The Etymology (origins) of the word sincere is not clear. Scholars are divided in this issue. The Oxford English Dictionary and most scholars state that sincerity from sincere is derived from the Latin sincerus meaning clean, pure, sound (1525–35). Sincerus may have once meant "one growth" (not mixed), from sin- (one) and crescere (to grow). Crescere is cognate with "Ceres," the goddess of grain, as in "cereal." According to the American Heritage Dictionary[6], the Latin word sincerus is derived from the Indo-European root *sm̥kēros, itself derived from the zero-grade of *sem (one) and the suffixed, lengthened e-grade of *ker (grow), generating the underlying meaning of one growth, hence pure, clean.
It does not help that there is n often repeated folk etymology proposes that sincere is derived from the Latin sine = without, cera = wax. According to one popular explanation, dishonest sculptors in Rome or Greece would cover flaws in their work with wax to deceive the viewer; therefore, a sculpture "without wax" would mean honesty in its perfection. Another explanation is that without wax etymology "is derived from a Greeks-bearing-gifts story of deceit and betrayal. For the feat of victory, the Romans demanded the handing over of obligatory tributes. Following bad advice, the Greeks resorted to some faux-marble statues made of wax, which they offered up as tribute. These promptly melted in the warm Greek sun."
Regardless of the true origin of the word sincere (which means free from hypocrisy, honest, genuine, and/or real), it seems to mean that inside and out is made of the same material: no blends, no mixes, no filling. This reminds me of how the Lord ordered some things to be done in the sanctuary. The sanctuary's lamp was made out of pure gold. Everything in this lamp was to be gold. We read of this in Exodus 25:31 and 39,
Exo25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo25:39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Also the silver trumpets in Numbers 10:2,
Num10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
The trumpets were made out of a whole piece of silver only. It is this kind of integrity that Christ had while on earth. Through and through He was all the same. His intentions, His thoughts, Words and His actions were in harmony. All were clean, pure, sound, and not mixed with self (sin). This is why many considered Christ different than any other man (John 7:46). This is what men are looking for in us. This is what the Holy Spirit is trying to produce in us. It is not only what we say, but how we live, and this requires sincerity. Sister White says why,
"Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven's chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked by our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 347.
True sincerity in a Christian is when the intentions of the heart, the words of the mouth, and the actions perform in perfect alignment with agape. Like the lamp and the trumpets they are made out of one "one whole piece" of agape.
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Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
