1 Peter 03:10 Lies and Deceit – audio

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Text: 1 Peter 3:10

Introduction

1. In honor of the upcoming elections, today we are going to discuss LIES AND DECEIT.

2. James 3:6-8. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

3. The world is full of liars.

4. From a very young age, we learn that it is wrong to lie and yet of all the sins of the tongue, lying is the most common.

5. In our society, it has gotten to the point that almost never take a person at their word.

6. How does God view lying?

7. What is a lie?

8. Is telling a half-truth a lie?

9. What is the difference between lying and deceiving?

10. Let’s explore these and other questions in regard to LIES AND DECEPTION.

Body

I. DEFINITIONS

A. Lie – An intentionally false statement.

1. This is what we usually think of when we think of a lie.

2. Intentionally making a false statement.

3. Oftentimes, we say things that are not true because we know no better. This is not, by definition, a lie.

a) We need to realize that, especially in things pertaining to God, we are going to be held responsible for knowing the truth so that we don’t say things that are untrue.

b) James 3:1. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

c) Ephesians 5:6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

d) 1 John 4:1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

4. 1 Kings 13:18. He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (He was lying to him.)

B. Deceive – to cause someone to believe something that is not true.

1. Deceit – The action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.

2. Deception is a broader term than lying.

a) All lies are deceit but you can deceive without telling a lie.

b) The end result is the same – namely, someone believes something to be true which is not true.

c) It is how you get there that is different.

d) For example:

(1) Cookie thief.

(2) “Is your dad home? …”

3. This is where many (But not all) politicians make their living.

a) They do not tell (Usually) outright lies. If so, they could get into serious trouble.

b) What they often do is misrepresent the truth.

(1) By taking quotes out of context.

(2) By twisting and distorting the truth.

(3) By only telling part of the truth and leaving out inconvenient truths.

4. This is also where many false religious teachers make their living.

a) These people handle the word of God deceitfully. 2 Corinthians 4:2. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

b) They quote scripture out of context.

(1) Exodus 21:23-25. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

(2) Matthew 5:38-42. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

c) They twist and distort the truth. 2 Peter 3:16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

(1) The truth about the second coming of Jesus is distorted to teach the false doctrine of the rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

(2) The truth about the foundation of the church is corrupted by the Catholic church. Matthew 16:18. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

d) They leave out inconvenient truths.

(1) They affirm the need for faith to be saved. Acts 16:30-31. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

(2) They don’t mention the need for baptism. Mark 16:16. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

(3) Psalm 119:160. The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

II. GOD’S VIEW OF LYING AND DECEIT

A. Note these passages:

1. Exodus 20:16. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

2. Proverbs 6:16-17. These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood

3. Proverbs 12:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

4. Proverbs 13:5. A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

5. Proverbs 19:5. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6. Proverbs 20:17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

7. 1 Peter 2:1. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking

8. Revelation 21:8. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

9. Revelation 21:27. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

B. Lies and deceit are wrong because:

1. God said they are wrong. (See above)

2. They violate Matthew 7:12. Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

3. They ruin lives.

a) Proverbs 11:9. The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

b) Proverbs 26:18-19. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!”

4. They destroy relationships.

5. They hurt the church.

III. THE REMEDY FOR LYING

A. The remedy for lying is the same as the remedy for every other sin: REPENT.

B. Ephesians 4:17-25. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

Conclusion

1. “It’s just a little white lie…”

2. There is no such thing.

3. Lies and deceit will cause us to be lost if we don’t repent.

4. 1 Peter 3:10. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.”

Delivered on: November 4, 2012. Streetsboro.