The Joy of a Sincere Life: 2 Corinthians 1:12

The Joy of a Sincere Life

2 Corinthians 1:12

Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite. 

Charles Spurgeon

    For many ages, masks have been worn in theatre performances, religious ceremonies, and parties. Masks were worn to create a persona, to emphasize a particular emotion, portray a different character, or hide one’s identity. But too often, we wear masks in our every day life, not literal masks, but we disguise our true selves behind a facade. In 2 Corinthians, Paul demonstrates by his own example, that godly sincerity should mark the life of the believer. Would we be able to say like Paul, “in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you” (2 Corinthians 1:12)? Is our testimony one of genuineness, lacking hypocrisy? Or do we wear a mask?

    Sincerity is that quality of character that doesn’t hide under a false appearance or put on a show. Sincerity is honest and pure, free from hypocrisy. We aren’t leading people to believe something that we’re not. We aren’t faking it. Sincerity means that what we say and how we act outwardly reflects who we truly are inwardly. Sincerity does not mislead others through dishonesty and deceit. In 2 Corinthians, Paul message to them is “measure me by the words I speak and the way I live” (Duncan). He knew they would evaluate his life by his sincerity to Christ and to them. Throughout the letter, Paul gives us encouragement on how we can live in genuine love toward others, as we are called to do (Romans 12:9; 1 Peter 1:22).

Be straightforward in our communication (2 Cor. 1:13). Paul told the Corinthians, “Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines…” (NLT). To be straightforward means that our communication, written or verbal, is free from evasiveness or obscurity. We seek to be clear and say exactly what we mean to say. We don’t hint or sugarcoat things. We don’t use passive aggressiveness or exaggeration. We all have a desire to be understood. Do we do our best to communicate clearly and effectively, as well as trying to understand another’s point of view? Not only should we seek to be clear in our communication, but we should follow up our words with actions consistent with our words. Paul called the Corinthians to both comfort and reaffirm their love for the brother to whom they had extended forgiveness (2 Cor. 2:7-8). In essence he said, “Demonstrate your forgiveness by comforting the offender and acting in love toward him.” Let’s not love in word only, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18) Sincerity means we communicate without guile or duplicity, and what we are in word, we are also in deed (2 Cor. 10:11). 

Don’t vacillate. Paul said, “Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time?” (2 Cor. 1:17). Sincerity in our lives means that we are consistent. We don’t waver in our opinions, our intentions, or our commitments. This does not mean that we are inflexible or unable to be persuaded to a better or more reasonable stand on an issue. It does mean that our opinions or our word does not change dependent on whom we are interacting. The crowd we are with at a particular moment in time does not influence us to waver in our beliefs. We are not fickle or careless. We consistently let our yes be yes, and our no, no. Sincerity means that our faithful character reflects our faithful Lord (2 Cor. 1:18).

Live in the sight of God, having regard for what is honorable to Him. Several times in his letter, Paul calls God as a witness to his words and life or he declares that their actions were done “in the sight of God”’ (2 Cor. 1:23; 2:17). He speaks of the caution they took while bringing the financial and material support from the churches of Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem explaining, “for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Cor. 8:21). If we are to live without pretense and hypocrisy, then we must live with integrity and with the knowledge that God is always bearing witness to our deeds and words done in private and our motives and thoughts that no one else may see. Sincerity means that we will take careful care and consideration to ourselves and seek to live in a way that shows that we know that nothing is hidden from the One who sees all (Heb. 4:13). Our ambition, like Paul’s, will be to please the Lord (2 Cor. 5:9). 

Seek to build up others for their good. Throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul labors to show his love and concern for them and his efforts to deal with them rightly. Others had come in and taken advantage of the Corinthians, but Paul and his companions had done no such thing. “We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one” (2 Cor. 7:2). On the contrary, in everything they strived to not give offense but rather to commend themselves as God’s servants (2 Cor. 6:3-4). A life lived in genuineness and sincerity will rejoice in another’s joy (2 Cor. 7:13), meet another’s needs with liberality (8:2), come alongside another in their suffering to offer comfort (1:4), and pray for one another (9:14). At times, it will be difficult to do this from the heart. In those times, we can confess our lack of sincerity and ask God to give us His love and care for fellow believers. Paul told them that his authority over them had been given to him by God “for building you up and not for destroying you” (10:8). Genuine love for others will build up those around us and not tear them down. 

Get His truth in us. Paul testified, “…the truth of Christ is in me” (2 Cor. 11:10). Living truthfully, authentically, sincerely, with our outward and inward lives consistent with one another requires an inward transformation that only God can produce in us. But He can make it happen. He has chosen to use us as His ambassadors to be the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Cor. 2:14). We are called to manifest the life of Jesus through these mortal bodies that we live in every day (2 Cor. 4:10-11). While our outer man is in the process of decay, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. Because He has died for us, He has called us to no longer live for ourselves, but for Him (2 Cor. 5:15). Based on these promises and many more, Paul calls us to “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). Sincere living and sincere love can be the testimony of our lives as we daily cleanse ourselves and renew our minds as we are transformed more and more into the image of Christ, whose life was always genuine, authentic, and sincere. Let us do “nothing against the trust, but only for the truth” (2 Cor. 13:8). 

Lastly, Paul warns the Corinthians of those who practice deceit, the opposite of sincerity. He called them “deceitful workers, disguising themselves” (2 Cor. 11:13). These deceitful disguisers were following their master, Satan, who disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Paul calls us to not be ignorant of his schemes and craftiness, nor let us imitate him by wearing a disguise of righteousness. 

What will be the end for the one who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, trusting in Christ? Isaiah says, “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land” (Isaiah 33:17). Eternal glory beholding Christ in His beauty and living in that fair land that He is even now preparing for us is the reward for His children. We will have joy both now, as we live purely and honestly, and eternal joy when our faith becomes sight. Let us press on then to live in holiness and godly sincerity. 

Photo credit to diana_pole