Truth in Action: Would You Lie to Save a Life? | Al Williford

I. Honesty vs. Deceit

• Honesty is equated with truth, integrity, honor, and uprightness.
• Deceit involves lying, trickery, fraud, and duplicity.
• The concept of honesty/deceit involves more than just words.
• Integrity is defined as wholeness.

II. Biblical Perspective on Honesty/Deceit

• Old Testament Examples:
  • The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity (Proverbs 11:3).
  • Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9).
  • The Lord detests lying lips but delights in trustworthy people (Proverbs 12:22).
• New Testament Examples:
  • Followers of God should not lie to each other (Colossians 3:9).
  • Followers of God should put off falsehood and speak truthfully (Ephesians 4:25).
  • Followers of God should not use deception, nor distort the word of God, but set forth the truth plainly (2 Corinthians 4:1).

III. God and the Truth

• Image of God:
  • Humanity was created as God's imagers, meant to be His representatives.
  • Humans are to be a mirror to reflect God’s image on Earth.
  • As emissaries, humans are to have God's qualities.
  • God is a God of truth.
  • It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).
• The Holy Spirit and the Truth:
  • The Spirit of truth guides people into all truth (John 16:13).
• Jesus and the Truth:
  • Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
  • God's word is truth (John 17:17).

IV. Results of Honesty/Truth

• Enables people to hear the voice of Jesus (John 18:38).
• Knowing the truth makes people free (John 8:31-32).
• The truth sanctifies people (John 17:17).
• Leads to God’s dwelling place (Psalm 43:3-4).
• Enables people to worship the Father (John 4:23).
• Brings favor from God and people (Proverbs 3:3).
• Gives a piece of armor to resist evil (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

V. Origin of Dishonesty

• The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44).
• There is a spiritual war between the Kingdom of Heaven and the powers of this world (Ephesians 6:12).
• The dragon was hurled down to earth and leads the whole world astray (Revelation 12:7-9).
• The powers of this world work to deceive (2 Thes. 2:10, Rev. 13:14, 2 Cor. 4:4).

VI. Results of Dishonesty

• Liars will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 21:8).

VII. Additional Scripture References:

• Proverbs 12:19, Psalm 15:2, 1 Peter 3:10, Colossians 3:9-10, Psalm 119:160, Proverbs 19:9, Zechariah 8:16