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 KJV)

"Sincerity" is from the Greek word "eilikrineia" and means, according to Strong, "purity, sincerity, ingenuousness."

To do anything "sincerely" is to do it truly, genuinely, really, or indeed, honestly, without pretention, without hypocrisy and deceit. Connected with "sincerity" is the idea of "simplicity," and with singleness of mind and purpose, as opposed to being "double minded."

"Godly sincerity" is that which proceeds from God. It is divine and godlike, revealing something of God himself.

"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (I Timothy 1: 5 NIV)

Notice the connection of things in these words. A "pure (genuine or sincere) heart" goes with a "sincere faith" and a "good conscience." Sincerity is pureness of heart and is joined to a "good conscience." In this passage "sincere" or "genuine" faith is contrasted with the insincere or hypocritical faith.

"Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2: 45-47 NIV)

Thus is the description of the apostolic Christians in the days immediately following the resurrection and ascension of Christ. They all had "sincere hearts," an honesty, pureness, and genuiness of heart, an undivided heart. As their hearts possessed "godly sincerity" so the "issues" of the heart were also sincere, having sincere love, and sincere faith and hope, and sincere purposes.

"Love must be sincere," said Paul. (Romans 12: 9 NIV) He also said that such sincere love is the way that Christians, "as servants of God," "commend" themselves to the world. (II Corinthians 6: 4-7 NIV)

"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." (II Corinthians 11: 3 NIV)

Notice again how "sincerity" is joined to "purity." There is no corruption in that which is sincere. There is no fakery or fraud connected with sincerity. There is no deceit, dishonoesty, nor falsehood in sincerity. A sincere heart and a genuine faith are "good" by divine judgment, whereas an insincere and hypocritical heart and faith are essentially "evil."

Notice how Paul speaks of a "sincere devotion to Christ," again to contrast with the many false professors of Christ, who only pretend to love him and righteousness, but who really despise him. "Godly sincerity" is connected with loyalty and faithfulness to Christ, being proofs of it. Their "devotion" to Christ is only in word, not from a genuine heart of faith and love, and is only external and done for selfish and self serving reasons. If they formally became Christians, they are like those who formally marry but who do so, not from sincere love, but from a deceitful heart.

"The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains." (Philippians 1: 17 NIV)

Here is a description of a vast number of professing Christians, even of pastors and teachers in the visible Christian church. What characterizes their hypocritical service to God is selfish ambition and insincerity of heart. Their religion is all external, and a show, and only a means to further their own selfish ambitions. But, if the faith, love, hope, and heart of a professing Christian lack "godly sincerity," then he will be rejected.

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (II Timothy 1: 5 NIV)

"Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain." (I Timothy 3: 8 NIV)

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10: 22 NIV)

Again, we see the emphasis placed upon "sincerity" of heart in this matter of religion and service to God. So much faith is not real or genuine, so everyone ought to be sure that his service and faith to God is real and sincere. All should seek this grace from the Lord, asking him to remove from their hearts and faith any and all hypocrisy, and that he would purify their motives.

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3: 17 NIV)

Notice the words that are closely associated with godly sincerity. Pureness of heart, mind and soul, of purpose. Good naturedness and impartiality and devoted love are joined to sincerity. Sincerity characterizes heavenly wisdom whereas insincerity and deceit characterize carnal and wordly wisdom. A sincere soul is a wise soul and vice versa.

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." (I Peter 1: 22 NIV)

There is so much insincere love in the world! Most love is selfish and deceitful. Most love is carnal and narcissistic.

"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 KJV)

"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 KJV)

Sinners must be regularly admonished about the matter of sincerity. They must be told that "godly sincerity" is a gift and grace of God, that which they must have to serve God acceptably, and that they must seek it from the heart of God. They ought to be told the obvious also, how they cannot fool God in the matter, for God sees the heart and knows whether it is sincere or not.

Sinners should acknowledge that it is part of their sinful nature and state to be given to hypocrisy and deceit, to dishonesty and insincerity of heart, and they should be admonished to ask God to give them sincerity and honesty of heart.

"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 KJV)

Yes, it is the "many," or the most, or the majority, of men who deal with God and religion insincerely, not realizing or seeing the true nature of their hearts, and if they do see and realize it, they are often unwilling to confess it or seek remedy for it from the hand of God.

Friend, if you lack sincerity in your heart towards the Lord, then I urge you to call upon him to purify your heart and to give you "godly sincerity."