1. BELIEVING A LIE II THESSALONIANS 2:9-12

2. Lie —“To make a statement that one knows is false, especially with the intent to deceive.” Telling something untrue. It may be implied. Done by silence. It may be told in a question. The truth is very important. Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it. John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'' The truth is a matter of life or death. Physical Death Spiritual Death

3. God Has Always Condemned Lying. It was lie that caused sin to come into the world It was liars who bore false witness against Jesus. Exodus 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Genesis 3:2-5 “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, `You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' '' And the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.''

4. As Christians we are not to be liars. Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds. John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. The devil is the father of all lies.

5. The liar will be punished 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.'' The one who believes a lie could be punished. II Thessalonians 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

6. The Tragedy Of Believing A Lie. In I Kings 13 God commanded a young prophet to: Go to Bethel and cry against the altar. Give them a sign. Eat breadDrink water He was not to return the way he came. He was not to: The older false prophet lied to him. The young prophet believed him and it cost him his life. I Kings 13:18-24

7. Many Today Are Believing Lies “If you honestly believe and are sincere God will accept you” is a lie. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith alone is not enough. James 2:24, 26 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

8. “As long as you are religious God will save you” is a lie. Jesus mentioned some religious people who thought they were saved but weren’t. Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!‘”

9. You don’t need to be member of the church to be saved. You can be saved outside of the church, is a lie. The church is the body of Christ. To say you can be saved outside of the church is to say you can be saved outside of Christ. Acts 2:47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.''

10. “I can be a Christian and not have to go to church” is a lie. Church attendance is not everything. It is however important.. The church is our support group. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. “You do not have to be baptized to be saved” is a lie. Acts 22:16 `And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

11. I Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “I’ve got plenty of time to become a Christian” “I’ve got plenty of time to come back to Christ.” Many souls have been lost because they believe this lie. James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit''; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Both of these statements are lies.

12. BELIEVING A LIE COULD PROVE TO BE A GREAT TRAGEDY! IT COULD COST YOU YOUR SOUL!

13. Given by David Hamlin on 10-18-09 am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.orgwww.hollisterchurchofchrist.org