will make for education and circumstances, but this we do know, that God not only holds men responsible for what light they have, but also for what they might have; not only for what they know, but also for what they might know; not only for what they do, but for what they might and should do. And can we not just as truthfully say that men are not only responsible for what they believe, but also for what they might and should believe? The idea that it makes no difference what a man believes if he is only sincere, is one of the strong devices of Satan. "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." 2 Thess. 2:13. It is said that the drunkard and the insane are not responsible for what they do. Why not, if they have become drunk and insane by the violation of God's laws? Is it not just so with those who suffer themselves to be taken captive by Satan by going onto forbidden or enchanted ground, as "Satan leads to bewilder, and dazzles to blind," until they become sincerely and willingly his subjects? The idea that it matters not what a man believes if he is only sincere, is one of the greatest errors that the father of lies has disseminated through the world, and great have been the evil results of this position. This evil has thrown a false charity over the most corrupt and dangerous doctrines, and men of intelligence have argued that the time has come to do away with "doctrinal differences," just as though God does not hold one responsible for the principles he holds. Paul says (Rom. 10:2), "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." Our Saviour, speaking of the zealous Jews, said that they would compass sea and land to make one proselyte, "and when ye have made him, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Thus we have the most intense sincerity, yet it did not save these teachers nor their proselytes. Again, the Lord exclaimed as he wept over Jerusalem, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." Luke 19:42. Were they not sincere in their ignorance and in their blind unbelief, and does not the language of Christ, that the things which belonged to their peace were hid from their eyes, accord with the text, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost" (2 Cor. 4:3)? If Jerusalem or the Jewish nation had known the things which belonged to their peace, they might have been saved, yet it was their privilege to have known. Sincerity in darkness or ignorance did not save them. Peter also charges the Jews with ignorance: "And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers." Acts 3:17. Did their sincere belief that Christ was a blasphemer make them not guilty of the sin of putting him to death?—No, for they were "murderers." Again, did Paul's sincerity and zeal in persecuting the saints, and in consenting to their death (Acts 26:9, 10) release him from accountability? If so, why does he speak of himself years after his conversion as the chief of sinners, and "the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1 Cor. 15:9)? The above proves conclusively that it is not a thing of "no consequence" whether a man does or does not believe the truth. Christ says, "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life." John 3:36. Sinful man says, He that believeth not shall be saved if he is only sincere. The reader can judge which is right. It is everyone's duty to weigh evidence, to prove all things, and to hold fast that which is good; "to try the spirits, for many false prophets are gone out into the world." We read that "as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law . . . (their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another); in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Rom. 2:12-16. See also Rom. 1:18-20. These scriptures plainly prove that the heathen are accountable, and "without excuse," although as sincere in their belief as the more enlightened. Then how much more responsible are those who have seen the blazing light of the Third Angel's Message? As faith reveals the light, we must come to the logical conclusion that the man who is not responsible for his faith, is also not responsible for his conduct. This conclusion must inevitably follow. The man who sincerely believes or thinks (it is doubtful if a rational being can disbelieve in the existence of God) there is no God, is an atheist, and, in Bible language, is a fool, yet his sincere folly will not save him. The prophets of Baal who "cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them" (1 Kings 18:28), to bring down fire upon their offerings, were doubtless "sincere." Some in this enlightened age are more foolish and wicked than the prophets of Baal, for they only tried to call down the fire upon the sacrifice, but these would-be National Reform prophets would, in their blind and sincere zeal, not only shed the blood, but call down fire and the judgments of God upon men, as they have recently tried to do upon the Sunday openers of the World's Fair. Christ says now, just as much as he did when on earth (Matt. 7:21-23), "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will [keepeth the law, Ps. 40:7, 8] of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity [lawlessness]." This is just what the people in their false sincerity are doing now. They cry out, Lord, Lord, the gospel, the gospel, but ignore the law, or do not the will of God, or keep his commandments. Many may say in that day, Lord, was I not sincere in persecuting, imprisoning, and banishing the Seventh-day Adventists, and in compelling them to observe the Sunday? I live between two villages, called Carlinville and Alton. If a man wishes to go to Alton, which is south, and I tell him he will get to Alton by going north on the Carlinville road, he will never get to Alton by going in that direction. He may sincerely believe when he starts that he will get to Alton, but he will be just as much mistaken as the ones who cry out, "Have we not prophesied in Thy name?" If the one who directs in the wrong road knows no better, it is the "blind leading the blind," therefore "both will fall into the ditch." Luke 6:39. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19. Many do not believe in prayer. Many think the ordinances are not essential, and that, so far as baptism is concerned, a drop is as good as a fountain. They are sincere believers in Sunday keeping, the immortality of the soul, and all of the errors of Spiritualism. Believers are found in Mormonism and all the isms, transubstantiation, and the power of the priest to forgive sins, and to pray souls out of purgatory; yet their sincerity in believing those things will not save them when they know and reject the light. Many have no consciousness of sin, their consciences having, as it were, become "seared as with a hot iron." 1 Tim. 4:2. The would-be National Reformers, who are so zealous and "sincere" in working up Sunday laws, thus giving "life to the image of the beast," and hindering the progress of the Third Angel's Message, may yet suffer the awful consequences of rejecting this message. Rev. 14:9-11. May God in great mercy save many from that "strong delusion;" for those who fall under its power "believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:11, 12.