God Cannot Lie

Text: I Kings 22:1-28

 

I.         Heathen men molded their concept of their gods into their own image - Romans 1:22-23

            A.        We can read stories of the Greek gods and in their interaction with men they often lied and cheated to accomplish their goals.

                        1.         The Greeks saw their gods as just super-humans.

                        2.         Since men lie, well then, the gods must be really good liars when they want to be.

            B.        Numbers 23:19 - God is not like man. God doesn’t lie.

                        1.         Men may all lie, but God is always true - Romans 3:4

                        2.         God is the God of Truth - Deuteronomy 32:4

                        3.         God will not lie - I Samuel 15:29

                        4.         God cannot lie - Titus 1:1-2

II.        The fact that God is unable to lie is an important concept

            A.        Our Bible comes from God

                        1.         II Timothy 3:16 - Comes from the mouth of God

                        2.         The apostles spoke the words the Spirit gave them - I Corinthians 2:12-13

                        3.         The words did not come from men - Galatians 1:11-12

                        4.         Those words are not open to men’s opinions - II Peter 1:20-21

            B.        The teachings of the Bible are Truth

                        1.         John 17:17 - God’s words are Truth

                        2.         Psalm 119:142 - God’s law is Truth

                        3.         Psalm 119:160 - The sum or the entirety of God’s word is truth

III.       God requires truth from His followers

            A.        Israel was told not to bear false witness - Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 19:11

            B.        Lies are an abomination to God - Proverbs 12:22

            C.        Liars will be punished - Proverbs 19:9

            D.        Christians are forbidden to lie - Colossians 3:9-10

            E.        We are required to speak truth - Ephesians 4:25

            F.        No deceit before God’s throne - Revelation 14:5

            G.        Liars end up in hell - Revelation 21:8

            H.        No liars in heaven - Revelation 21:27

IV.      Arguments that God accepts lying

            A.        I Samuel 16:1-5 - “God told Samuel to mislead as to his purpose so that Saul would not find out.”

                        1.         God did not tell Samuel to lie.

                        2.         God provided Samuel a reason to go to Bethlehem. God is perfectly within His rights as God to request a sacrifice

                        3.         The fact that Samuel was not required to tell everyone the full purpose of his journey doesn’t mean he lied or deceived.

            B.        I Kings 22:20-23 - “God sent a spirit to lie to Ahab”

                        1.         Note that God did not command that the spirit go, but permitted the spirit to go when it volunteered.

                        2.         The spirit is called a lying spirit. It is likely Satan or one of his minions

                                    a.         John 8:44 - Satan is the father of lies

                                    b.         Job 1:6 - Satan at times appeared before God

                                    c.         Everything belongs to God, including liars and those willing to believe lies - Job 12:16

                                    d.         God made use of Satan to test Job. The fact that God made use of a spirit willing to lie to accomplish His ends is no surprise.

                                    e.         II Thessalonians 2:11-12 - God will permit (send) delusions for those who already have no love of the truth.

                                    f.         Such was the nature of Ahab

                                    g.         The false prophets gave a vague answer - I Kings 22:6, 12

                                                (1)       It could be interpreted that God has given Ramoth Gilead into the hands of King Ahab

                                                (2)       It could be interpreted that God has given Ahab’s army into the hands of the king of Syria

                                    h.         Micaiah was told to speak like the lying prophets - I Kings 22:13

                                                (1)       So Micaiah gives precisely the same vague answer that the lying prophets gave.

                                                (2)       Because it was vague, it was true, depending on how it was interpreted.

                                    i.         Interestingly, while Ahab accepted the vague answer from his lying prophets, he didn’t accept the same answer from Micaiah.

                                                (1)       Deep down, Ahab knew that God wasn’t supporting him.

                                                (2)       Yet, even when Micaiah clearly told Ahab he would die, Ahab went any way.

                                                (3)       Ahab rather follow what he knew was a lie than to follow God.

V.        God doesn’t tempt people with evil - James 1:13

            A.        Instead of looking for vague situations to justify lying, let us accept the clear statement: God does not lie and He doesn’t want His people to lie.

            B.        Will you be one of God’s people this day?