Acts 2:42–47 (NASB95)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
“Hypocrisy” is frequently in the news and daily in social media (frequently a famous person or politician caught violating their own Covid-19 regulations). The word is derived from the Greek term for “actor” – literally, “one who wears a mask” – in other words, someone who pretends to be what he is not. It comes in two forms: 1) the act of claiming to believe something but acting contrary to that belief (Lk. 6:46); 2) looking down upon others who do things wrong when we ourselves are flawed (Mt. 7:3-5). Since none of us are perfect, we are all guilty of being hypocritical at times. The problem is that the Bible says hypocrisy is a sin (Mt. 23:27-28).
Religious people are often called hypocrites in the Bible (see Is. 29:13; Mt. 15:8-9; Lk. 3:8; Mt. 7:15; Mt. 23:33). They thought they were climbing a stairway to heaven because they were religious, but they were actually on a highway to hell because they were hypocrites (Mt. 7:13-27). Secular people use the hypocrisy of professing believers as one of the reasons why they reject faith in Jesus and/or refuse to go to a church (“it’s full of hypocrites”). In glaring contrast, the passage above in Acts 2 tells us that the early church experienced a genuine fellowship with God and one another that was characterized by “gladness and sincerity of heart.” The Greek word for “sincerity” refers to “humility associated with simplicity of life.” It describes someone that has a singular or unified quality (integrity). They aren’t complex, but simple. Synonyms would include genuine, honest, earnest, and authentic. What you see is what you get.
And notice the impact sincere believers had on the watching world, “having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” What a difference! People avoiding church due to hypocrites vs. people flocking to church because of sincere followers of Jesus.
As we work our way through 1 John on Sunday mornings, we will be challenged to be sincere believers, not hypocrites. There are repeating tests in 1 John that we can take to make sure our faith is genuine (doctrinal, moral, and social). And these tests are personal and practical (we cannot say we love God whom we have not seen if we hate our brother whom we have seen – 1 John 4:20). Read through 1 John before Sunday morning looking for the repeating tests. Ask the Lord to open all our eyes and make us sensitive to hypocrisy so we can confess it, repent of it, and walk in sincerity. If our faith is genuine, we will pass the tests, and we will have the joy of knowing absolutely for sure that we are children of God and will live in His kingdom forever (1 John 5:13).
Love must be “without hypocrisy” (Rom. 12:9). Let’s strive to make The Bridge a church where our sincere love for God and for one another is a profound testimony of the lifechanging power of the Gospel. I look forward to seeing you in person on Sunday morning.