Psalm 32:2; Genesis 6:9; 17:1; 2 Kings 17:33; 2 Chronicles 25.2; Job 1:1; Psalm 51:6; John 1:47
We begin our teaching with the testimony of the Lord Jesus concerning the life of Nathanael: "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile" (John 1:47). This testimony of the Lord about Nathanael as a man without deceit, dishonesty, hypocrisy and two-facedness, is the expectation of the Lord from everyone who is truly following Him today. Godliness is the chief mark of a heaven-bound believer, and sincerity is his lifestyle. He "keeps the feast, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8). Lying and deceit are abominations unto God (Proverbs 6:16-19). No lie is of the truth (1 John 2:21). Lies and deceits come from the heart of the unsaved (Isaiah 59:13; Acts 5:1-9). As the Bible condemns lies, so it condemns false promises (Genesis 29:18,25; Jeremiah 5:2; Malachi 1:14; Mathew 21:30; Acts 24:25), outright falsehood (bold-faced lies) (Ephesians 4:25; Mathew 15:19; Leviticus 19:11, 12; Colossians 3:9), flattery (Psalm 62:4; 78:36, 37; Jude 1:16), false doctrine (Genesis 3:4; Jeremiah 14:14; 2 Corinthians 11:13- 15; Acts 13:6, 10), half truths (Genesis 37:28, 31-33; Matthew 26:60,61; 27:40). Self-deception (Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 6:3; James 1:22,26). We are commanded to separate from every form of evil and live sincerely in the deceitful world.
BEHAVIOUR OF THE SINCERE CHRISTIAN
Psalm 51:6; Romans 2:29; 2 Corinthians 5:9; Psalm 51:4; Genesis 6:9; Romans 12:9
A true sincere believer is what he seems to be. His person is the same with his profession just as the transcript is to the original (Romans 2:29). He strives daily to approve himself unto God in every area of his Christian life. He labours, "that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him" (2 Corinthians 5:9). If he mistakenly falls into any error at all, he lays it open before God, saying: "I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have not I hid" (Psalm 32:5). A sincere believer confesses his error in particular, but a deceitful churchgoer confesses his sin wholesale. He acknowledges his sin only general. The sincere person does not say, 'I have done evil'; rather he says, 'this evil have I done' (Psalm 51:4). A sincere believer is truthful and fears God in all he does: his life glorifies God (Genesis 6:9). The sincere believer abhors every form of pretence with men. His heart goes along with his tongue. He cannot praise and hate, commend and censure (Romans 12:9). His heart is revealed in his speech. This is what God demands of us in all areas of our lives. His grace and supernatural blessings are prepared for everyone who walks with Him in truth.
BIBLICAL CONDEMNATION OF HYPOCRISY
Matthew 15:7-9; Romans 2:17-24; 2 Kings 17:33; Matthew 26:25
Sincerity separates true believers from hypocrites. The hypocrite does double service to the devil. He covers himself with the dressing of holiness. He sins more, but he is less suspected. He prays for many hours but he is guilty of extortion. He carries the Bible always, but his hand is also full of false weights. He fears an oath. He says, 'I will never swear in the Name of the Lord', but he slanders. Hypocrites are the worst sort of sinners; they reflect horrible dishonour upon the true faith (Romans 2: 17-24). The hypocrite is a liar. He worships God with his knees, but his secret cravings with his heart. He is like those who "feared the Lord and serve their own gods" (2 Kings 17:33). The hypocrite knows his heart is false, yet he goes on in his deceit. Judas knew himself to be a hypocrite; yet, he asked the Lord: "Master, is it I?" Jesus replied him, "Thou hast said it" (Matthew 26:25). Hypocrites have no part in Christ.
BLESSINGS THROUGH SINCERITY AND CONSECRATION
Ephesians 6:24; Genesis 6:9; Revelation 3:8; Job 1:8; 27:6
Sincerity qualifies believers for the outpouring of great grace of God (Ephesians 6:24). Grace is not released when there is no sincerity. Sincerity renders us lovely in God's. eyes. The Bible says: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8). What did God see in Noah? He was clothed with sincerity (Genesis 6:9). Sincerity makes our services find acceptance with God. The church of Philadelphia had a "little strength". She was not too strong in church indices; her services were slender; yet of all the churches Christ wrote to, He found the least fault with her. What was the reason? She kept fast the Word of the Lord, and did not deny His Name (Revelation 3:8). Sincerity is the secret of the believer's safety.
For, "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely" (Proverbs 10:9). The only way to be safe, as believers, is to be sincere. Like Job of old, sincerity is a mark of the perfection of the gospel (Job 1:8), Sincerity is what the devil attack most. Satan's hatred was not really against Job's estate, but against his integrity. Just as a thief does not fight for an empty purse, but for money, so also, Satan does not not oppose what you claim to be, but your sincerity (Job 27:6). As we walk sincerely in the deceitful world, we will please the Lord and make heaven at last in Jesus Christ Name
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