DISHONESTY

INTRO:

1. I don't believe that anyone of us would knowingly want to participate in anything this is dishonest.

2. Neither do I believe that we would knowingly sanction anyone else in dishonesty.

3. But I am afraid that so many of us fail to know or to realize just what will constitue an act of dishonesty.

4. Most of us would seem to think that dishonesty is composed of lying, cheating and stealing, done by the vilest of men.

5. Note the definitions of dishonesty:

A. From the Greek: Shame, Disgrace, Cause of shame, Dishonorable conduct.

B. From the Hebrew: Blushing, Shame, Bareness, Nakedness.

C. From Webster:

1) Characterized by fraud; knavish, fraudulent.

2) Lacking honesty or integrity, Not trustworthy.

6. Note some synonyms: Dishonest, Deceitful, Mendacious, Lying, Untruthful, Mean, Unworthy of trust or belief.

I. WE ARE TO BE HONOURABLE, ESPECIALLY AS CHRISTIANS: Rom. 12:17; 2 Cor. 8:21; 13:7; Phil. 4:;8; Heb. 13:18.

II. THERE ARE THREE WAYS OF BEING DISHONEST, AND MANY THINGS TO BE DISHONEST IN:

A. To God.

B. To our Fellowman.

C. To Ourselves. These three usually are inseparable. Matt. 22:37-40.

III. WE KNOW THAT ANY MAN THAT GOES OUT AND STEALS, LIES, CHEATS, SLANDERS, DECEIVES, ETC. IS A DISHONEST MAN.

A. So we are not in doubt about him, but we want to notice otehr dishonest people also, that we possibly haven't noticed before as being dishonest.

IV. AN ALIEN (NOT OF THE SAME COUNTRY OR KINGDOM) IS DISHONEST WHEN:

A. He hears the word of God and the plan of salvation and then refuses to obey it.

1. One can be considered honest and sincere until he knows better. Saul of Tarsus.

2. First he is dishonest with GOD, by failing to obey His commands.

3. He is dishonest with his FELLOWMAN, because by doing the Lord's will, he could lead others to do the same.

4. He is dishonest with HIMSELF, because he must put forth effort to save his own soul; when he does not, he is deceiving himself into believing he can be saved without it. Jas. 1:21-25; Gal. 6:7,8.

V. CHRISTIANS ARE DISHONEST WHEN:

A. They know how to live as a Christian should but do not do it. Jas. 4:17.

1. When a Christian fails to assemble with the saints as commanded without a Scriptural reason for his absence. When he does this:

a. He is dishonest with GOD, for he is told to not to forsake assembling of ourselves together. Heb. 10:25.

b. He is dishonest with his FELLOWMAN, for he is to exhort, and admonish others, and to be strength fro the weak and influence for all. ---"Let your light so shine among men, that they will glorify God by seeing your good works." Matt. 5:13-16. Heb. 10:19-24.

c. He is dishonest with HIMSELF, for he is actually the big loser when he tries to deceive himself into thinking he can get by without assembling.

1) The same man gets up early every morning and goes to work 5 or 6 days a week, but doesn't seem to be able to get to Bible Study by 10:00.

2. When he dresses, talks, has habits, and does things that are unbecoming to a Christian: knowing it is wrong:

a. He is dishonest with GOD, for God told him how to conduct himself as a Christian. 2 Pet. 1:3-11; Gal. 5:13-25; 1 Pet. 4:12-16.

b, He us dishonest with his FELLOWMAN, for he might cause them to stumble for whom Christ died; also he will bring reproach upon the church.

1) It would be better for one to have a millstone about his neck and be cast into the sea, rather than to cause one of these young ones to be lost. Matt. 18:1-7.

c. He is dishonest with HIMSELF, for he is condemning his soul to the hell of fire.

1) "To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Jas. 4:17.

3. A Christian that does not obey the great commission as found in Matt. 28:19,20, is dishonest:

a. He is dishonest with GOD, for God has said for all Christians to carry the good news to the lost and dying world.

b. He is dishonest with his FELLOWMAN, because they are the ones that need to be taught the gospel. Psa. 142:4; Ezk. 3:17-21.

c. He is dishonest with HIMSELF, because their blood will be required at his hand. Acts. 20:17-21,26,27.

4. A Christian that does not worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, is dishonest: Jno. 4:23,24.

a. He is dishonest with GOD, because God seeks that type of worshipper to worship Him.

b. He is dishonest with his FELLOWMAN, because he disturbs their worship, and certainly does not set a good example for them to follow. 1 Tim. 3:15; 4:12.

1) How do you behave during services?

c. He is dishonest with HIMSELF, because "he that thinketh he standeth; let him take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor. 10:12.

1) Just sitting in the pew on Sunday morning will no more make one a Christian, than sitting in the henhouse all night will make one a chicken.

CONCLUSION:

1. Whether you are an alien sinner of a child of God, are you being honest with God, your Fellowman, and Yourself?

2. If not, today is the day to begin to be honest in all things and toward all men.

3. Tomorrow might never come, today is the day of salvation.

4. So, when you hear His voice, harden not your heart and thereby be dishonest.

5. Why not be honest with God, your Fellowman, and Yourself by obeying the Lord today?

By Jim Sasser

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