LIAR, LIAR (Part 1 of 2)
(Revelation 21:8)
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
No doubt that all of us have heard at least a portion of this message''s text in Revelation 21:8. The operative word, this time, from this passage is "liar". The operative question is, "What is a liar?" Interestingly, the scriptures pinpoint what we are to consider a liar. It is not simply one to tells "fibs", as we used to say as children, but the definition of a liar is a bit more specific than that.
This article is a quick review of a few passages of scripture that deal with lying and liars. The first part of the message is more of a "seed planting" than an exposition, but I trust and know that the Lord will multiply the seed sown and minister to each one of us accordingly.
- (Psalms 58:3): The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon
as they be born, speaking lies. How many times have you and I been guilty of
revelling in the supposed innocence of a baby? Well, the scriptures don't present
infants quite as innocent as we'd all probably like to believe. The psalmist
states that babies go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. This account
of children is a staunch reminder of the nature of sin and the grip that it
has on us from the beginning of our lives, which further reinforces the need
for Christ -- his sacrifice, atonement and redemption.
- (Proverbs 17:4): A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth
ear to a naughty tongue. This passage refutes the stereotype that a liar is
always marked by speaking. In this verse, a liar is identified by what he/she
gives heed to. This truth is exemplified in scripture by John 8:55, where Jesus
is rebuking the Jews for not being able to "hear His word", citing
the fact that because He told them the truth, they were unable to hear.
- (Proverbs 30:6): Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and
thou be found a liar. Here, a liar is identified as being one who adds unto
the words of the Lord. The word "add" refers to "augmenting",
meaning to supplement, expand or enhance". Revelation 22:18 comes to mind:
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book:
- (1 John 2:4): He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him. We're all familar with the passage
that says, if ye love me, keep my commandments. We're not all familiar with
this verse that identifies those who claim to know Him, but don't keep (embrace,
guard and obey) his commandments as liars. The word "know" denotes
intimacy. You can't "know" Him and use profanity. You can't "know" Him
and be a fornicator. You can't "know" Him and walk in hatred. The
person who does such things is considered to be a liar from God's viewpoint.
- (1 John 2:22): Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?
He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Anyone who denies that
Jesus is the Messiah is also a liar. Jesus IS the anointed ONE of God. This
means that He didn't anoint anyone else in the same manner. There was only
to be one Christ The next verse goes on to say, Whosoever denieth the Son,
the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the
Father also. To deny Jesus is to deny the Father. To accept Jesus is to accept
the Father. You can't have one without the other. I explain it in these terms
to highlight how this "phenomenon" refutes practically every false
religion in the world, rendering them helpless and guilty before heaven and
classifies them as liars.
- (1 John 4:20): If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? This one is extremely important, because it's running rampant among "supposed Christians". There are many who claim to love God, but sin against their brethren consistently, premeditatedly and willfully. The word "hateth" refers to detesting, persecution and loving less. In order to confirm whether or not you love someone, all you have to do is look at how you treat them. Consider 1 John 5:1-3, which states. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Loving God properly produces love (which is a verb and not a noun) towards our brethren. We know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments. Why? Because it is God's commandments that let us know how to love one another in a manner that's pleasing to the Father. Having a good feeling towards someone is not love. Good feelings are fleeting, at best. We love when we don't commit adultery. We love when we don't bear false witness on our neighbor. We love when we don't steal from our neighbor. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (see Romans 13:9-10). A misconception of love is why many today are loving in word and in tongue instead of in deed and in truth.
This is a semi-exhaustive look at what the scriptures have to say about liars. Now that we've identified what a liar is, proceed to the next page where we'll deal a bit further with overcoming lying in our lives -- by taking a look at lying, the different ways that scripture speaks about the subject and the mindset that the Christian should have concerning it. Click the "next" button to continue.
Reprinted from Cry Aloud: Volume 2, Issues 44 -- Liar,
Liar -- Part 2
Copyright © 2000, CyberSaint/Scenario Ministries International
An outreach ministry of Remnant Christian Assembly, Inc. All rights reserved.
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