MONDAY June 17, 2024
The Sin of Lying
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:25
Notice how Paul became very personal with each believer in Ephesus. He basically said to them, “Now that you are a new man in Christ, live your life in line with the instructions I have given you.” The word therefore is always used in relation to what they have already studied about their new life in Christ. They knew then their behavior should be totally different from those who did not know Christ. Since they had now put away the old man and put on the new man in Christ, they needed to act differently.
Paul continued his teaching with a simple list of behaviors that, if remained in the life of a Christian, would grieve the Holy Spirit and hinder His work in their lives. First, Paul dealt with the sin of lying. A lie is a statement that is contrary to the facts and is spoken with the intent to deceive a person.
In the early Church, lying to the Holy Spirit was a sin that God dealt with harshly. He judged Ananias and Sapphira for lying to God. First the apostle Peter said to the husband: “Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last (Acts 5:4-5).
The wife, not knowing what happened, was later addressed by Peter. She chose not to tell the truth to him. Peter pronounced God’s judgment on her, and immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband (Acts 5:10).
We cannot get away with lying. God abhors lying! Finally, consider and do what is instructed in Colossians 3:9-10:
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him....
Always speak the truth to God and to man.
There is no form of sin in which we act more satanically than when we indulge in telling a lie.
~Frank Gabelein~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
