How can we avoid making God a liar, as warned in 1 John 5:10? Grasping the Warning in 1 John 5:10 “Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.” (1 John 5:10) The apostle John draws a clear line: belief affirms God’s own testimony; unbelief brands Him a liar. Our aim is to stay on the believing side of that line. Believe the Testimony God Has Given • God’s central testimony is about His Son. Refuse it, and we deny God’s integrity. • John 3:33 echoes the thought: “Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.” • A settled, wholehearted trust in Jesus as the Christ shields us from accusing God of falsehood. Hold Scripture as Completely True • Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2 — God cannot lie. Denying any part of His word questions His character. • Practical step: read daily, affirm every statement as fully reliable. • When doubts creep in, Romans 3:4 provides a quick corrective: “Let God be true and every man a liar.” Confess Sin Instead of Covering It • 1 John 1:10 warns, “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar.” • Honest confession keeps us aligned with His verdict on our condition. • Regular times of self-examination guard against slipping into self-righteous denial. Walk Out Obedient Faith • James 2:17 — faith without works is dead. • Living what we profess demonstrates we truly trust Him; hypocrisy insinuates His standards are optional. • Simple obedience—loving one another (1 John 4:21), fleeing sin (1 Corinthians 6:18), stewarding speech (Ephesians 4:29)—honors His testimony. Guard Your Heart Against Unbelief • Hebrews 3:12 calls unbelief “evil,” capable of hardening hearts. • Counter with: – Ongoing exposure to Scripture (Romans 10:17) – Fellowship with believers who reinforce faith (Hebrews 10:24-25) – Remembering past answers to prayer as personal evidence of His truthfulness. Share the Testimony Boldly • “Whoever believes…has this testimony within him” (1 John 5:10). Testifying solidifies faith. • Speaking of Christ helps others believe, reducing the spread of unbelief that labels God a liar. • Revelation 12:11—overcoming happens “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Daily Takeaways to Keep God’s Truth Central • Begin each day affirming: “God is true; His word stands.” • Saturate mind and conversation with Scripture. • Confess sin quickly; receive cleansing (1 John 1:9). • Act on what you read—obedience cements belief. • Encourage fellow believers; guard one another from doubt. Living this way, we consistently certify God as truthful and avoid the tragic charge of making Him a liar. |
    |