Stephen emphasizes that our Lord Jesus Christ embodies wisdom and truth, building His spiritual house with seven solid pillars, the seventh being truthfulness. As living stones, believers must develop Christ-like character, including righteousness, diligence, love, humility, graciousness, discipline, and truthfulness. Proverbs highlights that truth is eternal and vital for God's delight, contrasting it with falsehood, which is fleeting and abominable to God.
He explains that God is the God of truth, and eternal life is knowing Him and Jesus Christ, the true God. Jesus Himself is called the Truth, and His life manifests absolute reality and sincerity. However, due to the fallen nature of man, we are naturally untrue and live under deception, covering ourselves with fig leaves and hiding from God after sin entered the world. The Spirit of Truth convicts us, tearing away false coverings and revealing our true condition, which is essential for salvation. Hypocrisy prevents genuine salvation, but honesty before God, like the publican's prayer, leads to justification.
Stephen stresses that believers, having been born again and in Christ, possess the potential for truthfulness. Yet, this must be cultivated through learning from Christ and walking in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit works within us to expose falsehoods and develop Christ's character. True Christianity requires honesty, humility, and walking in the Spirit, which leads to realness before God, ourselves, and others. Though costly, living in truth aligns with God's eternal nature and His desire for us to be His true habitation.
Jesus as Wisdom and Truth: Building His house with seven pillars, the seventh being truthfulness.
God's Character: The God of truth, and eternal life is knowing Him and Jesus Christ.
Human Condition: Naturally untrue due to sin; living under deception and false coverings.
Conviction by the Spirit: Reveals our falsehoods, leading to honesty and salvation.
Hypocrisy as an obstacle: Only honesty and humility lead to justification and spiritual growth.
Potential for Truth: Believers possess Christ's life of truth, which must be cultivated.
Walking in the Spirit: The Holy Spirit exposes falsehoods and develops Christ-like truthfulness.
Cost of Truthfulness: It may be costly but aligns with God's eternal nature and purpose.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
11 A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.