Lying is a sin. But is seems that some lies go unpunished. Are some lies OK with God?

1. Lying in
the Bible
Does God Approve
of Lying?

2. Does God approve of lying?

Abraham

Twice with the same lie - “She is my sister”

Sarah joined him - “He is my brother”

God had to rescue them from the trouble this lie
caused

BUT – God blessed Abraham

Made him the father of a great nation – Israel

Called him the father of the faithful

3. Does God approve of lying?


Called him the father of those who believe
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of
circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the
faith which he had while still uncircumcised,
that he might be the father of all those who
believe, though they are uncircumcised, that
righteousness might be imputed to them also,

4. Does God approve of lying?

Midwives at time of Moses


Ordered by the king to kill male babies
Exodus 1:17-19 17 But the midwives feared
God, and did not do as the king of Egypt
commanded them, but saved the male children
alive. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the
midwives and said to them, "Why have you
done this thing, and saved the male children
alive?" 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh,
"Because the Hebrew women are not like the
Egyptian women; for they are lively and give
birth before the midwives come to them."

5. Does God approve of lying?


Rahab hid the spies
Joshua 2:4-6 4 Then the woman took the two
men and hid them. So she said, "Yes, the men
came to me, but I did not know where they
were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was
being shut, when it was dark, that the men went
out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue
them quickly, for you may overtake them." 6
(But she had brought them up to the roof and
hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she
had laid in order on the roof.)

6. One Response

The question assumes that God approved
the lies because there is no mention of
punishment or any verbal correction for
them.

What about others?

Noah got drunk

Lot had sex with his daughters

Jacob went to a prostitute (Tamar)

Old prophet lied to young prophet

Peter denied Christ

7. Another Response

The question ignores how God blesses us.

God blesses each of us:

NOT because we are righteous and perfect

BUT in spite of our weakness and sin

God blesses us anyway!

God blessed Israel – in idolatry

God blessed Solomon – married foreign wives

8. A Third Response

The question ignores how God loves us.

God loves us:

NOT – because of (how good and righteous we are)

NOT – in order to get (what we have to offer)

BUT – in spite of (our weakness, sin)

9. A Third Response

The question ignores how God loves us.

Just remember this:

You are no bargain to live with, either.

I have a flaw or two of my own!

BUT – You are loved by family, this church,
and God.

10. Ways we lie

Silence – Esther 4:14

Not tell WHOLE truth – Abraham

Implication – boy with lemonade stand

Give assumptions as facts – Genesis 37

11. Why do we lie?

To build up our own image

To cover up embarrassing things

To hide our guilt

Just to impress others

12. Lying is a sin


Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,
abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their
part in the lake which burns with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death."
Revelation 22:14-15 14 Blessed are those who
do His commandments, that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter through the
gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and
sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers
and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a
lie.

13. Ephesians 4:25

Therefore, putting away
lying, "Let each one of you
speak truth with his
neighbor," for we are
members of one another.