4.10.37 8.8.2022 Honoring Honesty and Integrity Exodus 20.16
10 Words, 2 Tablets, 1 God, 1 People: the Gospel in the 10 Commandments • Sermon • Submitted
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Start
Entice: How can we as every day, normal people, rarely enmeshed in the legal system apply the words of this commandment?
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
What is the primary referent of this verse and how can we derive a larger, more immediate principle.
It formally addresses testimony in a "court" situation.
Informally it addresses the broader and more generally applicable notion of honesty.
Engage: All sin is, of course rooted in some kind of lie; either deception or self-deception. Satan is the first best liar, though some humans go out of their way to give him a run for their money.
44 You are of your father the devil, and 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 own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Expand:Whether a formal inquiry or in our day to day lives we need to live transparently and honestly. Neither society nor the Church can function without basic integrity. This means not lying to ourselves or others. This means not deflecting or distracting from the truth.
Excite: Falseness fools no one; Eventually every liar is caught in the web of their own deceit and losing the advantage lying seems to promise.
Explore:
Honesty is a basic commitment for Biblical living.
Honesty is a basic commitment for Biblical living.
Explain: Let's look at the underlying principle and signature outcome which come from honesty.
Body of Sermon: The Basic principle...
Each of us has the Responsibility to be Truthful
Each of us has the Responsibility to be Truthful
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Attitude
Attitude
Action
Action
Next let's consider the outcome when we tell the truth.
The result is that we are Trusted by others.
The result is that we are Trusted by others.
The trustworthy
Reflect the trustworthiness of God.
Reflect the trustworthiness of God.
1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
The Trustworthy
Reject presumption.
Reject presumption.
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’
34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Trustworthiness
Reinforces Community
Reinforces Community
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Shut Down:
The nature of deception has become a universal trope in the human story. Songs, poems, stories, plays, and motion pictures have all explored the nature of lying. Regardless of how it may be depicted, it is irresponsible and costly. Lying destroys our reputation and if left unchecked could very well cost us our very life.
13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Our culture is awash in the exaggeration of untruth. We cannot change everything, but we can take responsibility for our own truthfulness. If we are truthful, our neighbor will find us trustworthy. If we are trustworthy, we adorn our Gospel and give it the chance to be heard.
Any false witness or deceptive word serves to distract unbelievers from Jesus, Who is way, and life, and truth. This is God's encouraging word for us this morning.