At the trial of Jesus, the religious leaders in Jerusalem actually sought out false witnesses, but the problem with false witnesses is that when you scrutinize their testimonies, they rarely agree. Many came forward, but none of their testimonies agreed. None agreed, that is, until the last two (Mat 26:60). They twisted words Jesus had said, and turned the truth into a lie. It was all the religious council needed to justify the death sentence they wanted so badly for this rebel, this Jesus of Nazareth. As it's written in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, these rulers, even though they were experts in the Holy Scriptures, they still didn't understand the wisdom of God: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. The crucifixion of Jesus was brought about with lies proceeding from the hearts of sinful men, and yet the crucifixion was the only offering that could forgive those hearts. The wisdom of God. The devil never saw the blood coming, because he wouldn't have allowed it to spill if he'd known it's power.

What's the problem with lies? They lead to more lies. After the Resurrection of Jesus, the soldiers who witnessed it came to the religious leaders and described what they saw. "Large money" was given to the soldiers so they would spread a story, saying they were asleep on watch when the disciples stole the body (Mat 28:11-15). That's another problem with lies. They don't hold water. How did sleeping soldiers "see" His disciples steal the body?

Another problem with lies is that after enough time passes, a liar will begin to believe his own lie. Even with all the evidence of the Resurrection before them, the religious leaders commanded Peter, John, and the boys not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ. When the apostles replied, "We ought to obey God rather than men", the council sought to kill them, but one member had enough sense to stand up and say, "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." So instead of killing them, it was decided to beat them and command them again not to speak in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:27-40). There's another problem with lying. Once we begin to believe in our own lies, whether individually or as a group, we begin to do things that make no sense whatsoever, we become fools, and the truth will not dwell in us.

The lies about Jesus did not stop in Acts chapter 5. We can read more of them in the New Testament, and new ones are being told even to this day. It's very frustrating to know the truth when nobody believes it. Something about the natural man causes him to question the truth severely, with an insincere heart, and at the same time allow lies to perpetuate without giving them much thought to them. Something about the natural man wants to change the truth of God into a lie. This creation is so desirable the creature would rather worship it than worship the One who created it. This will happen more and more in our legal systems, our schools, our churches, and if we allow it, even in our own hearts.

Paul stood on principles. He did not submit to the lies that take away the liberty we have in Christ Jesus. Evil will be found out. Evil will not prevail. You can preach the Good News right in the middle of it. The world is trying to shape Jesus into what they want Him to be. You hear people throwing out certain commandments and certain scriptures because they don't agree with it, or it offends them. This is not the wisdom of God. He comes in the volume of the book (Psalm 40:7, Heb 10:7). He doesn't respect one person above another. He died and rose again for all our sakes, and therefore, those of us who believe in Him have crucified our old bodies of sin with Him, that we may live to serve Him, not sin, and that we may be risen with Him when the time comes (Rom 6). Until then, the truth of the gospel continues with you. Stand on THE TRUTH. Let it be your base of operations. Let it be your source of freedom. Let it be your place of rest. Let it be our communion. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). The counsels and works of men will come to nought, but God cannot be overthrown.