A Godly Sincerity

“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.”

2 Corinthians 1:12

Paul’s sincerity to Corinth was based off the same sincerity he had for every church. This was a godly sincerity that was a gift from Christ to Him through the Spirit as it is given to us. Paul was conscientious of this sincerity. There was no place in time where Paul wasn't occupied in his conscience toward the churches. Paul had a deep Christ-given love for the churches. Paul shared in the joys and love of Christ, as He said His number one pursuit was to share in the sufferings of Christ, to know the power of His resurrection and fully go after that specific treasure. Christ was sufficient for Paul to the point that Paul was single-minded in his address to the Corinthians; Paul wanted the Corinthians to know Christ. This is the purpose of each epistle: to see the church grow in the knowledge, wisdom, and love of Christ. Paul wanted the church to KNOW Christ, not simply be touched by Him and have stranded experiences here and there, but to KNOW Christ in all His fullness.

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me… Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.”

John 8:42; 50

Christ was faithful and not in any light way. At every moment of His life, Christ was completely given to the will of the Father as spoken to Him moment by moment. Christ did not go astray or pursue anything but the perfect and beautiful will of God in all things. Christ desired to bring the world to know its Creator. The purpose of life is to know Jehovah, the Lord God Almighty. Christ is Jehovah in the flesh, the Savior. Christ came to save the world from the depths of death and bring to light the fullness of life that is Christ and in Christ. We are not in the business of offering a life, but displaying a life and allowing Christ to take full control and rebirth the world into the same life. Our calling is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, loving others as we would love ourselves. In this, we know the Father and the one He sent, which is Christ. We are called to love God, not simply sacrifice things and obey, but to pursue and enjoy His very person above everything else. When we know Christ, we spread Christ because the nature of loving Christ is an outward desire to experience His love in loving others. This is the fullness of creation; love.
            This is the sincerity that Christ gave to Paul. Paul desired that the churches would grow in love. That the churches would pursue love and die in love. Godly sincerity is the pure drive to see people know Christ. To expand the glory of God in reaching it out to others is to expand the love of Christ in you. The more people you joyfully and selflessly love in Christ, the more people who see Christ and find Christ through you. Although it is none of your gain, Christ has gifted you to be you for the world to see the beauty of Christ in you as you lay hold of His fullness and allow Him to mold you in to His life and glory. Christ designed Paul and you to be vessels of sincere love for all, even yourself, to know and share the beauty of Christ.