Talk is Cheap

[JTC]

We all know how easily some people say things that aren't true, but was it always like this, maybe not. I recently took the online course about the book of Acts, offered by DTS. The professor wanted to explain why Paul tells the story of what happened to him on the road to Damascus 3 separate times and the reason surprised me. The professor said that 2000 yrs ago a person's verbal words were considered to be honest and reliable, more reliable than the written word, or someone else telling you the story 2nd or 3rd hand. That's interesting in more ways than the professor meant it to be. This becomes critical when applied to salvation. I'm going to guess that 2000 yrs ago a person would never say that someone was his Lord unless he absolutely meant it. 2000 yrs ago a person could be killed for declaring someone, other than the king, as his Lord. Therefore, I'll also guess that anyone who publicly declared that Jesus was his Lord knew very well that he was expected to prove that statement with his actions. Furthermore I think that 2000 yrs ago a person's actions were more suspected to have false motives than his words were. This would be especially true if you were a slave and you had to do many things you didn't agree with just so you weren't beaten. It's very curious how things managed to turn around by 180 degrees, in the last 2000 years. This doesn't change how or why we get saved but it does reinforce the idea that your behavior proves you are saved.

[ReneeIW]

16 minutes ago, JTC said:

The professor said that 2000 yrs ago a person's verbal words were considered to be honest and reliable, more reliable than the written word

Hmmm. May want to be careful with online classes.
 

“It is written.”

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.“

 

[Ray12614]

In the old farming community in MI, liars were shunned because everybody knew their word was no good. I remember my dad agreeing to an trade with another farmer, they shook hands on it, and then when it did not work well for my dad, he said that he would honor his word and keep his end of the deal, because his word was more important than coming out ok trading things with others.

My dad's word and hand shake was binding to him even if it was not beneficial to him. I love and appreciate my dad for all he taught me.

Ray  . . .  

[Dennis1209]

It's a serious offense to our Lord, as He specifically names it in the following verse and other scripture.

Revelation 21:8 (KJV) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. [emphesis added].

Thinking of it just in the secular aspect, as was said above, 'your word is your bond'. Not so anymore but, there was a time where your word reflected not only 'your' character and integrity, but that of your families name, honor and reputation. A liar dishonored your family and your name. Without a good name, what do you have? Your name was intended to be cherished and respected.

James 5:12 (KJV) But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

I can't tell you how many times these days I hear people swearing to God while lying through their teeth. We watch this program titled "PD Live", it's common for people stopped to 'swear to God' they don't have anything illegal on them or in their vehicles. On many occasions when searched and drugs / weapons found on them they've said; I swear to God, these are not my pants!

2 Timothy 4:4 (KJV) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

How many times have we been lied to by the government and politicians delivering speeches and promises; much less day to day conversations and contracts? Just another sign of the times I suppose. 

[JTC]

These are good points and I'm glad you shared your experiences on this. But before this thread goes too far askew let me make my main point again. My point was that if a man's word was as worthless 2000 yrs ago as it is now, the Bible might have said something slightly different than it does concerning salvation. I think Paul might have said if you confess Jesus with your mouth and prove you mean it with your actions, then you will be saved. This has been my main complaint since I was saved approximately 40 yrs ago. I think this issue is more important today than ever. If a person says he accepts Jesus as Lord & Savior then I think we are right in expecting that person to change, or at least be trying to change. Granted that for some people these changes will be big and for others small, but there has to be something you can see. I believe the Bible doesn't emphasize this because to men of integrity, his word was all that was needed. Some of us are still people of integrity but many folks are not. This is why that we who are true Christians have to prove it through our behavior.

[leah777]

I dont have to prove I am a true Christian to anyone. God sees the changes and working out in my heart and mind. That is sufficient. Likewise for every other person. 

There are still many people of integrity on this planet. I dont understand the negativity about our fellow humans in general. 

I would expect words of some men to have been useless all though time. Jesus spent some time calling certain ones hypocrites, for example. There are many psalms about those who lie and break their word.

[BeauJangles]

Talk is Cheap

The topic here is basically honesty and maintaining integrity. Keeping one's word and promises. Following through with agreements. There are extenuating circumstances that can occur making them impossible. When situations arise and that happens some compensations should be made accordingly. Lying and dishonesty seems to have become acceptable in this day and age. To see this creep into the realm of Christianity is a sorry situation. 

[JTC]

7 minutes ago, BeauJangles said:

The topic here is basically honesty and maintaining integrity. Keeping one's word and promises.

That is part of it, and I'll tell you this, I wish I had lived in the day and age when a man's word was his bond. I think I would have fared better back then than I did now.

23 minutes ago, leah777 said:

I dont have to prove I am a true Christian to anyone. God sees the changes and working out in my heart and mind. That is sufficient.

Yes Leah, God really is the only one you have to prove it to. But what I meant is some people need to take a better look in a mirror. The Bible emphasizes that we are supposed to treat everyone with an attitude of love and concern. This becomes impossible if we are getting angry all the time and using words that show hate. I don't mean you Leah.

[Don19]

If a man's word ought to be binding, how much more is the word of the LORD sure and certain! How much more has God bound Himself by His promises!

1 John 5:9-10:

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
 

The New Covenant is promissory (Gal 3:18). It does not depend on man's faithfulness, only God's, as Jesus Christ has fulfilled all conditions on our behalf, and died for our sins. In Christ Jesus, God makes an unconditional promise to His elect, and our response is faith because such faith is a gift of God. Jesus calls His own sheep by name (John 10:3). The promise is both sure and personal, witnessed to us by His Holy Spirit (Rom 8:16-17).

[Coliseum]

Talk is cheap. We do whatever it takes to be exactly like we are.

Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV)
28  "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
29  "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30  "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
31  "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32  For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.