Note: This is a study through the book of Ephesians as done in 1995. One of the main sources I used at the time was Beacon Bible Commentary vol. 9. and Online Bible Topics
Title: The Lie
Theme: To understand what it means to lie.
Text:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: {speaking...: or, being sincere} (Ephesians 4:15 AV)
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (Ephesians 4:22 AV)
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25 AV)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. {to...: or, to edify profitably} (Ephesians 4:29 AV)
Throughout scripture we see an important emphasis on what is said. Especially in James where we see that the tongue is hard to tame. Falsehood is rejected and called sin. So it is no surprise that when describing the changed life from Old to New that Paul speaks of putting away lying. The problem comes today is what is a lie and when to use it.
I was watching a TV program the other day and it tried to covince me that all people lie. No matter.
Let us look at this tonight.
What is a lie?
Webster:
a) an assertation of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to
deceive
b) an untrue or inaccurate statement that may or may not be believed true by the speaker
c) something that misleads or deceives.
manifestation of untruth
Greek: 1. a falsehood 2. speaking falsely 3. to deceive by lies
LYING
1) Forbidden # Le 19:11 Col 3:9
2) Hateful to God # Pr 6:16-19
3) An abomination to God # Pr 12:22
* 4) A hindrance to prayer # Isa 59:2,3
* 5) The devil, the father of # Joh 8:44
* 6) The devil excites men to # 1Ki 22:22 Ac 5:3
7) SAINTS What to do as Christians?
7a) Hate # Ps 119:163 Pr 13:5
7b) Avoid # Isa 63:8 Zep 3:13
7c) Respect not those who practise # Ps 40:4
7d) Reject those who practise # Ps 101:7
7e) Pray to be preserved from # Ps 119:29 Pr 30:8
8) Unbecoming in rulers # Pr 17:7
9) The evil of rulers hearkening to # Pr 29:12
10) False prophets addicted to # Jer 23:14 Eze 22:28
11) False witnesses addicted to # Pr 14:5,25
12) Antinomians guilty of # 1Jo 1:6 2:4
13) Hypocrites addicted to # Ho 11:12
14) Hypocrites, a seed of # Isa 57:4
15) THE WICKED-Sign of the wicked?
15a) Addicted to, from their infancy # Ps 58:3
15b) Love # Ps 52:3
15c) Delight in # Ps 62:4
15d) Seek after # Ps 4:2
15e) Prepare their tongues for # Jer 9:3,5
15f) Bring forth # Ps 7:14
15g) Give heed to # Pr 17:4
16) A characteristic of the Apostasy # 2Th 2:9 1Ti 4:2
17) LEADS TO-Why is it so bad?
17a) Hatred # Pr 26:28
17b) Love of impure conversation # Pr 17:4
18) Often accompanied by gross crimes # Ho 4:1,2
*19) Folly of concealing hatred by # Pr 10:18
20) Vanity of getting riches by # Pr 21:6
21) Shall be detected # Pr 12:19
22) Poverty preferable to # Pr 19:22
*23) Excludes from heaven # Re 21:27 22:15
*24) They who are guilty of, shall be cast into hell # Re 21:8
25) Punishment for # Ps 5:6 120:3,4 Pr 19:5 Jer 50:36
26) Exemplified-Examples of
26a) The devil # Ge 3:4 first lie ever told
26b) Cain # Ge 4:9 second lie ever told
26c) Sarah # Ge 18:15 Sarah denies laughing
26d) Jacob # Ge 27:19 Jacob with Esau
26e) Joseph's brethren # Ge 37:31,32
26f) Gibeonites # Jos 9:9-13
26g) Samson # Jud 16:10
26h) Saul # 1Sa 15:13
26i) Michal # 1Sa 19:14
26j) David # 1Sa 21:2 David lies in Nod
26k) Prophet of Bethel # 1Ki 13:18
26l) Gehazi # 2Ki 5:22
26m) Job's friends # Job 13:4
26n) Ninevites # Na 3:1
26o) Peter # Mt 26:72 Denial of Christ
26p) Ananias, &c # Ac 5:5 Lie against the Holy Spirit
26q) Cretans # Tit 1:12
What about Sarah and Abraham? Gen 12:14-20 Gen 20
What about Rahab?
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. (Joshua 2:4-7 AV)
Conclusion
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: {speaking...: or, being sincere} (Ephesians 4:15 AV)
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27 AV)
