Truthful living in Christ

2 Corinthians 13:1-14

 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Examine our moral life : 

1) Have I been truthful and honest ? 

2) Have I been impure ?

3) Have I allowed bitterness to take root in my heart ? 

4) Has love been my motive in everything ? 

5) Have I sought God's glory - or my own glory ? 

Psalm 51:6

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Ephesians 4:17-25, 6:14

 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 6:13-18

 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Live a truthful, pure, no bitterness, Controlled by Christ'a love and 

Examine our moral life : 

1) Have I been truthful and honest ? 

2 Corinthians 13:8

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Truth is inviolable. 

2) Have I been impure ?

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. 

Purity is fundamental. Settle for scriptural standards rather than securely ones.

3) Have I allowed bitterness to take root in my heart ? 

Hebrews 12:15 

See to it that no-one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Jesus and bitterness are incompatible.

4) Has love been my motive in everything ? 

2 Corinthians 5:14

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

Let the love of God controls us.

When we do everything for the love of Jesus, the mundane is transformed into the meaningful, the servile into the sacred. Perhaps this more than anything else, makes us aware of God's presence in our hearts. 

5) Have I sought God's glory - or my own glory ?