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"Where does the Bible say it makes no difference what a person believes as long as he is honest?

I am reasonably certain that you have heard that statement made many times. Ever since I can remember I have heard that it makes no difference what we believe, that if we are honest and sincere about it, God will save us anyway. Perhaps you have made that statement many times yourself, and very likely you have heard your preacher say the same thing. So won't you go to your preacher and ask him for the verse in the Bible that says a thing of that kind?

Likely you have made the statement because you heard preachers make it, and naturally you thought it must be so: but if your preacher has been making it, he must have some other reason for it. He claims to be following and teaching the Bible. Hence, he should make the statement because the Bible says so; and if the Bible does say so, he will know where it says it. So ask him to give you the book, chapter and verse.

In 2 Thess. 2:11-12 we have this statement from the pen of the apostle Paul: "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." This seems to be a very plain statement. It positively says that some would "believe a lie."

Certainly there is a vast difference between believing a lie and believing the truth. The truth is recorded in the word of God; if it is not taught in the word of God, it must be a lie. But does it make any difference which of these one believes? The general idea is that it does not matter, provided one is sincere.

Of course, he could not believe anything unless he is sincere. He might pretend to believe a thing and be insincere about it; but if he actually believes it, he must be sincere. So Paul speaks of men who are sincere, for he actually says they will "believe a lie." But what of their sincerity? Will that atone for their mistake? Will God save them anyway, just because they are honest about it? Had you ever noticed what Paul said? Did he say they all would be saved? No, that is not the way it reads. Read it again in verse 11: "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth." Notice the word "damned."

This means the very opposite of "saved." Yet Paul said certain men would be damned. But who were to be damned? All those who believed a lie, or believed not the truth.

So it seems that Paul thought it made a difference what a person believes. He evidently thought so, for he taught that for one to be saved he must believe the truth. To believe something else, he declared, would result in damnation, regardless of how sincere the person may be.

Then in 2 Tim. 2:5 we read this: "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." When people say it makes no difference what we believe, they often add: "We are all striving for the same place anyway. " And evidently this is true. We are all striving to reach heaven at last. But is striving the only thing that is necessary in order to reach that glorious reward?

This is all that would be necessary if it makes no difference what we believe. But Paul tells us in this text that striving alone is not sufficient - that a man may strive and still not be crowned, except he strive lawfully. The crowning referred to is the eternal reward in heaven - the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

But a man may strive and fail to get that crown. Why? Because he may not strive lawfully. No one can reach that crown, says Paul, unless he strive lawfully.

But what does it mean to strive lawfully? It means to strive according to the law of the Lord. So if we strive contrary to that law, we will not be crowned, regardless of how sincere we may be. The law of the Lord is revealed in the New Testament; and if we strive to go to heaven by some other way, we are not striving lawfully and will not reach the destination we desire.

This statement made by Paul clearly indicates that it does make a difference what a person believes and practices in religion. But if your preacher says it makes no difference, just ask him where the Bible says so.

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