It is Impossible for God to Lie

Each book of the Bible adds to our understanding of the nature of God. In the book of Hebrews we find out that “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). This is because God’s very nature is the ultimate truth. Reality, present and eternal, is in God’s self-existence, and God is true. This affirmation about the nature of God and the divine essence is reassuring to Christians. It is possible for Christians to lie because we are human and our spirit at times is at odds with the very Spirit of God.

          Because it is impossible for God to lie, I can count on the veracity of what God tells me about everything that concerns my present and my future. When I hear the biblical writers say that God is love, I believe it deeply and profoundly, being thankful that the Scriptures do NOT say that God is hate. That is why Jesus on one occasion in the gospel of John reveals that Satan himself is the father of lies. Satan is the opposite of God.

          Because it is impossible for God to lie, it engenders trust on my part toward God. My faith in God and toward God is based on my trust of God. God’s nature is dependable and faithful. That is why God, Christ and the Spirit desire the same from me.

          Because it is impossible for God to lie, we know his revelation is true. Scripture reveals the truth of God because God is truth. Truth, reality, substance, existence and being all stem from the very essence of God.

          Because it is impossible for God to lie, this gives me something to strive for in my communication and relationship with others. When I love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind, and I love others as myself—I do so with a heart of simplicity and truth. No games, no ulterior motives, no self-centeredness, no half-lies or half-truths, no “little white lies,” just an honest approach that cares about honoring God and others!

          For Christian leaders, this means that our very awareness of God’s nature guides how we interact with others. Our communication is clear and true because we know that honors God and others. We do not try to mislead with our words because God never attempts to mislead us. We need to be in constant prayer that God helps it to be said of us “it is impossible for us to lie.”

          Every Christian leader that has any semblance of self-awareness knows those times and circumstances when they may be tempted to stretch things a bit. Maybe we are trying to cover over some guilt, shame, and/or trying to save face because of embarrassment. But we need to remember that in our various roles as Christian leaders our brothers and sisters in Christ deserve veracity at the deepest level and of the highest order! God himself expects nothing less!

In Christian love, Curtis

Let us Leave the Elementary Teachings About Christ (Hebrews 6:1-12)

Let us leave…and go on to maturity. What is spiritual maturity, and what does it look like? It can be pictured as a journey. As such, there is a beginning point that we must leave, and then travel on a journey toward a goal. The place we begin can be called “the elementary teachings” about Christ. What are those teachings? 

The writer of the book of Hebrews supplies us with some of those: Repentance from dead works (changing from legalism), faith toward God, instructions about washing/baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 

 We might be surprised at this list. In the history of Christianity these topics have been the source of a lot of debate, controversy and charges of heresy. It is amazing that the writer of Hebrews puts them all in the category of “elementary teachings!” Spiritual maturity dictates that we move on from these. 

Now, to be sure, the writer of Hebrews is not saying that they are not important. The author is merely pointing out that the readers (and, by implication, we who are Christians today) cannot camp on these and stay focused here and expect to grow spiritually. According to the writer of Hebrews, there are “better things that belong to salvation” (Hebrews 6:9) -- 

• Work and love in serving the saints 
• Earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end 
• Imitators of those who have gone before as examples of faith and patience who inherit the promises (current and future rest) 

Notice how that for the writer of Hebrews spiritual maturity centers around the Christian journey marked by 4 things: love, serving, holding steadfast the full assurance of hope, and imitating men & women of faith who have gone before. These are all expressions of the converted lifestyle that is following in the steps of Jesus. It is hard to debate and argue about these things. 

When Christ is the foundation and center out of which these four things spring, then the journey of spiritual maturity can be faithfully pursued! Too often, we Christian leaders ourselves, spend so much time focusing on the fundamentals that we do not grow. And, if we do not grow into spiritual maturity, how can we expect other Christians to do so? 

“The better things that belong to salvation” must be modeled by Christian leaders so others can imitate what they see. 

 For example, as a Christian leader, how can I model for others “work and love in serving the saints?” 

As a Christian leader, how can I model “earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end?” 

As a Christian leader, how can I model “imitating those who have gone before as examples of faith?” 

As a Christian leader, how can I model “patience in inheriting the promises?” 

 Content of the Christian faith (orthodoxy) becomes the elemental foundation for the right practice (orthopraxis) of the Christian faith. I wonder what servant-hood looks like in the lives of Christian leaders who seek the right balance between these two? It seems that part of the journey of spiritual maturity is recognizing that the content of faith becomes the foundation for the practice of faith. 

 Yes, there is a place to teach against legalism (repentance from dead works), but railing against it and harping against it constantly does not provide the soil for spiritual growth. What believers need to see is Christian leaders who model in their life what grace looks like. What they need to see is the inherent joy possessed by one who has left a legalistic system of belief!

 It is possible, you know, to be legalistic in one’s opposition to legalism! May all of us who are in Christian leadership roles seek the “better things that belong to salvation!” 

In Christian love, Curtis