Honesty/truth:
JKS 30
April 2007
Truth:
· A verified or indisputable fact, proposition or
principle
· the state or character of being true, agreement with a standard or original
· Accuracy,
as of position or adjustment.
Used in
various senses in Scripture. In Prov. 12:17, 19, it denotes that which is
opposed to falsehood. In Isa. 59:14, 15, Jer. 7:28, it means fidelity or
truthfulness. The doctrine of Christ is called "the truth of the
gospel" (Gal. 2:5), "the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7; 4:4). Our Lord says
of himself, "I am the way, and the truth" (John 14:6). (
Truth is
the standard by which we measure everything. It is the basis for accepting
something as valid. Honesty is the character trait of being truthful.
One of God's
characteristics is that He cannot lie; He speaks the truth, does everything in
truth, and is consistently true. He says of Himself that there is only one true
God. He hates falsehood (lying) and will punish liars:
Jeremiah
10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an
everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall
not be able to abide his indignation.
Exodus
34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The
LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and
truth,…
Psalms
33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in
truth.
Psalms
100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth
endureth to all generations.
Psalm 151
Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
The
Father is true:
Deuteronomy
32:4
3b …
ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
4. He is
the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment:
a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
The
Son is true:
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. (also see 15:26, 16:13).
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John
17:17 ¶Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
1 John
5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true,
even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
The
Holy Spirit is true:
John
16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Ephesians
5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;)
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the
world began;
Man by
nature hides the truth or holds the truth in unrighteousness (i.e. believes
lies)
Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this
evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that
we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light,
lest his deeds should be reproved.
21
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Romans
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Acts 5:1 ¶But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to
it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to
lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and
after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why
hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou
hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the
ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and
buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife,
not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land
for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together
to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of
them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the
ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth,
buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as
heard these things.
Satan
is the father of lies:
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in
the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he
speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
If we are
God's children then we must imitate this extremely important characteristic:
Ephesians
4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Colossians
3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with
his deeds;
10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the
image of him that created him:
Ephesians
4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Zechariah
8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth
to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
17
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour;
and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Proverbs
12:17 ¶He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false
witness deceit.
Not only
should we be true in speech, we should seek truth like wisdom, be known for a
true character (put on truth), and rejoice in the truth:
Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and
instruction, and understanding.
Ephesians
6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on
the breastplate of righteousness;
1
Corinthians 13:4 ¶Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth
not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil;
6
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Philippians
4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The
fundamental reason why truth is important is because the Lord Jesus is the
truth and Satan is the father of lies. Thus if we lie or have a dishonest
character, we imitate Satan’s character whereas if we are truthful and stand
for the truth, we imitate God’s character.
Summary:
The
triune God is the only true God, He cannot lie and does everything in truth.
The father is true, the Son is true and the Holy Spirit is true. God hates
liars and falsehood. We should speak the truth (in love), seek the truth like we
seek wisdom, rejoice in the truth, put on the truth (wear it), and think about
whatever is honest, true and of good report.