Can You Justify That Lie?
You find yourself in a tight situation and you want to help your associate make a sound decision. In your mind, the only way to influence the associate is a little white lie. It will not hurt and the associate will never realize the good decision was based on a lie. Or, your friend is excited about a dinner date. You don't like the date, so you make up a false accusation to change your friend's mind. They will never know the accusation is false, and it is for their own good. These lies are justified with the thought that it is for the best. The best for who? Do you lie to change a situation to your desires or to make you look good? Can you justify that lie?
As Christians some say, "This lie is for the good and God will forgive me." Should you sin considering that you will be forgiven? Oh! We humans are such a self-centered bunch! We think we can commit an evil, but judge others for the same.
"But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.)" Romans 3:5
Paul asks this question as a man. "Why should God judge me if I do this for the good?" Note, Paul adds, "I speak as a man." Again, man is considering himself. We don't consider ourselves as unrighteous. Most of us look on ourselves as good or mostly good. So, you think if this lie is for the good, why should God judge me? Plus, I can just ask for forgiveness.
"God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God has more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), 'Let us do evil, that good may come?' whose damnation is just." (6 - 8)
Can you justify that lie? No, you can't. We have knowledge of God's law and it is written, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16) Does the law save you? No, "the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) First, we must understand that righteousness comes through 'faith of Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe.' (22) We are born into sin. It is when we turn to God in faith that our eyes are open to the truth. We are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." (24 & 25)
Your faith and salvation is a reminder to avoid sin. Don't lie. Don't cheat. Don't disobey any of the laws. Don't think that God's grace will make you innocent. You make the choice to follow sin which leads to eternal death or to follow righteousness which leads to eternal life. Now, you make the choice to continue to justify that lie or turn to God in faith with truth and honesty.
"Now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6: 22, 23
As Christians some say, "This lie is for the good and God will forgive me." Should you sin considering that you will be forgiven? Oh! We humans are such a self-centered bunch! We think we can commit an evil, but judge others for the same.
"But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.)" Romans 3:5
Paul asks this question as a man. "Why should God judge me if I do this for the good?" Note, Paul adds, "I speak as a man." Again, man is considering himself. We don't consider ourselves as unrighteous. Most of us look on ourselves as good or mostly good. So, you think if this lie is for the good, why should God judge me? Plus, I can just ask for forgiveness.
"God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God has more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), 'Let us do evil, that good may come?' whose damnation is just." (6 - 8)
Can you justify that lie? No, you can't. We have knowledge of God's law and it is written, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16) Does the law save you? No, "the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) First, we must understand that righteousness comes through 'faith of Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe.' (22) We are born into sin. It is when we turn to God in faith that our eyes are open to the truth. We are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." (24 & 25)
Your faith and salvation is a reminder to avoid sin. Don't lie. Don't cheat. Don't disobey any of the laws. Don't think that God's grace will make you innocent. You make the choice to follow sin which leads to eternal death or to follow righteousness which leads to eternal life. Now, you make the choice to continue to justify that lie or turn to God in faith with truth and honesty.
"Now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6: 22, 23
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