Subject: Grace, faith, works (#9) 1/25/04 a.m.

JOSEPH IS WITHOUT DOUBT RENT IN PIECES.

Genesis 37:33

Introduction

1. Joseph was envied by his brethren because he was his father’s favorite (Genesis

37:3, 4).

2. A precious coat of many colors was the token of this favoritism (Genesis 37:3).

3. Joseph’s dreams made him even more the object of his brethrens’ hatred (Genesis

37:11). Their hatred was the basis of the wicked plot to get rid of Joseph.

4. Too many in the religious world are teaching that it doesn’t matter what one believes

or does as long as that person is sincere.

I. Jacob was sincere, but he was wrong.

A. Jacob was confronted with what he believed to be the facts. This manufactured

evidence was compelling (Genesis 37:31-33).

B. Jacob’s own words indicate the sincerity of his belief. He said, “Joseph is

without doubt rent in pieces” (Genesis 37:33).

C. Jacob’s actions also indicate the sincerity of his belief.

1. He “rent his clothes and put sackcloth” on his body (Genesis 37:34). These

actions were typical among those who would mourn.

2. Jacob would not be comforted. He even said that his heart would mourn his

son for the remained of his own life (Genesis 37:35).

D. Jacob’s sincerity did not make what he believed true. Joseph was actually alive

and well in the hands of the Midianites (Genesis 37:36).

E. Many today hold their religious beliefs as firmly as Jacob held the belief of

Joseph’s death. It is possible to be sincere but sincerely wrong.

II. Jacob held his belief for a long time, but he was still wrong.

A. The Bible says that Jacob mourned for “many days” (Genesis 37:34).

B. By the time of Genesis 42:36, there had been seven years of plenty (Genesis

41:47), and the seven years of famine had begun (Genesis 42:1ff). During all

that time, Jacob held the belief that Joseph was dead (Genesis 42:36).

C. Many people justify their religious beliefs by making statements like, “I’ve

believed this all my life,” or “I’m too old to change.”

1. Error is error regardless of how long we have believed it, and a lie is a lie

regardless of how long we have believed it.

2. Truth is truth no matter how old we are when we learn it!

III. Jacob’s family contributed to his belief, but he was still wrong.

A. Many people justify their religious beliefs by making statements like, “My

parents believed that way,” or “All my family believes is a member of that

church.”

1. Error is error regardless of who believes it. Some are more inclined to

believe error if many other desirable people (i.e. friends, family, etc.) do so.

2. Truth is truth regardless of who believes it. Some are less inclined to believe

the truth if they determine that undesirable people (i.e. preachers or elders

they don’t like) do so.

B. Jacob’s family shaped his belief that Joseph was dead (Genesis 37:31-35).

C. We must follow Christ and not our family (Matthew 10:37).

Conclusion

1. Sincerity alone is not enough. Jacob was sincere but wrong.

2. Many today are like Jacob in that regard.

3. The Bible shows us the way to follow Christ and please God. Make sure that you are

on that path!

--

Just Be Sincere

A popular religious saying is: “it makes no difference what you believe just as long as you are sincere.” Ironically, this is not true in any other realm.

Imagine a chemistry lab where there are three bottles on the table. One bears the symbol H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid), one bears the symbol HCL (hydrochloric acid), and yet another bears the symbol H₂O (water).

To the untrained eye, all three bottles appear to be the same—all liquids and all colorless. But a sincere person, mistaking the sulfuric acid for water, is no less dead than another person who drank the acid intentionally. One was sincerely wrong, but both are sincerely dead!

Thought: It does make a difference—in fact, an eternal difference in what a person believes. Some doctrines will condemn our souls, while other doctrines (teachings) will save our souls (cf. 2 John 9). Think about it.

--taken from One A Day Spiritual Vitamins