“That You May Be Sincere”

The Characteristics Of Truly Sincere People.

INTRODUCTION• Sincerity is a quality that the Apostle Paul

prayed about for the Philippians 1:9-10.• “And this I pray, that your love may abound

still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;”

• The Sincere Person Will Be:

OPEN MINDED

• Acts 7:57—Jews not willing to hear about the Christ, so they killed Stephen.

• Proverbs 18:13—he who gives answer before hearing is folly and shame to him.

• John 7:51—Our law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?

• Matthew 13:15--the heart of the people dull

INVESTIGATES WHAT IS TOLD THEM

• 1 Thessalonians 5:21—Examine everything carefully, hold fast to what is good.

• Acts 17:11—more noble minded searched scriptures to see if it was so.

• 1 John 4:1—do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God.

WILLING TO CHANGE IF WRONG

• Galatians 1:13-14—Paul talks of his former life when he persecuted Christians.

• Acts 16:13-14—Lydia responded to the preaching.

• Acts 19:1-5—Disciples of John when they learned of the Spirit were baptized into Christ.

PLACE TRUTH FIRST

• Proverbs 23:23—buy the truth and do not sell it.

• Matthew 10:37—he who loves anyone more than Jesus is not worthy of Jesus.

• Luke 9:59-62—the cost of discipleship. Jesus said follow Me—there should be no excuses.

NOT TWIST SCRIPTURES

• 2 Peter 3:16—Paul’s writings hard to understand, but some twist them (wrest)

• 2 Corinthians 2:17—many peddle the word of God not out of sincerity

• 1 Peter 2:1-2—false teachers will cause destruction.

BE HARD TO DISTRACT

• James 4:4—friendship with the world makes one an enemy of God.

• 1 Timothy 6:9-10—love of money root of all kinds of sin, but flee these things.

• Hebrews 12:2—fixing our gaze upon Jesus

BE CONSISTENT

• Matthew 15:7-9—you hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy---teach the doctrines of men.

• Titus 1:16—profess to know Jesus, but their deeds deny Him.

• Philippians 1:16—some preach Jesus out of love.

• 1 Timothy 4:16—pay close attention to yourself and those who hear you.

CONCLUSION

• Being blameless is equal to sincerity in our text.

• Is sincerity a part of your life?• Are you consistent in your Christian duty?• Many other attributes that describe a sincere

person.• Will you be found sincere and blameless?