Introduction: (In a world of lies and deceit, it is good to remind ourselves of the penalty of lying and blessings of being honest.)
1. God Demands Honesty: Eph. 4:25 (Paul says we must replace lying with truth speaking. We are obligated to do this because of our relationship with one another.) Col. 3:9 (Our new relationship with God as Christians also calls upon us to be honest. As Christians we are to imitate God. It is impossible for God to lie, so we shouldn't lie either.) Titus 1:2/Eph. 5:1 (God cannot lie and we should follow God. Therefore, we should build a habit of honesty such that we cannot lie.)
2. Put Away Lying: (Here we will look at the negative, the down side of lying.)
A. God Hates Liars: Prov. 6:16-19 (In a list of seven things God despises, it is interesting that two of them have to do with lying.)
B. Lying Hurts Others: Gen. 39:13-20 (When Potipher's wife lied about Joseph, it destroyed his good name. Lying about others hurts them beyond measure. We can guard against theft, but we can't stop people from lying about us.)
C. Lying Makes Things Worse: II Sam. 11:1-27 (David tried to use deceit to cover his sin. First he sought Uriah, then he got Uriah drunk, finally, he had Uriah killed. Every effort to deceive only made the situation worse.)
D. God Kills Liars: Acts 5:1-10 (Ananias and Sapphira were not condemned for keeping part of the money. They were condemned for lying. Though their lie was before men, in God's eyes, lying to our fellow man equals lying to God.)
E. Liars Go To Hell: Rev. 21:8 (If you persist in lying, it can cost you your salvation.)
3. Being Deceitful Is The Same: Prov. 24:28, Prov. 26:18-19 (In God's eyes, being deceitful is the same as lying. You may say something that is technically true, but in such a way to mislead. That is still a lie.) Gen. 20:1-12 (Abraham tried to deceive Abimelech. He told him Sarah was his sister. This was technically true, she was his half-sister. It was still part of an effort to deceive, therefore, it was dishonest.) Gen. 26:6-7 (Isaac later told the same kind of lie. As far as I can tell, it wasn't a half-truth. Rebekah was not his sister. Isaac copied his father, only his lie was more blatant. Others learn by watching you.)
4. Speak The Truth: (Now let's look at the positive side of the issue. Some people talk about those who lie when the truth would serve them better. Honesty is always better.)
A. Honesty Pleases God: Prov. 11:1 (God is pleased with us when we are honest with others.)
B. Honesty Builds A Good Name: Mt. 5:33-37, Prov. 12:19 (Most people swear or promise as a guard against lying. Isn't it a luxury to be able to let your yes and no stand alone? Don't you like dealing with people that you can trust without reservation? Your word is your honor.)
C. The Golden Rule: Mt. 7:12 (Being honest sets a precedent for how you want others to treat you.)
Conclusion: (Your relationship with God and your fellow man calls upon you to be honest. This will improve your relationships here on earth and is an essential part of your quest for heaven.)
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