Lie Not. Colossians 3:9. Our life before salvation is described as the ways of the “old man.” The old man has the characteristics of Satan, the old master and the “father of lies.” Lying includes partial truths, exaggeration, false teaching, falsehoods, hypocrisy, and pretense. How terrible it is to misrepresent or deceive others with lies! In the past, lies have led nations to war, ruined reputations, broken up families and marriages, and damaged the fellowship of God’s people. For a Christian, lying can break relationships, trust, happiness, and unity. Within a congregation of God's people, it can destroy good fellowship and has been known to cause the testimony of an assembly to cease.
The expression “old man” refers to unbelievers who have a sinful nature, are self-centered, and have never been born again. It may represent deeds connected to our life before we were saved and the cause of “the old man with his deeds.” God intends His children to be truthful and different after He saves them than they were before. The root of sin has been dealt with, and the fruits of sin are expected to be seen in the attitude, actions, and motivation of those who have been made new in Christ.
Trust takes time to establish and sustain. It follows shared experiences, both positive and painful, that are built over time. While the truth may have been spoken many times, a single lie can destroy the happiness and harmony of a lifetime. If one lie distorts the truth, suspicion may arise that everything told is false. Even exaggeration can lead someone not to trust the speaker, and those who oppose the truth may use it to undermine it. The source of a false statement is the devil; he was a liar from the beginning. Satan exploits lies to suggest that all you have done is sin.
Putting off the old self and its practices may not happen right away. For many, it is natural to behave with lying words and false impressions. The deeds and the words that accompany untruths should be abandoned and never taken up again; with that "old man," we are done. Misrepresenting something to someone shows a lack of love and weakens confidence and fellowship among fellow believers in Christ. We testified in our baptism that our “old man” was dead and buried. We have been raised to walk in newness of life. The old and the new cannot coexist. There is no fellowship, no common ground, and no unity between those who are dead and those who are alive.