What other scriptures emphasize the importance of living truthfully before God? Walking in the Light (1 John 1:6) “If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” John anchors the discussion: real fellowship with God shows up in honest, transparent living. God Never Wavers from Truth - “The Rock—His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4) - “God is not a man, that He should lie…” (Numbers 23:19) - “The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.” (Psalm 119:160) Because truth defines God’s nature, it must define ours. Truth Expected under the Old Covenant - “LORD, who may dwell in Your tent? … He who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks the truth from his heart.” (Psalm 15:1-2) - “Surely You desire truth in the inmost being…” (Psalm 51:6) - “Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.” (Proverbs 12:22) - “These six things the LORD hates… a lying tongue… a false witness who pours out lies.” (Proverbs 6:16-19) - “These are the things you must do: Speak the truth to one another…” (Zechariah 8:16) Jesus Puts Truth at the Heart of Discipleship - “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything more comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37) - “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) - “If you remain in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) - “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Apostolic Calls to Transparent Honesty - “Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” (Ephesians 4:25) - “Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self…” (Colossians 3:9-10) - “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not practice deceit…” (2 Corinthians 4:2) - “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9) - “Whoever desires to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” (1 Peter 3:10) John Keeps Driving the Point Home - “The one who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4) - “Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.” (1 John 3:18) - “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4) - “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable… and all liars—will be consigned to the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.” (Revelation 21:8) Living Truthfully Today - Speak plainly, avoiding exaggeration or half-truths (James 5:12). - Keep promises promptly; unpaid vows darken testimony (Psalm 15:4). - Confess sin quickly so darkness gains no foothold (Proverbs 28:13). - Let Scripture keep pruning motives (Hebrews 4:12). - Treat honesty as worship; we mirror God’s character when we walk in light (Ephesians 5:8-10). |
    |