2. but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Literal Greek is αληθευοντες “truthing in love” and is difficult to translate into English. It carries the idea of one’s life expressed in truth.

3.  Truth = That which is real, reality. The way things really are as opposed to the possible delusion of the way people may think things are or having no idea.  Love = It is an emotion that is expressed in action of what is in the best interest of another person in contrast to what they feel may be best for themselves.

4. PassagePrinciple John 4.24True worship of God must be truth based John 16.13The Holy Spirit is our guide into all truth John 8.32We shall know the truth and are set free by the truth John 17.17The Bible is the depository of truth II Cor. 4.16You can become an enemy by telling the truth John 8.44Satan’s greatest weapon is anti-truth (lie)

5. PassagePrinciple Matt. 22.40 Love God, love others summarizes all Matt. 24.12 Lawlessness produces cold love John 13.35The Christian’s I.D. card is mutual love Rom. 5.8The love of God has been poured into our hearts Gal. 5.22Holy Spirit’s work is to produce love in us I John 4.19Our love motivation comes from God loving us first

6. I. Seven other passages where Truth and Love are used together

7. You will give truth to Jacob and unchanging love to Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from the days of old.

8. Thus says the Lord of hosts, The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth months will become joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah; so love truth and peace.

9. and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

10. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

11. Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

12. Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

13. The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

14. II. Ten principles about speaking the truth in love

15. On May 7, 2012 Rich Buhler at age sixty- five went home to be with Christ. He was well known on his radio programs for making the above point.

16. Truth must never take second place to peace and unity

17. Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Proverbs 25.11

18. Example: “Joe do you remember how you felt when your dad didn’t show up for you champion game? Well that is how I felt when you didn’t make my award party on Friday.”

19. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. John 8.40 See I Kings 22

20. 6 Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7

21.  Bold people often say things without filtering it first to avoid hurting another’s feelings  Soft people tend to hold back the truth, but when pushed they tend to over react and blast away

22. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

23. This is however pretty selfish isn’t it? What if a doctor withheld painful treatment out of fear it would hurt and the patient would not like them?

24. You think you have it hard because you have to confront your spouse about overspending? These guys could loss their heads.

25. III. Some questions about speaking the truth in love

26. 1. For what other reasons do we fail to speak truth in love?

27. 2. How many times do you need to tell someone the same truth?

28. 3. Why is rationalizing our sin so dangerous?

29. 4. What if you don’t know what the truth is?

30. 5. If OT Israel needed prophets, does the NT church also need prophets? If so who are they?