No Lying

I. You should not lie because lying hurts people.

A. What happens in a court of law if witnesses do not speak the truth? There will be no justice. If you don’t speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, you will hurt somebody. This is true not just in courtrooms. We need to speak truth to uphold the good name of people. Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” Don’t lie or listen to lies about your neighbors.
B. God hates lies that are spoken that hurt other people. Proverbs 6:16-19: There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

II. You should not lie because lying imitates Satan.

A. Jesus said to lying Pharisees in John 8:44: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” There is a connection between liars and Satan. Satan is the father of liars.
B. The apostle Peter makes the same connection between Satan and lies in Acts 5:1-5. And Jesus said these words about lies in Matthew 23:27-28: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!… You also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” To attempt to appear more righteous than you are is a lie. It’s hypocrisy. It is a lie that imitates Satan who presents himself to the world as an angel of light.

III. You should not lie because truth is God’s nature.

A. All three persons in the Trinity are characterized by truth (Rom. 3:4, John 14:6, 1 John 4:6). One way that we speak the truth is when we confess our sins to God. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Chronic liars will be outside the gate of heaven. Revelation 22:15: “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

Application:
Free yourself from idols that cause you to lie: Pride, People, Good Reputation, Money.
Sources:
The Bible
Books by J.I. Packer, Jen Wilkin, Kevin DeYoung, and Philip Ryken.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) What damage have people done to you by lying about you? Have you done similar damage to others by your lies? How does God feel about lying?
2) What is the connection between Satan and lying? What was the penalty for Ananias and Sapphira for their lies in Acts 5? How seriously does God take our lies?
3) If we are followers of Jesus, what kinds of words will we speak? What does God want to hear from us when we sin? See 1 John 1:9.