Be Real and Be Right
2 Corinthians 1:12 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.
Intro: The theme this school year is GODLY SINCERITY.
There is a desperate need for that in our country.
I. The Rejoicing of their Conscience
Is your testimony something that you can honestly rejoice about?
Are you glad for others to see your walk with the Lord?
Are you ashamed?
Are you intimidated by those that are happy and spiritual?
Does being around them bother you, or can you be happy and rejoice together?
You can if you have a clear conscience!
Can you lay you head on your pillow at night knowing you are not a fake?
Can you rejoice in the fact that you are not a pretender and a phony?
Can you honestly rejoice in the fact that you are not living your life with a mask of Christianity covering the real you?
NOTE: Paul and Timothy were going through a very hard time.
SEE verse 8-10.
But in spite of all that, they did not have the stress and worry of having to keep up an act of Christianity.
They didn’t have to be concerned with trying to fake everybody out.
They could rejoice in the simple fact that they had a clean conscience.
I’ve heard young people say, “It’s just hard to be a Christian.”
No, it’s hard to PRETEND to be one.
It’s very hard to try and make everybody around you THINK you are one.
It’s exhausting trying to keep the real you from showing around that mask of spirituality.
It will wear you out trying to cover and hide the truth and put on a show.
Having a clean conscience is a peaceful life.
Having a clean conscience is something to rejoice about.
II. The Realness of their Character
It’s one thing to say “I’m real!”
It’s another to be able to say that your sincerity is godly.
I’ve heard it a thousand times – I’m not very spiritual but at least I’m not a hypocrite.
Bragging about not being a hypocrite when you’re carnal and worldly is not right.
Being a phony is wrong.
But being ungodly is also wrong.
One is just as bad as the other.
Paul was very clear – their character was characterized by three words:
1. Simplicity
1) singleness, simplicity, sincerity, mental honesty
1a) the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy
2) not self seeking, openness of heart revealing itself by generosity
2. Sincerity
SINCERITY: purity, sincerity, ingenuousness
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: SINCER'ITY, noun [Latin sinceritas.]
1. Honesty of mind or intention; freedom from simulation or hypocrisy.
2. Freedom from hypocrisy, disguise or false pretense; as the sincerity of a declaration or of love.
3. Spirituality – not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God.
This wasn’t an act.
They hadn’t “learned” how to do it.
They hadn’t watched other Christians act and followed them or imitated them.
They hadn’t mastered the art of pretending.
They didn’t “get wise” to what they were supposed to do and in their own flesh and power figure it out.
Their character was real and it was genuine because the Grace of God had been manifested in their life.
They were not PRETENDERS that God’s grace was amazing; they were PROOF that it was.
III. The Reach of their Conversation
…we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward
Their godly sincerity had impacted the unsaved world and the people of God.
Let’s be clear – your conversation will reach the world and the church – regardless.
If you’re a phony, they will know it.
If you’re real, they will know that too.
Your life and your testimony will speak volumes to everyone you meet.
People can read you like a book.
QUESTION: Can you detect a phony when you see one? Of course you can!
So can everyone else!
Look at Stephen in Acts 6:15.
· Acts 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Was he an angel? Of course not.
He was a man. But he was walking with God.
The Bible says this about him:
· 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
· 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,
· 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
NOTE: Whatever it is that you are full of, it will show all over your face.
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