Loving, Speaking, and Confessing the Truth

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Proverbs 12; Lord's Day 43
Psalters: 239, 428, 26, 386
  1. The idea.
    1. God speaks, i.e., communicates perfectly within Himself and to His creatures, especially His children.
    2. Sin ruined communication and the ability to use the tongue for good, so now all men are liars by nature.
      1. The devil is the father of the lie and the false accuser (John 8:44), so to lie make us to be like him.
      2. Truth is not just correct facts and data, but also a moral-ethical tone because He who is Truth is also Love.
    3. Gracious God speaks the true message of salvation, redeeming us from the lie, and gives the ability to speak the truth in love.
    4. We are responsible for what and how we communicate, not only what we think we say but also for how it is received.
  2. God, Who is truth, forbids anything that is not the truth in love.
    1. Natural man holds the truth under in unrighteousness, so it is distorted and perverted (Rom. 1:18; 3:13,14).
    2. Also the regenerated easily lie, for we still have the nature to lie.
    3. Every violation of this commandment is most serious.
  3. This command sets before the redeemed the duty to express our gratitude by speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15,16).
    1. The speaking God enables His children to be truth speakers, graciously giving us the Spirit of truth.
    2. Because a part of God’s glory is that He is truth, the glory of believers is that we know the truth, speak and live it.
    3. We speak the truth about ourselves.
    4. We speak the truth with and about our neighbor, seeking their spiritual good in every text, tweet, and fb message.
      1. Use our tongues in God’s service, speaking the truth in love to the good of the object (Eph. 4:29).
      2. Learn the put the best construction on things doubtful, by not entertaining suspicions nor by indulging in them.
      3. Learn the importance of bridling our tongues (James 1:26).