Seemingly the world is full of lying and deceit and every news story seems to be paraded with the lie. That should be the case towards the end times. There is no respect for the truth in high places of power or even in everyday conversation. Where the lie is there can be no fellowship either in the world or in the church! Paul is describing the new and old man here and admonishes the church "you see the Jews but you know not Christ." We too must know that we have been sanctified in Christ and must live as such as the lie reeks havoc in our lives. We must speak and walk in the truth!
There is no greater temptation than to lie because it is beneficial to the flesh that does not like consequences. Where the lie is you find fellowship with the devil who is the lie. He may find no place in our lives to further the lie however. When you step out of fellowship with the Spirit with the lie you grieve the Spirit who is the Spirit of TRUTH! The lie in our mouth grieves Him! You can understand why the lie reeks havoc....not being able to hold the hand of God and the devil at the same time. Paul uses the word "falsehood" in this passage. We have the word "Sudo" which is fake. Anything that is fake or not reality we must put away. It is a knock off, a fake, not genuine! Paul says put off the fake and put on the truth! Why are we always attracted to the sudo? The knock offs? Because they are easier to get! We tell the lie to deceive for our flesh. The truth is painful. The truth hurts! (especially the truth about me!)
The truth alone enhances fellowship while no relationship can be had on deceitfulness. Wherever the lie is the relationship we have in Christ is broken! To the neighbor I must speak the truth in love. (both in the church and beyond as he is the neighbor.) We stand in the fellowship of Christ and must speak the truth as it is in His word. We speak the truth about God and whatever His word talks about and it extends to the neighbor.
The lie has so many forms it is hard to talk about all of them. The coloring of the truth, partial and half truths, inflection, outright perjury and the list goes on and on. Put them ALL away as they are sudo, not the truth and the whole truth! We do these things sometimes however in our families and to our neighbor. We may not be discouraged in our obligation to the world, but we must also understand that they live in the lie and deceit for the lust of the flesh always. But we learn Christ "having been taught by Him" says the Apostle Paul. He teaches us the truth as it is in Christ Jesus...that we have been saved and stand in HIS fellowship without room for the lie. Can you pray to God when you lie? It interrupts fellowship! We must speak the truth about God and the neighbor as we LIVE in that fellowship with God and one another. To speak the lie we must stand OUTSIDE that fellowship to do it.
In fellowship to the Living God we stand in fellowship with ALL of our relationships. If we make room for the lie, we make place for the devil and it DESTROYS! Speak the truth in love. You can only do that when you TELL THE TRUTH!!!
. I must show all honour, love, and faithfulness to my father and mother and to all those in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to their good instruction and discipline, 1 and also have patience with their weaknesses and...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD’S DAY 22 What comfort doth the “resurrection of the body” afford thee? That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head; but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD’S DAY 14 What is the meaning of these words —“He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary”? That God’s eternal Son, who is, and continueth true and eternal God, took upon Him the very nature of...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD’S DAY 14 What is the meaning of these words —“He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary”? That God’s eternal Son, who is, and continueth true and eternal God, took upon Him the very nature of...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD’S DAY 11 Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, a Savior? Because He saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins; and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other. Do such then believe in...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD’S DAY 10 What dost thou mean by the providence of God? The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD’S DAY 6 Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous? Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD’S DAY 6 Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous? Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Whence knowest thou thy misery? Out of the law of God. What doth the law of God require of us? Christ teaches us that briefly, Matthew 22:37–40, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
