(Acts 23:1; 26:9-11)

[By Ron Halbrook]

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

• Introduction:

1. Acts 23:1; 26:9-11 Paul sincere

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said,Men and brethren, I have lived in all good consciencebefore God until this day.

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said,Men and brethren, I have lived in all good consciencebefore God until this day.

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1. Acts 26:9-11 Paul sincere

9 I verily thought within myself,that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison,having received authority from the chief priests;and when they were put to death,I gave my voice against them.11 And I punished them oft in the every synagogue,and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them,I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

9 I verily thought within myself,that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison,having received authority from the chief priests;and when they were put to death,I gave my voice against them.11 And I punished them oft in the every synagogue,and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them,I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

• Introduction:

1. Acts 23:1; 26:9-11 Paul sincere Sincerity: “honesty of purpose or character;

freedom from hypocrisy, deceit” (Dict.)

2. Saved while persecute & murder Christians?

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

• Introduction:

3. Sincerity alone saves: Atheists? All religions? Christendom? Protestant denominations? All wings of “restoration” movement? If draw a line, premise fails

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

• Introduction:

4. Sincerity alone saves in all realms? Driving into a train, no wreck? Accept bogus money, no loss? Drink poison, no effect? If sincerity will not save,

what will I do when see error?

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

• Introduction:

5. How does sincerity relate to salvation? God seeks sincere souls Sincerity did not save these How to recognize true sincerity

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

I. God Seeks Sincere Souls

A. Jn. 4:20-26 Sent His Son to Save Sincere Sinners

Jn. 4:10, 14 Sincere souls drawn to Christ

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Jn. 4:10, 14 Sincere souls drawn to Christ

10 Jesus answered and said unto her,If thou knewest the gift of God,and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink;thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. gave my voice against them.

14 But whosoever drinketh of the waterthat I shall give him shall never thirst;but the water that I shall give himshall be in him a well of waterspringing up into everlasting life.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her,If thou knewest the gift of God,and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink;thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. gave my voice against them.

14 But whosoever drinketh of the waterthat I shall give him shall never thirst;but the water that I shall give himshall be in him a well of waterspringing up into everlasting life.

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

I. God Seeks Sincere Souls

A. Jn. 4:20-26 Sent His Son to Save Sincere Sinners

Jn. 4:10, 14 Sincere souls drawn to Christ This woman not saved by sincerity alone

but by hearing & obeying Christ If souls saved by sincerity alone,

why did Christ come to die for our sins?

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

I. God Seeks Sincere Souls

B. Lk. 8:11, 15 Preach: Seeking Honest Hearts

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Lk. 8:11, 15 Preach Seeking Honest Hearts

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

15 But that on the good ground are they,which in an honest and good heart,having heard the word, keep it,and bring forth fruit with patience.

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

15 But that on the good ground are they,which in an honest and good heart,having heard the word, keep it,and bring forth fruit with patience.

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

I. God Seeks Sincere Souls

B. Lk. 8:11, 15 Preach: Seeking Honest Hearts Seed not in good soil: no fruit—

word not in sincere soul: no salvation If souls saved by sincerity alone, why

do we preach?

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

II. Sincerity Alone Did Not Save These1. Gen. 37:31-35 Jacob Not Saved from Grief

2. Josh. 9:8-15 Joshua Not Saved from Making Peace with Gibeonites

3. 1 Kgs. 13:14-19, 24 Young Prophet Not Saved from Death

4. Acts 23:1; 26:9-11 Saul Not Saved from Persecuting God’s People

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

Acts 23:1 Paul sincere: clear conscience

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said,Men and brethren, I have lived in all good consciencebefore God until this day.

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said,Men and brethren, I have lived in all good consciencebefore God until this day.

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Acts 26:9-11 Paul sincere: persecuted God’s people

9 I verily thought within myself,that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison,having received authority from the chief priests;and when they were put to death,I gave my voice against them.11 And I punished them oft in the every synagogue,and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them,I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

9 I verily thought within myself,that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison,having received authority from the chief priests;and when they were put to death,I gave my voice against them.11 And I punished them oft in the every synagogue,and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them,I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

II. Sincerity Alone Did Not Save These1. Gen. 37:31-35 Jacob Not Saved from

Grief 2. Josh. 9:8-15 Joshua Not Saved from

Making Peace with Gibeonites3. 1 Kgs. 13:14-19, 24 Young Prophet Not

Saved from Death4. Acts 23:1; 26:9-11 Saul Not Saved from

Persecuting God’s Peoplea. Acts 9:4 Thus persecuted the Lord!

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

II. Sincerity Alone Did Not Save These

E. What Each Case Has in Common Sincere, honest, good feeling,

clear conscience: deceived! Needed the truth!

F. Sincerity Alone Not Save Us from Eternal Punishment

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

A. God Saves Sincere Souls through the Truth

How can we know whether we are truly sincere?

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

B. Signs of Sincerity VS Insincerity

1. Love Truth 2 Thess. 2:9-14 VS Love sin, darkness, error, even

when pointed out

Matt. 23:9 Confraternity Ver. & New American Bible notes: does not forbid titles such as Father

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

B. Signs of Sincerity VS Insincerity

2. Seek Truth Matt. 7:7-8 VS Avoid, run from truth

Jn. 3:16 used to run from water baptism in vv. 3-5

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

C. Signs of Sincerity VS Insincerity

3. Obey Truth Rom. 6:17-18 VS Disobey truth for personal desires,

family, friends, & false teachers

“Where does the Bible say immerse not sprinkle, keep Lord’s Supper not Christmas, sing not play?” Col. 3:17; Rev. 22:18

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

C. Signs of Sincerity VS Insincerity

4. Share Truth Jn. 4:28-30; Matt. 10:8 VS Hide the truth, ashamed

“Preach positive truth not negative,” “Don’t run off people”

What can we preach: one true God, Christ, Bible, baptism, church???

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

C. Signs of Sincerity VS Insincerity

5. Buy Truth, Not Sell Prov. 23:23; Matt. 13:45-46

VS Sell out for gain or pleasure

“Every man has his price”

Demas 2 Tim. 4:10

Sell truth for building, family, friends

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

C. Signs of Sincerity VS Insincerity

6. Defend Truth Jude 3; Phil. 1:17 VS Put peace above truth

“I don’t believe in arguing, discussing, or debating religion”

Do not believe they have the truth

Do not believe truth worth defending

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

III. How to Recognize True Sincerity

C. Signs of Sincerity VS Insincerity

7. Identify with God’s People to Uphold the Truth Phil. 1:7; Heb. 11:25; 1 Tim. 3:15

VS Avoid stigma & sacrifice of saints suffering for the truth

Silent, mumble, criticize, or deny relation to God’s people

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?

• Invitation:

1. How does sincerity relate to salvation? God seeks sincere souls Sincerity did not save these:

Jacob

Joshua

Young prophet

Saul

Needed the truth!

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?• Invitation:

1. How does sincerity relate to salvation? How to recognize true sincerity

Love truth

Seek truth

Obey truth

Share truth

Buy truth

Defend truth

Identify with saints upholding truth

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DOES SINCERITY ALONE SAVE?• Invitation:

2. Sincere souls obey the gospel & abide in the truth

Mk. 16:16 Christ offers salvation

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Infants baptized shall be saved, and believe later. Infants baptized shall be saved, and believe later.

He that believeth shall be saved, and be baptized later. He that believeth shall be saved, and be baptized later.