Abraham: Father of the Truthful???

(Genesis 20:5-9)

Introduction:

A. When I say the name Abraham Lincoln many things may pop into your head but the one that pops out to me if the “rumor” that he never told a lie.

B. Now I don’t know if that is true, but I do know of another man named Abraham that we know did lie. (Genesis 12:12-13; 20:2)

C. Now I’ve heard the question so many times where someone asks, “Didn’t Abraham sin by lying?” or the statement, “God didn’t condemn it so it must have been ok.”

D. We need to carefully think through this moral predicament before we answer.

Body:

I. What is a lie?

A. To answer this question we need to start with what a lie is not.

1. A lie is not accidentally giving false information.

2. A lie is not refusing to give information. (Matthew 27:11-14)

B. A lie is defined as an intentional violation of the truth.

1. Well truth is defined as a state of being in accord with fact or reality.

2. So what does it mean to violate the truth?

3. It means to do harm to the sanctity and purity of the truth.

C. So a lie is when a person knows the truth and intentionally says something that takes away the purity of the truth.

1. Anything that directly contradicts the truth is a lie. (Luke 22:54-62)

2. Anything that is part truth but still takes away some of the truth is a lie. (Acts 4:36-5:5)

II. Is lying a sin?

A. The answer is yes lying is a sin.

1. We are told throughout the Bible that lying is a sin.

2. Provers 6:16-19, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

3. Colossians 3:8-10, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

4. In fact we know that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and those who are liars will have their part in the lake of fire. (Revelation 21:8)

B. Is it always immoral to lie?

1. The answer to this question may shock you because the answer is NO.

2. In extreme situations the Bible give us an example of a time when lying was approved by God. (Exodus 1:15-21)

3. In extreme situations it can be immoral to tell the truth but let’s be honest when was the last time we were in such extreme situations.

4. This does not apply to our faith though because we cannot deny our belief. (Matthew 10:32-39)

C. Is it always immoral to lie for personal gain?

1. The answer to that is yes, it is always immoral.

2. How do we know that? Because we are to love our neighbor. (Matthew 22:34-40)

3. And we know that to love a person means that we will tell them the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

III. There is only one man who we know never lied.

A. That man is Jesus Christ.

1. This is the same Jesus that left his throne in heaven.

2. Lived among us as a common man.

3. Was crucified and died on that cross for our sins.

4. Was buried and rose again so that we could have eternal life.

B. How do we know that?

1. Because Jesus is God. (John 1:1-3, 14)

2. Since he is God, he is pure, he is light, he is holy, and he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

3. Since it is a sin to lie, we know that he couldn’t do it because he cannot deny who he is. (2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 6:18)

C. What is the Lord Jesus going to do with those of us who have lied on judgement day?

1. It depends on what we did in this life. (Matthew 7:21)

2. Will we do his will and follow him?

3. Or will we continue in our ways and be lost? (1 John 1:5-10)

Conclusion:

A. My desire is the same as the Lord’s that everyone be saved. (2 Pet 3:9)

B. Every person deserves to go to hell, from the person who told a white lie, to the person who committed genocide.

C. However, the blood of Jesus can justify us according to God’s purpose. (Romans 3:23-26)