Speak the truth

Where in the book of Ephesians we've been studying the book of Ephesians starting February and we're still at it. How are ancient through it and where we barely made it to the end almost to the end of the fourth chapter. So what we do here is we, you know get together we worship and then we study scripture verse by verse.

Chapter by chapter 8 we want to know what the Bible is saying and be rooted in our faith. So this morning we made it to a beautiful scripture. It's it's a section of scripture. That is extremely practical it sits there. You've got some scriptures are more, you know difficult to explain Orthotics. This is not one of those scriptures is a very straightforward scripture. You don't even need me here this morning and just take it home and start it and apply it and let the Holy Spirit conviction for this morning. I'm just going to try and put it into the proper context so that we understand how to interpret the scripture and the plight and hopefully give you a sort of a general guidance through this this text but really I would urge these things scripture home. CNN Letter challenge your life. So this morning I want to read just one scripture and that is one verse and rather than that is in Ephesians 4 verse 25. Ephesians 4 verse 25 where the Bible says this therefore having put away falsehood Let each one of you speak the truth to his neighbor for we are members of one another. Amen. We can go back to that previous slide. No.

Let me just explain where we are to the scriptures starts with the word therefore and it obviously you don't start a conversation with the word. Therefore. There's got to be a little bit of context there. I want to give you the context this morning for those of you who is Ben hear the previous times, you know that the book of Ephesians is split down the middle into two sections. There is a section that is very theological. There's a section there is very practical and there is chapters 1 through 3 that tells us who we are in Christ in their chapter 4 through 6 that tells us how to act because of it and we're in the second section where in the Practical section and there you'll find a lot of to lose a lot of things that Paul says you should do this and you should do that that and you should put away this thing and put on this thing, but this makes sense only a few properly understand the first six Scripture to understand that these things are not things that God requires you to do so that you will be safe. But these are things that flow out of your salvation. These are things that you will do because you are a new person in Christ. Isn't that something that you will have to fulfill so that eventually he will grant you salvation, but these are things that you do because of the fact that you are a new person in Christ Now versus I want to see 17 in this chapter through 20 will actually 30 To the end of this chapter are really them that the immediate context of our first this morning and in the first section of it is 17 through 24, and we spent a couple weeks 2 weeks ago. We spent time in the scripture. We learn that we are a new person in Christ. We've inherited a new nature. We looked at that old nature that cause it's a nature of sin. It is our instinct to respond sinfully to the world around us, and we've noticed that as a new person in Christ. There is a new Instinct. There's a new nature that Christ is putting in us that is enabling us for the very first time in our lives to be able to do what is right and good and choose the right thing know what it is choose didn't do it. It's a new nature that we have in Christ and verse 25 first with the this worth therefore because and I should explain that. Velo hitting a place there on that says put off the old. Improving your daddy's Daddy's in the scripture verses 17 through 24 things. You got to get rid of their things that need to be renewed in your life put off the old self the old way of life. Meaning now that you're in Christ Live Scan just cannot be the same. If you are in Christ, your life will change fundamentally will not be the same. If you're in Christ your life. The only do all cells has nothing to do with you anymore with this new life in you if you're in Christ, you need to be renewed you will be renewed. so this is scripture this morning starts with for the word therefore and says therefore because of that because you have been renewed because you are a new person in Christ because all things has passed and all the old things have passed and all things are new Therefore this is what you need to do.

therefore

the other thing that you know, this this therefore suggest is that

You're a new person in Christ. And the fact that you're a new person in Christ is evidenced by your new life is going to put it away. Right when you look at your life. That should tell you who you are. You know, if I asked you are you born again Christian you say? Yes, I'll ask you why how do you know this? You know, you told me I'm not really sure but I was in my second grade went to this Bible camp and and we pray there together and I pray to receive Jesus. That and I think I'm a Christian. I mean, you know, they told me that if I create go to heaven and nothing much has changed, but but I did that there is a good chance that you're not a Christian. There's a good chance that you're not what you think you are. Basically what this creature is saying because you're a new person in Christ there for you should leave differently. because of what the scripture says that will actually what this means is that

bicycle put on silent

Give me about that. But that's a reminder. You know, we should all put our cell phones on silent, which I usually do but apparently not this morning, right Bible says is that you know, you're a Christian. You should know you're a Christian by looking at the day-to-day evidence of Christ in your life. You should see Christ in your life today. You should see the Holy Spirit challenging you in certain areas of your life. Can you you should see victories of Christ in your life today. Your life is different. That's what does Bible is saying because you are a new creature in Christ. You live differently, and that's what gives you confidence that your Christ

and there's one more thing that I want us to keep in mind as we read this, you know.

Chapters 4 5 and 6 really through the end of this book will give you a lot of things that you need to do this and you to do that and I want us to know that we are saved by grace not by works and if we're saved by grace not by works. We continue to leave our day-to-day life of Faith by faith not by works. So we are saved by grace and we leave bike race poll says I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ who lives in me, so we have been saved by grace not by works and by continuing to do things were not trying to make God you no more. Happy with us. We're not just trying to continue now. We're going to we've been saved by grace. But now I got to do a lot of things to keep God satisfy. No we leave by Grace saved by grace and leave bike race, but on the other hand Paul says but I discipline this is 1st Corinthians 9:27. I discipline my body and keep it under control. This is what Paul says I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others. I myself should be disqualified. So I want us to understand this morning this Paradox your saved by grace you leave bike race, but yet you're responsible to leave a different life if you leave a different life, if you put away the old Condon you if you have a new life in Christ, it's his grace. It's evidence of his grace. You couldn't have done it. Otherwise, there's no way you could have known choosing to live a righteous life end and then lived it out outside his grace. So just the fact that you know what it is and then you were To take make that choice and then leave it out that evidence of his grace of other new things in you and if you can do right things that's his grace, but if you don't do it for me, it's your responsibility. It's your responsibility. You'll see a lot of things that now. Christ is as requiring is telling you that you should leave like this because of who you are. You should leave like this in your responsible. So I want to sit to really understand the beauty of this Paradox Christ lives in you and is empowering you to live differently.

If you do his will if he's great. If not, it's your responsibility. So this is sort of the mindset that I want us to approach the scripture. And now I want to tell you about what's in this versus verses 25 through the end of the chapter is really what happens here. There are five exchanges. We all look at the first one this morning and look at the rest of them next week. They're five exchanges.

And then just as a general observation here when God is asking you to put away some stuff. He's asking you to take on some other things if you you know put off the old take on the new put off the old and take on something new and this is this are the five exchanges here in verses 25 through the end of the chapter. Exchange lying are versus morning exchange lying for speaking the truth. The second one in exchange anger for righteousness the third one exchange stealing forgiving that's a beautiful Exchange. Fourth one exchange corrupt talk for one that is uplifting that graceful. And the fifth one exchange sinful reactions for Godly reactions will just look at the first one this morning. I really thought that I was going to go to all of them this morning, but as I started to dive into the scripture and it's pretty simple. I like, you know, I don't lie. All right so much more to it than what I thought it is. So this morning we can spend time in the first verse verse 25 that says therefore having food away false would let each one of us with each one of you speak truth to his neighbor for we are members of one another as I said, it's a very simple one and you'll expect to start with the top dogs right start with a very, you know, big Things but he's starting with like the very day today, things his two talks about, you know, lying and stealing bad words bad reaction simple reaction talking about our day-to-day life how we interact and talk to each other. It's interesting that he's starting with this and end this this morning are our lesson is very simple is very straightforward. Do not lie right free simple. Don't lie. Don't do it. Why? Why why should we not lie? Well, I'll give you a few scriptures that I hope to explain to us why we should not lie Revelation 21:8 says but as for the Cowardly the faithless that detestable the murderer is a sexually immoral corners idolatrous and Liars. Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second death Revelation the next chapter 22nd verse 15. The Bible says outside are the dogs does. sorceress and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolatrous and everyone who loves and practices post word. So in this list of of Willie Richard Sinners and end things that are Bominable and and disgusting you've got all that list and then Liars he's right there and what that tells us is that in God's you don't know mixing small things things there no, like how this thing's man, you know these go straight to help but then I mean, you know, they're small things that you in a week. We can buy it's it's fine. At least you can kill anybody. You know, I just told a lie, at least he didn't, you know anything else but in God's economy all sin is punishable by Death So so why should you not see why should you not have a life of practicing folks would of lying because people that lie will go eventually to help Liars do not go to heaven actually in John 8:44. Jesus Christ himself themselves. Does this I think in context was to the priest and the Pharisees, he says you are of your father the devil and you will end your will is to do your father's desires? He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him when he lies. He speaks out of his one character for he is a liar and the father of Lies. So basically what Jesus is selling he says well when you lie, you are fulfilling your father's well your children resembling him. You're fulfilling your father's desires cuz that's his character. He is the father of Lies.

So whoever leaves alive. Of liar. What does Satan's will identifies himself as a child of Satan and I know those are strong words, but this is what Jesus says.

That's why the Bible tells us to put away all lying. You've come out of the darkness out of a world that was intertwine with lying you got out of it. And now your father is Christ that you're the god of Heaven and Earth and Christ cleanse you out of that world now, you should put an end to lying.

And here's the thing. That's just the problem that we live in the world.

That is molded by the father of Lies Satan. And we can run out of it. You know. Whether we like it or not. This was our life and whether we realize it or not. This was our life into this world is

Me to function that I'm trying to see if I can explain this right but this world functions on lies Satan made this world resemble him. So everybody is going to be more surprised if I say everybody lies in this world. Governments, lie politicians were surprised when they tell the tell the truth or they when they make a promise and keep it were like blown away. I thought you were lying media mass media the line lawyers lie salesmen. Life in a boss's light secretaries like businesses like everybody lies and we're not even surprised by we take it for granted. We know that there is a certain dose of lying in everything we take and will it in Alaska is going to be a lot of it, you know, we're not surprised. This world functions of people would start telling the truth. Nobody was telling you think it's probably the advertisement industry is the best case we can look at you know, they will try to tell you anything and everything they can come up with so that they could Get you to buy their products. The CEO of Rolex was interviewed and the guy interviewing him. Ask them says how do you feel to sell the one of the most expensive watches in the world and you stop them right there? It says I don't sell watches and he said quote. I'm not selling watches. I'm selling the sensation of luxury. I mean you you take that life home with you and you look at that watch, you know, and it keeps on lying to you. It's a sensation of larger your broke man. You got to figure out now Foods serious, you bought that watching you feel so good about it. And you kind of look at it and you probably can hear the whisper to you, you know, somebody your reach your Nice tall and handsome, you know, you're you've got it made you look at that watch and he keeps on lying to you keeps on lying to you. you know and and we want to be lied to that's not a problem. We like we want to be like you we rather hear that line that we know you're good. You're great. You're somebody then the truth is really uncomfortable. I'm just trying to bring the pictures of the Wilderness in the how much embedded into a world of Lies We Are you know, and then we want to lie to the others let them know who we are we bought that nice watch. We want to let them know that we have that watch. I saw that I was I was driving and I was driving a bus and poor guy. I think he was barely making a living. Why do you have a gold watch? You know just kind of hanging out the window. So people would know and that I may drive of what you know, I may drive a bus but I made it man. I got this cold and watch I'm somebody I'm somebody I know someone that is a retired businessman that made it big in the real estate business back in the seventies and eighties and nineties. And so I was talking to him. He's a very otherwise he's very influential businessmen otherwise end and he told me that he always had a certain watch certain expensive watch a certain set of clothes and then a very nice car in his garage and you only use those when you do for some business deals because he told me that he learned that there were people that would not even talk to him. If you didn't wear the right suit or get out of the right car. Real Lies in what a world of Lies We live in this guy lose his normal life and fancy off and then the mean each other and does the only way they can talk by lying to each other. This is the world we're living in and listen to me. This is the world that Christ has had saved us out of and we have been raised with the mentality of Postwood of lying all of our lives. And now we come to Christ and Christ tells us that we should be different that we should stop lying you start to understand how dramatic this change has to be is not like what should I tell the truth or a lie at this point? I don't know probably not lie cuz not good. This culture is embedded into our life. We grew out of it out of or into a world of of Lies.

And now you're told to get out of it. You're told to leave a different life.

The Bible says that you should therefore put away falsehood and let each one of you speak the truth. Stop lying. But I love it that end in this scripture. And in the following was you'll see again and again, you know put away the bad but not don't just stop doing bad things. That's not you should start doing the right things. You should start doing what that that's the change in itself being a Christian is not a person who doesn't listen. I don't know if you've ever ever heard that description that Christians are the people that don't don't listen to We don't want to be around no Christians are people that are filled with life over here than they do this and do that and then leave out differently and in or scripture this morning, the Bible says having put away falsehood Let each one of you speak the truth having put away falsehood. And this is the problem that fossil or lying has so many shades. are so many kinds you know, there is the outright lying, you know when you when you Say something that is not true. Anyway, it's easy to detect right that's easy to know. But then there's something that we call White Lies. We made them white and I'll wear those, you know, you want to live if you think maybe the outcome will be good. You know, if I tell the truth that outcome is not going to be good to my judgment. Just going to tell a lie and make it right. Let me tell you what is never going to make a right. Cuz you can arrive to A good outcome to a sinful way. There's just no way you can do that. So White Lies sheathing the truth. Just kidding. I'll tell her alternative response or spinning the truth all the time. You know, it's funny when I'm listening to news. Have you ever noticed how they're not talking about the truth anymore? They're talking about narrative the storyline. What what fits with the story and we're just taking facts and we're playing them into our story line and we make the story. However, we want it to be snotty feel about the truth anymore thickening, but that's another way of lying just kind of pushing on the narrative. Regardless of what truth is fabricating your own truth is another one hate that may be true for you, but it's not it's really true for me will guess what? There's only one truth. There's no subject. If you cannot make up your own Truth lyrics you can relate to the truth. You can regards to it. You can be on the twist side or you can be against it denial unwilling to tell her it's me the truth half-truth Omission. This is going to give you a little bit of the truth can send you a happy but I'm going to leave out parts that would you know, incriminate me or you know mess up things in the end. That's a line itself. Half truth or outright lies exaggeration. That's a nice one exaggeration. That's a that's a way of lying. You know, we exaggerate when we want to sell something we exactly when I convince someone besides rate when we were alike or even worse when we want to denigrate somebody. I'll tell you what he did. Make a big nice and interesting, you know. I hears narwhal flying minimization. You know making things smaller than they actually are in Wheat Thins to the dad about our own sin. Then we it wasn't that big. I mean wasn't really I had good intentions, but you know station.

The Bible says therefore having put away falsehood. You can leave a life where you have some truth or in some line. You got to put it away so you can start leaving into a well. I'm going to I'm going to leave in truth, but whenever is convenient to me, I'm going to start lying, you know, it's it's either or having put away just after you. Have you discarded threw it away. I having food away falsehood Let each one of you now start speaking the truth to his neighbor. you know why why part of it we've seen you know, because we've heard that we've learned that you know, Satan is a liar and he's the father of whole lot of old lying and you know, we know that Jesus Christ is the truth the way and the life right? It's his nature and if your children of God or nature should be one of through so we we've seen that already but there's another reason you're in our scripture. If you look with me in the second part of the verse that speaking truth with your with his neighbor and here's a second reason. This is where we going to conclude this morning. For we are members of one another. That is really interesting. You should always speak the truth because it should be your new nature is that that God's nature needs should be your nature. Would you should speak the truth to each other because you're in this church and if you've been here long enough in the side of you by now, you know that Todd Paul talks about you a relationship to God you relationship to the church and he always goes back and forth and worship to God and then in relationship to the church and we've learned that you don't relationship to God we got to speak truth. But now we learned that in relationship to the church is essential that we speak to his wife horses because we are members. Lily body parts of the same body members of one another of this is of this church would be one then you are a member of that body any potential that you should tell the truth because of it. Why will its imagine you're driving? You know down the road and and your body parts decide to start lying to each other about your I would have to show you the role. You'll try everything but water store I will decide so kind of Hideout block out that semi coming your way. I mean it's uncomfortable to see this big truck coming your way.

Odia can be how Debbie Paul says pull makes this very same argument you depend on one on the other is not just you and God and forget about it. You know, it's you and your brothers and you are in this relationship with each other and your health depends on the health of your relationships. Do not lie because you are member of one another be truthful because Based on that, you know.

Don that defends the health of your own above your entire body. So therefore having food away falsehood Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor for we are members of one another we going to leave it this weekend to leave it here this morning. I'm going to pick it up next week where we dropped it off. But before we pray and be dismissed, I want to all I want all of us to sing the song that is again a proclamation. dad it's this is not I but Christ in me. It's not something that I can do invoice with. Hey, I'm truthful I said I I tell the truth, you know, I'm not going to lie. This is what I do, but a few speak the truth is Christ in you. It's a testimony of his grace. If you can leave a different life is not you it's Christ in your lettuce just stand up and sing the song.