Are You Sincere?

Sincere and Blameless

Philippians 1:9-11

We need this type of love◦ Does not depend on the 5 senses◦ Love of the mind, a reasoning attachment by

choice◦ That which we attain by faith – never ends

Philippian brethren had lots of love…◦ Grow in KNOWLEDGE◦ Our love abounds in knowledge by STUDY◦ Hebrews 5:12; 2 Peter 3:18◦ Knowledge is not an end in itself

We need knowledge and discernment

“This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more…”

We need knowledge and all discernment◦ Discern what?◦ Discern between what God says and what man

says◦ Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Thess. 5:21, 22◦ Failing to discern causes religious error

A person cannot know what error is until he first knows truth

“This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more…”

NASV – “That ye may distinguish between the things that differ”◦ Let your love grow, abounding more and more in

real knowledge of God’s Word so that we’ll be able with this knowledge to pick truth rather than error

◦ We must use caution not to make distinctions that are not fair and right

◦ God gives us His Word to enable us to make the proper distinctions

What does this have to do with SINCERITY?

“That ye may approve things that are excellent”

Sincere – ’eilikrines (Greek) “helios” – sun “krino” – to judge Meaning: “to be judged by the sun”

“Sincere” = without wax

“Sincere” - Etymology

You and I are going to stand before the sunlight of God’s Word on the day of judgment (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12)

I may not see the real you I may be waxed over to you so you cannot

see the real me But when the sunlight of God’s judgments

hit you and me, every waxed over flaw will show (Rom. 14:7-12; Heb. 4:13)

We Must Be Sincere

1 Peter 2:7, 8 (Isa. 8:14) Jesus referred to as a stone of stumbling and rock of offence

Why did the Jews stumble at Jesus Christ? They didn’t discern between God and man “Blameless” is opposite of “stumbling” “aproskopos” is the opposite of “proskopos” It’s going to be sad on the day of judgment

when people realize that sincerity is not just some kind of feeling

“Blameless”

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;

32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Conclusion – John 8:31-32