Billy Graham - Embracing the Good News: The Journey Study Series

One of the most used but misunderstood terms in Christianity is hypocrisy. It is defined as pretending to be a better person than one is in reality. The term is rooted in the Greek word meaning to give an answer.

In the Greek culture, a hypocrite was any number of thingsan interpreter of dreams, a public speaker, or an actor. Over time, the term gained a negative connotation.

In the Bible, hypocrite is used in the negative sense. In the Old Testament, the term can be interchanged with ungodly. The ungodly person either opposed or ignored God.

In the New Testament, hypocrisy as a concept is much more prevalent. Jesus addressed the hypocrisy of the pious people who held themselves in higher esteem than they should have (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16). Hypocrites were more interested in public acclaim than godly humility. Hypocrites were judgmental of others and failed to live what they claimed to believe.

Hypocrites could interpret weather but were unable to see the signs of the times (Luke 12:56). The religious leaders were criticized for not living up to the message they proclaimed (Matthew 23:328). Peter listed hypocrisy as an attitude that believers should avoid (1 Peter 2:1).

The opposite of hypocrisy is sincerity. Christian love, faith, and wisdom should be expressed without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9; 1 Timothy 1:5; James 3:17).

Hypocrisy has been and still is counterproductive to authentic faith. We often hold others to standards that we cant live up to. We look for excuses to explain away our behaviors while being critical of those who do the same things we do. This is modern-day hypocrisy and must be avoided if we are going to positively affect our culture for Christ.

We can often suggest that other people change so that their lives can reflect their faith. Yet those of us calling for change can be the most resistant to change. Before we demand that other people start over, we must be sure we have done the same.

What do you expect to happen in the lives of other people when they accept Jesus Christ?

[Your Response Here]

Have these changes happened in your life? If not, why not?

[Your Response Here]

Salvation experiences vary from person to person. None is more dramatic than that of Saul of Tarsus. Sauls job was to persecute and kill Christians. He traveled from place to place making life miserable or ending the lives of those who claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

On the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the risen Lord face to face. Jesus asked him a question.

Read Acts 22:7. Saul was persecuting Christians, but who was taking offense?

[Your Response Here]

In persecuting people, Saul was persecuting Jesus Christ. But that all changed when Saul recognized Jesus for who He was and accepted Him as Savior and Lord. For Saul, everything changed.

How has your salvation affected your...

Ambition?

[Your Response Here]

Vocation?

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Purpose?

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Awareness of the needs of others?

[Your Response Here]

Saul got a new name, new ambition, new vocation, new purpose, and a new awareness of the real needs of other people. His name was changed to Paul. His ambition was changed from delivering death to delivering life. His purpose went from persecuting Jesus Christ to glorifying Jesus Christ. Finally, he became aware that the greatest need in humanity was a spiritual need.