There has been the accusation against the God of the Bible that calls him a liar. More intellectual opponents of the Bible and the revelations it contains cite two passages from a bible version of their choosing to make their point. These passages are John 7:8-10 and 1 Kings 22:22+23. In both cases it appears that Jesus and the Creator God lied. However, upon closer examination of each texts it is clear that God or Jesus did not lie at all. In the case of John 7:8-10 Jesus never said that he wasn't going up to the feast at all. He told his brothers that He was not going to the feast with them upon their invitation and encouragement. In the case of 1 Kings 22:22+23, God did not do the lying but allowed a lying spirit to speak through those prophets. So does God lie? No, but if someone refuses to believe in him he sends to them confirmation of whatever they do believe. (2 Thessalonians 2:11). He does this to separate the believing from the unbelieving, the true believer from the false believer, the God worshiper from the idol worshiper. Only God can do this being the judge of all men. This is why I have said on many of occasions that the worse type of deception is self deception, and woe unto the person who believes a strong delusion that is so strong that it is impossible for them to see the truth.
So God does not lie to those who believe in him or do not believe in him, it is people choose to believe the lying spirit which tells them to not have faith in the God of the Bible. Who is this lying Spirit that is allowed to deceive the masses? It is Satan, who uses people to blind the eyes of those who would believe in Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4) The next question is why God can not lie? A few reasons we show why God can not lie to anyone. They are as follows:
1) God can not lie after He has made a promise about a matter (Titus 1:2).
2) God can not lie to those who has made a covenant with (Hebrews 6:18).
3) Even though we were made in the image of God, and are capable of lying, God is not like us in that respect (Numbers 23:19).
- The common issue that arises out of this understanding is the following rational: Is therefore
Jesus God? He was a man was he not? The Bible says that God is not a man. So Jesus can
not be God. Here is where the understanding of different dispensations from which God
chooses to speak to mankind comes in. It the Old Testament, God chose to speak through
the prophets. In the New Testament God, chose to speak through his Son. (Hebrews 1:1-4)
So at the time the prophet uttered the words of Numbers 23:19 God did not have a son, nor
was he a man. The point is that God was not like a man that he needed to lie about anything
to anyone. Concerning Jesus being God, it is Jesus, while in a human body that also declared
the truth that God is a Spirit, but he also constantly declared that God was his father and the
miracles that he performed was the proof of what he was saying about himself was true. In
the mindset of the Jews in Jesus' day what Jesus declared about himself was no less than
blasphemy. A crime punishable by death. What is blasphemy? Blasphemy is taking that
which is holy and of God and associating it with something or someone sinful. In Jesus' case,
the religious people viewed Jesus as a man who was born of Samaritan blood, a sinner who
claimed the Holy God has his father. In their minds anyone claiming God as his father was
also claiming to be just as divine or claiming to be God, because the power authority and
characteristics of the son came from his father. For this claim and testimony, they hung Jesus
on a cross and after he had expired there upon it, they buried him, but God raised Jesus up
from the dead and he began to appear to many, as he has continued to do so in many other
parts of the world. Why should we believe all this?
a)Because God promised that he would have a son. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6)
-Also that the child would be of the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15)
b) Because God promised that he will make one of the sons of the family of king David his son.
(2 Samuel 7:12-15)
c) Because God promised that his Son would have to suffer and die. (Luke 1:21; John 1:29)
d) Because God promised that he will not let his holy one see the corruption of death.
(Psalms 16:8-10)
e) Because God declares through his prophets that He alone keeps his own word.
(Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:8-12)
Since it is God who promised, in order for anyone to have faith in His words, His promises, He has to make sure that they are fulfilled. He had no choice but to deliver upon what he promised whether he spoke it directly, or through an angel or a prophet. God had to make good on His word. So God carried out what He had promised concerning Christ, and remains faithful over His word. Even though any one of us may lose faith, He remains faithful. Why? That perchance someone finds faith in Him may find His words still trustworthy and credible. For it is written:
"If we believe not, He remaineth faithful: He can not deny Himself..." (2 Timothy 2:13)
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:16-21)
For the God of the Bible is the God that can not lie.
So God does not lie to those who believe in him or do not believe in him, it is people choose to believe the lying spirit which tells them to not have faith in the God of the Bible. Who is this lying Spirit that is allowed to deceive the masses? It is Satan, who uses people to blind the eyes of those who would believe in Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4) The next question is why God can not lie? A few reasons we show why God can not lie to anyone. They are as follows:
1) God can not lie after He has made a promise about a matter (Titus 1:2).
2) God can not lie to those who has made a covenant with (Hebrews 6:18).
3) Even though we were made in the image of God, and are capable of lying, God is not like us in that respect (Numbers 23:19).
- The common issue that arises out of this understanding is the following rational: Is therefore
Jesus God? He was a man was he not? The Bible says that God is not a man. So Jesus can
not be God. Here is where the understanding of different dispensations from which God
chooses to speak to mankind comes in. It the Old Testament, God chose to speak through
the prophets. In the New Testament God, chose to speak through his Son. (Hebrews 1:1-4)
So at the time the prophet uttered the words of Numbers 23:19 God did not have a son, nor
was he a man. The point is that God was not like a man that he needed to lie about anything
to anyone. Concerning Jesus being God, it is Jesus, while in a human body that also declared
the truth that God is a Spirit, but he also constantly declared that God was his father and the
miracles that he performed was the proof of what he was saying about himself was true. In
the mindset of the Jews in Jesus' day what Jesus declared about himself was no less than
blasphemy. A crime punishable by death. What is blasphemy? Blasphemy is taking that
which is holy and of God and associating it with something or someone sinful. In Jesus' case,
the religious people viewed Jesus as a man who was born of Samaritan blood, a sinner who
claimed the Holy God has his father. In their minds anyone claiming God as his father was
also claiming to be just as divine or claiming to be God, because the power authority and
characteristics of the son came from his father. For this claim and testimony, they hung Jesus
on a cross and after he had expired there upon it, they buried him, but God raised Jesus up
from the dead and he began to appear to many, as he has continued to do so in many other
parts of the world. Why should we believe all this?
a)Because God promised that he would have a son. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6)
-Also that the child would be of the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15)
b) Because God promised that he will make one of the sons of the family of king David his son.
(2 Samuel 7:12-15)
c) Because God promised that his Son would have to suffer and die. (Luke 1:21; John 1:29)
d) Because God promised that he will not let his holy one see the corruption of death.
(Psalms 16:8-10)
e) Because God declares through his prophets that He alone keeps his own word.
(Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:8-12)
Since it is God who promised, in order for anyone to have faith in His words, His promises, He has to make sure that they are fulfilled. He had no choice but to deliver upon what he promised whether he spoke it directly, or through an angel or a prophet. God had to make good on His word. So God carried out what He had promised concerning Christ, and remains faithful over His word. Even though any one of us may lose faith, He remains faithful. Why? That perchance someone finds faith in Him may find His words still trustworthy and credible. For it is written:
"If we believe not, He remaineth faithful: He can not deny Himself..." (2 Timothy 2:13)
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:16-21)
For the God of the Bible is the God that can not lie.
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