2.  Christians are to tell the truth! Matt. 5:37  Christians are to be honest regardless! 2 Cor. 8:21  Everyone is tempted to be dishonest at some point.  Total honesty all the time, regardless of circumstances or consequences. 2

4.  Law of Moses: a dishonor to break an oath taken in God’s name.  Scribes and Pharisees perverted that teaching: Matt. 23:16-22  Only one way is acceptable to the Lord: Matt. 5:33; 23:16-22; 5:34-37 4 Total Honesty

5.  Tax collectors were notoriously dishonest.  Jesus was highly criticized for associating with tax collectors: Matt. 5:46-47; 9:10-13; 11:19  Political correctness demanded Jesus renounce all tax collectors, but He didn’t! Lk. 19:1-10 5 Total Honesty

6.  Barnabas was loved and respected for his great sacrifices: Acts 4:36-37  Ananias and Sapphira wanted that same love and respect: Acts 5:1-11  Wanted full recognition at bargain price: Acts 5:3  God left them free on how much to give: Acts 5:4  Their service rejected because they lied: Acts 5:4  Their deaths sent a clear signal concerning honesty: Acts 5:11 6 Total Honesty

7.  Paul preached that God is glorified by forgiving us of our sins.  Jewish false teachers said Paul taught that the more sin we commit the more glory accrues to God: Rom. 3:7  Accused Paul of “the ends justifies the means”: Rom. 3:8  This is a very popular philosophy in today’s society: Prov. 14:12 7 Total Honesty

8.  Why? Because Paul always exalted Christ over self: 2 Cor. 4:1-5  Paul rejected every dishonest word, deed, method, and maneuver in his work: 2 Cor. 4:1-2, 8-9, 16; 16-18  Paul manifested truth in his preaching and personal life: 2 Cor. 4:2-4, 5  Paul kept his focus on Christ always! 2 Cor. 4:5 8 Total Honesty

9.  Paul and his traveling companions took benevolent funds to Jerusalem: 2 Cor. 8:16-24  Paul was an “open book”: 2 Cor. 8:20-21  Can that be said of us? 1 Thess. 5:22 9 Total Honesty

10.  False teachers deal in deception, manipulation and serving self interests: Matt. 7:15; 24:4-5; 2 Pet. 2:1; Rom. 16:17- 18  The gospel teaches just the opposite: Eph. 4:14-15 10 Total Honesty

11.  As fellow members of the body we have a serious obligation not to deceive one another.  Every important relationship has trust as its foundation.  We all have a great obligation to our fellow brethren: Eph. 4:24-25 11 Total Honesty

12.  We must put off the old man with his lies and put on the image of Christ: Col. 3:9- 10  Old habits can be very hard to break, but break them we must!  By walking in the truth we are less tempted to lie to cover sinful behavior: Matt. 5:13-16 12 Total Honesty

13.  Christian’s are not to be pilferers.  A pilferer steals small amounts of money or things of little value.  We often excuse ourselves of “small sins”: 1 Cor. 4:2; Matt. 25:21; Lk. 16:10  By pilfering we make the teachings of Christ look unattractive: Matt. 18:6 13 Total Honesty

14.  Men tend to treat lying and dishonesty as small, “white,” insignificant sins: Rev. 21:8  God considers it a heinous sin! Rev. 22:11-15  We must change NOW! 2 Cor. 6:2 14 Total Honesty

15.  Christ teaches total honesty!  If we’ve fallen into the devil’s snare insofar as lying and dishonesty is concerned we must confess and repent: 1 Jn. 1:9; Acts 8:22  If you’ve not obeyed the gospel, you need to obey NOW! 2 Cor. 6:2 15