LET GOD BE TRUE

     A most pleasant good morning to you in our radio audience. How
encouraging it is to me to know that many are listening. Why not tell
your friend or relative about the program? Get you pen and paper out
and your Bible and let us study together.
     As a beginning place this morning, I turn to Romans chapter 3. I
am reading verse 4, "God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but
every man a liar." This does not mean that every man is a liar. The
absolute veracity of God does not necessarily infer the falsehood of
man. It may be and often is that man and God differ in their
testimony. And when there is a difference between God and man, we are
not to hesitate for a moment by whose claims we shall decide. God
will always be right, and man will always be wrong. If the whole
world were on one side and God on the other side: the world would be
wrong and God would be right. Yea, as Paul stated, "Let God be found
true and every man a liar." There are numerous examples of
application of this fact. We noted a few Sundays ago the lesson
concerning the flood and the preaching of Noah. In those two lessons
it was seen that Noah and his family stood on God's side, while the
whole world stood on the other side. Only 8 people escaped the flood
because they choose to do the will of God; while the rest refused the
preaching of Noah and drowned in the waters of the flood. "Let God be
found true and every man a liar." There are at least four reasons why
this statement is true:
     THE FIRST REGARDS THE IGNORANCE OF MAN AND THE WISDOM OF GOD: In
1 Corinthians 3, verses 18-20, Paul states, "Let no man deceive
himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world,
let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of
this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh
the wise in their craftiness: and again, The Lord knoweth the
reasonings of the wise, that they are vain." Man is fallible. He not
only MAY err, but he is very likely to err. Listen to Paul as he
addresses Timothy, "O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto
thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the
knowledge which is falsely so called; which some professing have
erred concerning the faith" (1 Timothy 6:20-21).  We must ever be
careful. Man may be deceived by false teachers. Preacher, are you
telling us that men will deceive other men? Most assuredly they will.
Hear the apostle Paul, "I know that after my departing grievous
wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from
among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30). You mean that
men would come in the name of religion and teach false doctrine?
Indeed they have, and will continue to do so. There are so many
passages that warn of false teachers. Listen to the apostle Paul,
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning
themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for even Satan
fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing
therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of
righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2
Corinthians 11:13-15). Hear the apostle Peter, "But there arose false
prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be
false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies,
denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves
swift destruction. and many shall follow their lascivious doings; by
reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of. And in
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you"
(2 Peter 2:1-3).  Man may be deceived by outward appearances.  By
fleshly appeals.  Man may be deceived by his own reasoning. In
Jeremiah 10:23, the prophet says, "O Jehovah, I know that the way of
man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his
own steps." If someone comes to you and does not offer you book,
chapter, and verse for all that he says, you had better beware. Thus,
with regards to the ignorance of man, "Let God be true, and every man
a liar." Man is not to be compared to God in this respect. Man's most
intelligent thought is foolishness when compared with God.
     THE SECOND REASON THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE REGARDS THE
CHANGEABLENESS OF MAN AND THE STABILITY OF GOD: Adam fell from his
original condition.  Many angels kept not their first estate. Peter
states, "For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them
down to hell..." (2 Peter 2:4). Just look at man. He is ever
changing. New views on almost every subject; new feelings daily; new
desires; new pursuits.  No one is unchangeable, but God is. You can
depend upon Him.  What He thought yesterday, he thinks today, and
will think tomorrow.  Man is not like that. So often today one cannot
put trust in what man says.  From one day to the next, their words
differ and their promises are not dependable. But God is stable. And
therefore the Word of God is dependable. Jesus said, "Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew
24:35). We shall meet His word when we step into eternity. It shall
be there to judge us. If I do measure up to that word, I had better
begin now to make the changes and make my life correspond to its
teachings. There is no comparison between man and God when we think
about stability. "Let God be true and every man a liar."
     THE THIRD REASON THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE REGARDS THE WEAKNESS OF
MAN AND THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF GOD. 1 Corinthians 1:25 states,
"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness
of God is stronger than men." Man may threaten in a fury, but be
unable to execute his treats. May man promise sincerely, but his
promise be but vain words. Not so with God. 2 Corinthians 3:4,5,
states, "And such confidence have we through Christ to Gos-ward: not
that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from
ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God." And again in chapter 12,
verse 9, "And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee;
for my power is made perfect in weakness." Man is week; he is
unstable. Man must depend upon the sufficiency of God. Listen to
Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me."
There are so many in the religious world today, even some within the
church of our Lord, who have allowed themselves to become self-
sufficient. They have all the answers. They are no longer dependent
upon God for all things.  There are even those today who contend that
the church is not self-sufficient to carry out the work that He
desires the church to do.  Thus man-made schemes and plans are
devised to assist God. Even in the church of Christ there are those
who have introduced church sponsored arrangements; not satisfied with
the all-sufficiency of God and His ways. So man comes along and wants
to help God out. He brings entertainments, food and frolic, into the
work of the church. He reasons if we can get people to come, then we
can teach them. So he uses different kinds of baits and enticements
to get people to come out. My friends, nothing but the gospel is
needed to accomplish the work that God has given us to do.  When man
introduces baseball or basketball teams as a part of the work of the
church; he exposes himself as not believing in the all-sufficiency of
God's ways. Yes, "Let God be true, and every man a liar." Where in
God's Word do you find social entertainments as a part of God's work.
Where is your authority for a kitchen and fellowship hall to be built
and maintained by the local church.  Someone say, "Boy, he is an old
fuddy duddy." Oh, no, my friend. I am simply asking for scriptural
authority for such things. Surely you have book, chapter, and verse
for your practice. Is that too much to ask? Or will you shove it
aside and say that it makes no difference.  "Let God be true, and
every man a liar."
     THE FOURTH REASON THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE REGARDS THE SINFULNESS
OF MAN AND THE RECTITUDE OR UPRIGHTNESS OF GOD: Man goes astray of
his own accountability. He often knowingly deceives his fellow man.
He often walks in forbidden paths and commits sin. There can be no
greater perjury than that of Peter, when he sware, "I know not the
man." Over and over again we see man as he falls into temptations.
And the tragedy of it is that these temptations are often succumbed
to and man gives in to his temptations and committs sin. In fact Paul
states, "for all have sinned; and fall short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23). And again, "For the wages of sin is death; but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans
6:23).  The very nature of man begets sin. When left to his own
inventions man is going to walk away from God and walk in sin. While
on the other hand, God is incapable of a wrong deed. God cannot be
tempted to deceive. Listen to James, "Let no man say when he is
tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil,
and he himself tempteth no man" (James 1:13). In Titus 1, verse 2, we
read, "in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised
before times eternal." "Let God be true, and all man a liar." Man is
sinful; God is righteous.
     Yes, "the witness of God is greater than the witness of men."
Let God be true in His doctrines, and let us receive them. Let God be
true in His treatenings, and let us receive them and flee from the
wrath to come. Let God be true in His promises, and let us be strong
in faith, giving God the glory. Let God be true in His predictions,
and whatever difficulties stand in the way, believe that the whole
council of God shall free us from our weaknesses and sins.
     God being true, man must respond to His will, in order to be
saved in eternity. God speaks, "Believe or die." Hear Christ, "I said
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye
believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:25). My
friend that it truth. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
the Living God? If you do not, then you are in danger of eternal
condemnation. Jesus so says, and "Let God be true, but every man a
liar."  Jesus says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved" (Mark 16:16).  And it matters not if the whole world refuses
to accept this command, it still remains truth, because "Let God be
true and every man a liar."
     My friend, what is your feelings about the Word of God. Do you
believe that it is truth? Do you believe that it is all truth? Do you
believe that it is the only truth that we have? Do you believe that
anything that differs with that Word is false? "Let God be true, and
everyman a liar." Place your practices beside the Word of God and
examine them in the light of the scriptures. If you find them to be
contrary of the scriptures, may you have the courage to lay them
aside and do only what God's word authorizes.

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