Truth in Love: The Ninth Commandment
The 10 Commandments • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Big Idea:
Big Idea:
Tension: What does the 10 Commandments say the relationship between truth and our neighbor should be?
Resolution: truth should be used for the good of our neighbor.
Exegetical Idea: The 10 Commandments say that the relationship between truth and neighbor should be characterized by truth doing good for neighbor.
Theological Idea: God, as the God of truth, desires the redeemed in truth, to use the truth for the good of their neighbors.
Homiletical Idea: As those who have been truly redeemed, we ought to relate to one another with the truth in love.
Big Idea: Because God has redeemed us in truth and love, so we relate to one another in truth and love.
Outline
Outline
Extra Verses: Exodus 23:1-3, 6-8
Intro/Law as Acquaintance
In a Poll conducted by NBC in 2013 of 1000 people, 52 percent of people say that lying is absolutely always wrong. Yet that same poll records that about 2/3 of people think that lying is sometimes justified. So apparently some people thinking lying is always wrong, unless you’re lying about lying to NBC.
Among all of the 10 Commandments, perhaps this is the one that we are the quickest to excuse. Yet, as the poll indicates, we have a profound uneasiness about honesty and lying.
Exposition of the Law
God is a God of truth. (Rom 3:4) To sin against him is to trade the truth for a lie (Rom 1:25).
THis is in conjunction with the third commandment. Just as we would not speak falsely about our God, so we must not speak falsely about our neighbor.
False witness - We have to first off acknowledge that this is a legal background. That each one of us is responsible for what we say and do and we must not speak falsely.
Against your neighbor - Our honesty is ultimately for our neighbor. Whether or not you are dishonest is not just a matter of you and God. It is a matter of you and your neighbor.
The Bible assumes that truth is good for both us and our neighbor. That in telling truth, human life flourishes, and that it actually helps us build better relationships with one another. This is essential for a healthy church.
The opposite of falsehood is truth, and the opposite of being against my neighbor is being for him. It is by truth and love that I serve my neighbor best. (Eph 4:15, 25)
Law as Enemy
Saying something that is untrue.
Saying something that is technically true but deceptive. (Prov 20:17; 1 Cor 6:7-8)
Listening and accepting falsehoods as if they were real (2 Thess 2:9-10). In other words, not loving the truth.
Saying something true carelessly that harms another person (Eph 4:15).
Telling the truth about someone but behind their back, aka gossiping (1 Tim 5:13)
Refusing to confront someone over their sins (Prov 10:18; ).
What about if I am protecting someone with a lie? The principle is, will what I say harm or help the most people. So if I lie to protect someone whose life is in danger, then I personally think that is permissible. But lying so that you don’t have to have a hard conversation with someone face to face isn’t honorable, it’s cowardly.
All of these come down to lying to God (Ananias and Saphira; Acts 5:3-4)
Christ
Christ was betrayed with a lie.
Jesus himself is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
Law as Friend
Truth in love - Eph 4:15
Let us be a church not built up by truth alone
Let us not be a church built up by love alone
Conclusion: Getting thanked by someone who I had had a very tough conversation wtih.