1. Are You a Hypocrite? Hypocrite (Gk. hupokritēs) Thayer
The charge of hypocrisy against Christians is routinely heard today!
Enemies of faith seek to discredit the gospel of Christ and Christ’s disciples.
Yet, sometimes the charge is deserved. Sometimes Christians are hypocrites.
Jesus leveled this charge against some Jewish religious leaders who demanded conformity to their religious traditions while excusing disobedience to the commandment of God (Mk. 7:1-13). READ
Note the definition on slide: They claimed to be zealous, and yet were avoiding obedience to God!
Jesus provided the evidence that exposed their sin, which greatly offended them.
(Matthew 15:12), “Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
We can be guilty too, for this reason, the apostle Peter said to lay aside all hypocrisies (1 Pet. 2:1).
(1 Peter 2:1-3), “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
At the same time, the charge of hypocrisy can be a smoke screen to divert attention away from the sin and error one is unwilling to face in his or her life.
It is easier to say “you’re a hypocrite” whenever a Christian commits a sin than to take personal responsibility for one’s own failings.
Beware: My hypocrisy does not approve your sin. Nor does committing one sin automatically mean one is a hypocrite.
What does the Scripture say about what constitutes Hypocrisy?
Hypocrite (Gk. hupokritēs) Thayer
“an actor, stage player; a dissembler, pretender”

2. Being a hypocrite is not the same thing as a Christian sinning from time to time
Hypocrisy is pretending to be what one is not; like an actor, it is playing a role to hide what is real.
There is a huge difference between a Christian who yields to temptation but is eager to repent, confess it to the Lord and avoid the same sin in the future
And the Christian who feigns righteousness while refusing to follow God’s word.
True Christians “walk in the light” “practice the truth” and do not habitually sin.
When they commit sin, they remedy it by Christ’s word (1 Jno. 1:6-2:1).
(1 John 1:6 – 2:1), “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (2:1) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Not the hypocrite.
1 John 1:6 – 2:1

3. A Hypocrite pretends to be what he is not (He is an Actor)
He feigns righteousness while practicing sin
(1 John 3:4), “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
(1 John 5:17), “All unrighteousness is sin…”
He does not practice what he preaches, while faithful Christians make it their aim to conform to the image of the Son
(Matthew 23:3), [Christ’s description of the Pharisees] “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”
(Romans 8:29), [In contrast, the Christian] “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
It is wrong to charge “hypocrisy” any time a Christian sins.
Hypocrisy is spiritual pretense.
To say a Christian is a hypocrite if he sins is to suggest Christians must be sinlessly perfect (otherwise, they are hypocrites).
That is patently false
(1 John 1:9-10), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
(1 John 2:1-2), “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 3:4; Romans 8:29; 1 John 1:9-10; 2:1-2

4. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Matthew 15:7-9
A Hypocrite will not examine himself, and objects to being examined by others
A Faithful Christian understands the necessity of admonition
He is not concerned with being embarrassed. He wants to be saved!
(2 Corinthians 5:10-11), “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
Faithful Christians welcome examination and correction from others because they want to be right with God.
They will correct their sin when it is pointed out to them.
But the hypocrite cannot abide the scrutiny of God’s word.
Truth exposes the hypocrite’s pretense and a heart is far from God
(Matthew 15:7-9), “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Matthew 15:7-9

5. The question is important… “Are you a Hypocrite?” (Romans 2:1-3)
Conclusion
(Romans 2:1-3), “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?”
The question is important… “Are you a Hypocrite?”
(Romans 2:1-3)