Loving, Speaking, and Confessing the Truth
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 3/4/2018 AM |
Text: | Proverbs 12; Lord's Day 43 |
Psalters: | 239, 428, 26, 386 |
- The idea.
- God speaks, i.e., communicates perfectly within Himself and to His creatures, especially His children.
- Sin ruined communication and the ability to use the tongue for good, so now all men are liars by nature.
- The devil is the father of the lie and the false accuser (John 8:44), so to lie make us to be like him.
- Truth is not just correct facts and data, but also a moral-ethical tone because He who is Truth is also Love.
- Gracious God speaks the true message of salvation, redeeming us from the lie, and gives the ability to speak the truth in love.
- We are responsible for what and how we communicate, not only what we think we say but also for how it is received.
- God, Who is truth, forbids anything that is not the truth in love.
- Natural man holds the truth under in unrighteousness, so it is distorted and perverted (Rom. 1:18; 3:13,14).
- Also the regenerated easily lie, for we still have the nature to lie.
- Every violation of this commandment is most serious.
- This command sets before the redeemed the duty to express our gratitude by speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15,16).
- The speaking God enables His children to be truth speakers, graciously giving us the Spirit of truth.
- 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.
- We speak the truth about ourselves.
- We speak the truth with and about our neighbor, seeking their spiritual good in every text, tweet, and fb message.
- Use our tongues in God’s service, speaking the truth in love to the good of the object (Eph. 4:29).
- Learn the put the best construction on things doubtful, by not entertaining suspicions nor by indulging in them.
- Learn the importance of bridling our tongues (James 1:26).