Being Well Reported Of | Words Of Truth
Words Of Truth

Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

Being Well Reported Of


I. Introduction:

A. What if a Christian read a verse such as II Corinthians 12:20 and concluded that they should not speak about others behind their backs?

  1. Did that Christian take the time to look at the word “backbitings?” It means “evil speakings” as it is translated in I Peter 2:1 (Strong’s # 2636).
  2. What if they looked at Psalms 15:3, Proverbs 25:23, or Romans 1:30? They are each different words in the original languages. Meaning either slander or secrecy. Misunderstanding and misapplying the Scriptures leads to destruction (II Peter 3:15-17).
B. What about the ability to reason from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2)?

  1. Jesus was displeased when the twelve were not able to reason (Mark 8:14-21)?
  2. If it were sinful to talk about someone “behind their back”, meaning when that person is not present, how could you talk about anybody in the Scriptures (whether negative or positive)? Can we reason?
  3. The inability to reason is a possible indicator of deeper issues (Mark 6:45-52 and Ephesians 4:17-19)?
  4. If a person were to conclude it is wrong to talk about other people, that person would fail to do what we are going to talk about today. Additionally, they’d err in thinking talking about people when they are not present is wrong.

II. Body: The Faithful Are “Well Reported Of” (Acts 16:1-5 and I Timothy 5:3-10).

A. It is good to talk about faithful saints (Colossians 4:7-13).

  1. Good reports are useful in identifying faithful saints (Romans 16:1-5).
  2. Good reports allow other saints to know where they’d be welcomed and whom they can trust (III John 1:1-8).
B. We are told to mark [regard; consider; take heed; look on] those whom are a pattern to follow (Philippians 3:17; cf. Psalms 37:37).

  1. So, we watch those whom are faithful of whom we have heard good things about (I Thessalonians 1:6-10).
  2. Think about how we are to look at elders (Hebrews 13:7).
C. Hearing and talking of other faithful saints is comforting and joyful (Philemon 1:4-7).

  1. It creates a thankfulness to God for other saints (Ephesians 1:15-16 and Colossians 1:3-4).
  2. Think about the effect of hearing good news (Proverbs 15:30 and Proverbs 25:25).
D. Before we conclude, don’t misapply this lesson by thinking you can only talk about someone in the positive (II Timothy 3:1-9).

  1. The faithful name the names of those whom oppose the truth (Galatians 2:13, I Timothy 1:19-20, II Timothy 2:16-18, II Timothy 4:10-15, III John 1:9-11, etc.).
  2. Just as we are to mark the faithful, such is true of those whom are not faithful (Romans 16:17-18 and II Thessalonians 3:14-15).
  3. It is not wrong to talk about situations of sin even within a congregation wherein someone else is not a member (I Corinthians 1:11, I Corinthians 5:1, I Corinthians 11:16-18, etc.).
  4. Even naming the names of people expected to make changes in a public way (Philippians 4:2).

III. Conclusion: This world is full of bad news because it is an evil world (I John 5:19). PLEASE, do share the good among the faithful that is going on to edify one another. Think about the effect of the news of Saul [aka Paul] on the saints (Acts 9:26-31).