Sincerity

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (II Corinthians 2:17)

What is sincerity? Webster says sincerity is, “freedom from deceit, dissimulation (hypocrisy), or duplicity (double-talk); honesty.” The sad thing is, we can be sincerely wrong.

Why is there so much controversy over the Bible. There are men who are trying to find the Word of God, when we already have it preserved in our King James Bible. This is not a new problem, all throughout history there have been those who did not like God’s Word, so they have tried to changed it to suit themselves. There are many now who do not like God’s Word, so we have version after version being written, not to present the truth, but to distort it. Satan has from the beginning tried to get people to question and deny God’s truth, he will even misquote what God says in order to deceive you.

The Bible is written where a child in the fifth grade in school can understand it. It is not a deep, dark hidden secret. If you find a word you don’t understand, a dictionary is a very good tool in studying the Bible. And in spite of what some will say, it does not contradict itself.

Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about sincerity.

I. WE SHOULD SERVE GOD IN SINCERITY AND TRUTH.

Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
(Joshua 24:14) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
(I Corinthians 5:8)

  1. Idolatry is to be done away with.

    Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
    (Exodus 20:3)

    But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.  (Acts 15:20)

  2. An idol is anything that stands between you and God.

    They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. (II Kings 17:33)

  3. In I Cor. 5:8 the primary thought is to purge out the leaven of sin and to serve God in sincerity and truth.

II. IT SHOULD BE A GODLY SINCERITY.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. (II Corinthians 1:12)

  1. What Paul is saying is that he had a pure conscience.
  2. It is a sincerity that comes from God, a true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

  3. It is a sincerity that causes us to live a godly life.

    That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; (Philippians 1:10)

    For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
    (Titus 2:11-12)

III. WE SHOULD HANDLE THE WORD OF GOD WITH SINCERITY.

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (II Corinthians 2:17)

  1. There are too many corrupting the Word of God.

    I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10)

  2. Paul was honest in his use of the Word of God.

    Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
    (II Corinthians 4:1-2)

  3. We should desire the Word of God.

    As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (I Peter 2:2)

    For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

IV. WE SHOULD LOVE THE LORD IN SINCERITY.

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus. (Ephesians 6:24)

  1. Hypocrisy here is totally unacceptable.
  2. We should love others in sincerity as well.

    I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. (II Corinthians 8:8)

    That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

V. THERE SHOULD BE SINCERITY IN OUR DOCTRINE.

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, (Titus 2:7)

  1. Too many are not grounded in the Word of God.

    That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:14)

  2. The reason of all the different version of the Bible is to mislead you.
  3. If you know the truth, you cannot be shaken.

    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)


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