How does Colossians 3:9 connect with Ephesians 4:25 on truthfulness? The call to truthfulness in Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices.” • A clear, direct command: lying is out of bounds for every believer. • The reason: we have “taken off” (a completed, decisive act) the old, sin-dominated self. Lying belongs to the wardrobe we left behind. Linking Colossians 3:9 and Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” • Both verses pair a negative (“put off” lying) with a positive (“speak truthfully”). • Colossians frames it in terms of the old vs. new self; Ephesians frames it in terms of body life—“members of one another.” • Together they show that truthfulness is essential both for personal transformation and for healthy community. Why truthfulness matters: theological roots • God is “the God who cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2) • Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth.” (John 14:6) • Satan “is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) • When we tell the truth, we reflect God’s character; when we lie, we echo the enemy’s voice. Practical outworking of putting off the old self • Evaluate speech: Am I shading facts, exaggerating, withholding needed information? • Replace deceit with candor: say the true thing in a loving way (Ephesians 4:15). • Remember identity: I am now “in Christ,” so lies no longer fit who I am. • Lean on the Spirit: He is “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) who empowers honest words. Related Scriptures that reinforce the call • Proverbs 12:22 – “Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.” • Psalm 15:2 – The one who “walks with integrity and practices righteousness… speaks truth in his heart.” • Zechariah 8:16 – “Speak the truth to one another; render judgments that are true.” • 1 Peter 2:1 – “Rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy...” Steps for cultivating a truthful life 1. Memorize Colossians 3:9 and Ephesians 4:25; let them reshape reflexes. 2. Invite accountability—give a trusted believer permission to ask about integrity. 3. Practice immediate correction: if a false word slips out, own it at once. 4. Keep short accounts with God—confess lies quickly (1 John 1:9). 5. Celebrate truth in others; encourage honest speech to build a culture of integrity. Truthful words are not optional extras; they are the natural vocabulary of a life made new in Christ. |
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