The Father of all Lies
Philadelphia Baptist Church
9/16/2007 Sun. p.m.
The Father of All Lies
John 8:44
Introduction:
Satan is the father of all lies, although he is not necessarily the father of all liars (because some of God’s children are liars also). Let’s see what the Scripture says:
I. Lying traces its source from Satan.
A. Satan is the author of all lies.
B. Satan doesn’t speak the truth unless it is to achieve a false purpose (ex: quoting Scripture at the temptation of Christ).
C. Satan’s lies at the outset in Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-5, three lies and their nature):
1. His lie by innuendo—“yea, hath God said?”
2. His lie by direct denial—“ye shall not surely die.”
3. His lie by questioned motives—“For God doth know …”
II. Lying is characteristic of the old nature.
A. The natural tendency of man is to lie (we are not naturally truthful—Ps. 58:3).
B. Telling the truth takes a certain amount of effort.
C. This is true of the children of God to the degree we allow the old nature to dominate our lives.
1. Our new nature promises deliverance from lying.
2. When we get away from the Lord, we allow ourselves to become as bad as the unconverted.
3. When we lie, we voluntarily surrender ourselves to the realm of Satan.
III. Lying is destructive of Christian testimony.
A. The unsaved expect more from God’s people and are turned off when they encounter Christians who lie.
1. You may be damaging the testimony of others as well as destroying your own.
2. There is no quicker way to lose credibility with the unconverted than by lying.
B. Lying destroys credibility before the saved.
1. There are those who can never be trusted because of their previous lying.
2. The damage is always done to the one who lies, not to the one who is lied to.
IV. Lying is evidence of spiritual problems.
A. It is obviously a sin—no need for proof here.
B. It can show a variety of problems.
1. Lying is rebellion (believe some liars are not rebels, but have never known a rebel that was not a liar).
2. Lying shows pride—we lie:
a. To protect ourselves.
b. To promote ourselves.
c. To produce desired results.
3. Lying shows a lack of character.
a. It usually has been tolerated in early years.
b. Lying generally a sign of weakness.
V. Lying is cured by telling the truth.
A. Ephesians 4:25.
B. Truth is fairly easy to discern.
1. Truth agrees with the facts.
2. Truth agrees with the Word of God (Rom. 3:4; Titus 1:2).
Conclusion:
Lies are always a matter of choice. They may be habitual, but they are always choice. The cure for lying is to recognize lies for what they are, make right as many as possible, and start telling the truth! Satan is the father of all lies. Have you allowed yourself to become like one of his children?
