Truthfulness Series

Introduction

Today we are going to start a new series of lessons on Christianity 101. You’ve heard me talk and tell you, many times, to live right. This series of lessons will explore the basics of living the way God wants you to live. It is so easy for all of us to forget these basics of the Christian walk since we are constantly bombarded by the messages that are contrary to God’s Word.

Let’s turn to our main passage for today and we will read verses Ephesians 4:20-24.

"That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Verses 20-24 is why we want to talk with you about counting the cost before you decide to follow Jesus. You needed to realize what it takes to be a child of God so that you could make an informed decision about being a follower of Christ.

The former way of life must be put off. Those sinful desires that were out of control in your life, alcoholism, drug addictions, anger, lying, sexual impurity in all of its forms, bitterness, rage, brawling, slander and every form of malice are to be put off. You are to do them no more.

Will you fail at times? Of course you will, but you put forth the effort and work daily to replace these evil attitudes with a new set of attitudes.

My goal for this series is that you will (as verses 23-24 tells us) - "be made new in the attitude of your minds;24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

The first attitude I want us to look at is being truthful. Verse 25 says, “25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “

Truthfulness is the hallmark of a Christian. In fact as we will see it is at the very heart of God Himself.

The Lying World

Have you ever noticed how much lying goes on in the world today? How easy it is for one to lie to their boss, coworker, children etc. It seems that lying is a chronic disease of humankind.

Psalms 116:11 - 11 "I said in my alarm, “All men are liars.”"

Jeremiah 9:3-6 - “They bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” declares the Lord.

4 “Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; Because every brother deals [c]craftily, And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.

5 “Everyone deceives his neighbor And does not speak the truth, They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing iniquity.

6 “Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the Lord."

The Severe Consequences of Lying

Everyone is lying! It is amazing to me how devastating lying is! When a person or a society’s existence is based on lies then we have to always be on guard, because we can’t be sure if you are being told the truth or a lie.

Is the check in the mail or not? Do I trust them or not? A person who is a liar is one who cannot be trusted and one who cannot be trusted does not have good relationships. It is the same as the person who always cries’ wolf when there is not wolf. People end up not trusting them and they try to avoid them. Then a time comes when they truly need help and help is not there. Why? Because they have proven themselves to be a liar and therefore no one believes anything that comes out of their mouths.

Not only are the earthly consequences of lying bad, the eternal consequences are far worse!

Psalms 5:5-6 - "The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong;

6 you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest."

Psalms 101:7 - "No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence."

Proverbs 12:22 - "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."

God is Truth

Why does God detest lying lips so much? The answer is found in the very nature of God himself.