is lying ever justified
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Rahab the harlot lied to protect Israelite spies by telling the King of Jericho's men that the spies had already left the city when they were actually hiding on her roof. Some argue Rahab's lie was justified given the situation, while others say no lie is justified according to scripture. Rahab is praised in the Bible for protecting the spies, and went on to be included in Jesus' lineage, showing how God can forgive and use anyone. The document discusses whether lying is ever justified and what the Bible says about truth and lying.
is lying ever justified
- 1. IS LYING EVER JUSTIFIED?
- 2. (Josh 2:1-6) Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. {2} And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country." {3} So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country." {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.)
- 3. LYING A.Have you ever lied? 1. Is lying ever justified? 2. Is it okay to lie under certain situations? B.Three Schools Of Thought Regarding Human Moral Responsibility. 1. First, there is nihilism. Nihilism argues that there is no God, hence anything one wishes to do is permitted. There are no rules— absolutely none— for human conduct; according to this ideology; every person is a law unto himself.
- 4. LYING 2. Second, there is relativism. Relativism contends that all conduct is relative to the circumstance. Thus, each individual must decide what is moral or immoral in a given situation. Ultimately, every man is his own judge of the matter. (Situation ethics) 3. Third, there is absolutism. This concept affirms that there is an absolute, objective standard of right and wrong (grounded in the holy nature of God Himself), and this code of moral conduct is set forth in the Bible— reaching its zenith in the New Testament
- 5. LYING C. Rahab is mentioned in 3 places in the New Testament. 1.She is praised for protecting the spies - James 2:25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 2.She is also found in what's called "the Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11. She is listed alongside such great people of faith as Moses, Abraham and Noah - Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
- 6. LYING 3. The third place she's mentioned may be the most amazing. She is found in the genealogy in Matthew 1 which lists those who were in the line of Jesus. She is only one of 3 women mentioned. She was the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz - Matthew 1:5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse…
- 7. I. RAHAB'S LIE A.Why Did Rahab Lie? 1. First, as a heathen she may not have understood that lying was wrong 2. Second, I believe she was influenced by a desire to preserve her own life. 3. Third, she was attempting to place the army she knew was going to be victorious in obligation to her and her family by saving the lives of their spies.
- 8. I. RAHAB'S LIE B. What About Rahab’s Lie 1. Rahab’s lie is not commented on in scripture it is simply reported as a fact just as her being a harlot is. 2. No lie is ever praised, condoned or justified in scripture C. What Could/Should Rahab Have Done? 1. Say nothing - Some believe that had Rahab kept silent or not lied, they would have found the spies. 2. When we think like that, we forget God. 3. Tell them to look around 4.Tell them they had no right to be there
- 9. II. WHY DO WE LIE? A. To protect ourselves from...harm: physical, emotional, financial, social, educational, spiritual B. We are afraid of the consequences of truth 1. We lie about doing wrong because we don’t want to be punished 2. We lie on our taxes to protect us financially 3. We lie about breaking the law because we don’t want to be fined or jailed 4. We lie about our school work because we don’t want to fail 5. We lie about our mistakes because we don’t want to be thought of as incompetent 6. We lie about our capabilities because we don’t want to be rejected
- 10. III. What The Bible Says About Lying A.Truth sets us free - (John 8:32) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." B.The fruit of the Spirit is truth - (Eph 5:8-11) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light {9} (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), {10} finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. {11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
- 11. III. What The Bible Says About Lying C.Put away lying - (Eph 4:25) Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. D.Do not lie - (Col 3:9) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
- 12. III. What The Bible Says About Lying E. Lying is self-seeking - (James 3:13-18) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. {14} But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. {15} This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. {16} For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. {17} But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. {18} Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
- 13. III. What The Bible Says About Lying F. "No" lie is of the truth - (1 John 2:21) I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. G. "All" liars will be in hell - (Rev 21:7-8) "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. {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.”
- 14. IV. IF WE SUFFER IT SHOULD NOT BE BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE WRONG BUT FOR OUR DOING GOOD A.(1 Pet 2:13-15) Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, {14} or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. {15} For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;
- 15. IV. IF WE SUFFER IT SHOULD NOT BE BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE WRONG BUT FOR OUR DOING GOOD B. (1 Pet 3:15-17) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; {16} having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. {17} For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- 16. IV. IF WE SUFFER IT SHOULD NOT BE BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE WRONG BUT FOR OUR DOING GOOD C. (1 Pet 4:18-19) Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" {19} Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator
- 17. V. RAHAB IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF GOD'S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS A.Rahab was a heathen and a prostitute B.Not a very good prospect in our way of thinking C.Our God is a forgiving God 1. (Dan 9:9) "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
- 18. V. RAHAB IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF GOD'S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS 2. (Acts 26:17-18) 'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, {18} 'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
- 19. V. RAHAB IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF GOD'S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS 3. (2 Pet 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. D.God will forgive you of "all" sin, including the sin of lying
- 20. YOU AND LYING? A. When We Justify Lying… 1. Where is the limit? 2. Who decides what is justified - it puts man in the place of God. 3. We can justify other sins also: adultery, murder, stealing, etc. B. Should we do evil that good may come? - (Rom 3:5-8) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) {6} Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? {7} For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? {8} And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"?; as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
- 21. YOU AND LYING? C. The bottom line for us is to obey God in every situation and trust Him with the fallout, knowing that He has unlimited knowledge and control of the total picture. D. In real life, NOBODY knows the ultimate outcome of a situation. The BEST alternative is to commit ourselves to our faithful Creator and continue to do what is good. E. 1 Pet 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.