Sincerity Doesn't Save

As far as most people are concerned, what counts when it comes to religion is sincerity. It doesn’t matter that the religions of the world often teach doctrines that are mutually contradictory. What counts, they think, is a person’s sincerity: so long as they are sincere about what they believe, their belief system is valid.

Romans 9 begins with the apostle recounting all the blessings God had bestowed upon the nation of Israel, like dwelling with them in the Jerusalem temple and giving them the covenant and the Mosaic Law to follow. These institutions were meant to lead the Israelites to place their faith in Jesus the Messiah, just as Paul taught the Galatians (see Galatians 3:23-25).

Paul argues that the Jews misconstrued God’s gifts to them and sought to do what his gifts were never meant to do: save them, i.e., make them righteous before God. Jews trying to obey the Law in order to be saved are lost. Imagine: large groups of people who believe in the supremacy of the God of Israel, and who seek diligently to live according to the Law he revealed to them, are completely lost. Clearly, for Paul, sincerity doesn’t save. What saves is faith in Jesus and what he accomplished on the cross: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (vv 9-10).

Respond in Prayer

Heavenly Father, I recognize that I cannot save myself. Doing good works, no matter how well-intended and sincere, will never save me. No one can save me except the Lord Jesus Christ. This day I reaffirm/affirm my faith in him as my Lord and as my Saviour. Amen.

Wayne Baxter