Isn't it enough to be sincere?

Being sincere — saying what you mean and meaning what you say — has got to be a key part of Christian faith. God is not fooled by anyone, and certainly no-one is going to blag their way into heaven. In fact, Jesus talks about people who try to do just that at the day of judgement — and, no, God is not fooled by it. But is being sincere enough? What about people who sincerely believe in other religions. Or who are sincere atheists. Isn't there anything for them?    

It all depends on what you mean by 'sincere'.

If you mean someone who is entirely convinced of what they believe and has no desire to look at anything else, well, no, the Bible, Jesus and Christianity has nothing to offer them. As far as the Bible is concerned, people who won't accept the news about Jesus are just sincerely wrong.

On the other hand, if you mean someone who is sincerely searching for truth, isn't smug about what they have already found, and is willing to look at alternatives honestly, then Jesus Christ has a great deal to offer.

At one point he says "Anyone who seeks will find" (Matthew 7:8) and elsewhere he says "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33).

Actually, this attitude is not just a requirement for people coming to Jesus Christ for the first time — it's at the heart of the Christian's whole approach to God. Paul, one of the early Christians, and author of more books of the Bible than anyone else, explains: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3:12). In fact, there is no place in the Christian life for smug self-satisfaction. Elsewhere Paul writes: "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Stechford Baptist Church • Victoria Road • Stechford • Birmingham B33 8AH. Map. Stechford is in the Stechford and Yardley North Ward, and is close to Hodge Hill.