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The apostle Paul uses the word sincere four times: I Cor. 5:8; II Cor. 1:12; II Cor. 2:17 and Phil. 1:10.  The word is translated from the Greek word eilikrinia which means purity.  Paul uses it of the purity of the soul when communing with God (I Cor. 5:8); of the purity of daily life reflected in the conduct of the saint of God in the world; of the undefiled speech of the Christian teacher who imparts the truth of God’s word to others (II Cor. 2:17) and of the purity of heart which is the result of the beauty of spiritual wisdom which has been taught of love to discern the things that are of greatest importance over that which is  mundane.   Sincerity is the purity of heart that produces spiritual integrity.
The Basis of Sincerity
First, to be sincere, let a person bring his/her inner life into the illuminating rays of the Best-Jesus Christ.  The standard of the conscience is set by the perfect teacher who exhibits the perfect character and the perfect conduct–Jesus Christ.  If Christ lives in us (Gal. 2:20), we will exhibit Christlikeness to the world around us.  Our words and actions will reflect His glory.
Second, to be sincere, let a man live in perfect openness to God.  Sincerity is that clearness of the soul in which nothing interferes with its penetration by the divine light of truth and righteousness.  Insincerity loves secrecy and hates publicity.  It shrinks from the light of judgment.  “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21).  Sincerity invites God’s scrutiny and fears nothing from God.
Third, to be sincere, let a man preserve an unbroken harmony between one’s words and deeds and one’s deepest inward convictions.  This is what we mean when we say “be true to yourself.”  Being true to yourself arises from being true to God!  Polinius said, “To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
The Bane of Hypocrisy
Jesus was stirred to indignation by those religious leaders who lacked harmony between the inner and outer life.  He condemned the Pharisees who “say but do not.”  Their own words were contradicted by their actions.  Jesus called them “whited sepulchers” which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27).  He warned his disciples not to follow after them.  Hypocrites wear a mask.  They live in pretense and deceive others thereby.  They pretend to be something that they are not.  The Christian life involves living a true life and can never be acting a part.  The hypocrite exhibits spiritual incompetence.  The double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways (James 1:8).  The person who attempts to serve two masters at the same time and in the same place attempts to do the impossible (Matthew 6:24).  Jesus emphatically states, “no man can serve two masters.”  Sincerity is the virtue of the heart that pursues divine purity and spiritual integrity.  Sincerity is the antidote to hypocrisy.
The Beauty of Sincerity
Sincerity is a Christian virtue.  Paul connects love to sincerity (Phil. 1:9-11).  Love is the basis of judgment or spiritual discernment.  Love for God and for neighbor is a guiding principle that helps us approve the things that are excellent.  This produces and preserves sincerity.  Purity of heart guards against profaning the sacred or ill-treatment of our neighbor.  Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth (I Cor. 13:6).  Love preserves a right relationship with God and with others.  Jesus said that the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8).  The ultimate reward of the true follower of Jesus Christ is the blessing of being with God forever.  Sincerity is one of those excellent virtues of the Christian life that is essential to obtaining the crown of life.