Christ Church Leavenworth
WLC 144: Appearing and Standing for the Truth
January 25, 2026
Appearing and Standing for the Truth
THE TEXT
The text for this morning’s exhortation is from 2 Timothy 4:16, these are the words of God. “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!”
INTRODUCTION
This morning we are continuing our study of the ten commandments in the WLC and we are still in Q144 which asks, “What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?” One of the duties the Westminster divines cite in their lengthy response to that question is the duty to “appear and stand for the truth.”
When the apostle Paul was summoned to defend himself, none of his friends showed up. No one appeared on his behalf and no one stood with him. And yet, in relaying this devastating news to Timothy, Paul included a request for God to have mercy on them. He prayed that their failure to appear would not be charged against them. This indicates that more than just a breach of friendship was involved. If it was merely a sin against Paul or a debt owed to him, he could forgive it and consider it paid in full. And inasmuch as they did sin against him, he did. But that did not resolve the matter. Paul’s companions did not just refuse to stand with him, they refused to stand for the truth. That is the sin that Paul prays will not be held against them. That part is not Paul’s to forgive, that part was against God alone and only He can forgive it. Paul’s friends acted cowardly; and so, he asks God to spare them from the fate of a coward. Revelation 21:8, “As for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Paul was not on trial for some moral failure like theft or murder, he was on trial for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, it wasn’t a matter of his friends approving him, but not approving of his behavior. They were Christians. He was on trail for something they could just as easily have been on trial for. If you do not stand with your friend in their time of trouble, that makes you a lousy friend, but if your friend is in trouble for being a Christian and you fail to appear on his behalf, you are not just a lousy friend, you are a lousy Christian. Consider the Word of the Lord from Leviticus 5:1. “If anyone hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity.”
If you will not take the trouble to stand up for the truth, you will be in trouble when you face the Truth. Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” So, the only way to save your life is to sacrifice it to the Lord. If God calls you to the witness stand, it is safer to tell the truth in a hostile environment than it is to bear false witness against God by failing to appear or by showing up, but refusing to stand up. Matthew 16:25 “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Christians are called to testify to the truth just as Jesus did before Pilate in John 18:37. This is what He said, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” If you do not bear witness to the truth, you are bearing false witness against God. You are saying it is safer to lie than it is to tell the truth. You are saying that the wrath of man is to be feared more than the wrath of God. You are saying that cowardice is better than courage when the stakes are high because saving your skin is better than dying to sin.
Those who are of the truth hear the voice of Jesus and respond by appearing when called and standing up for the truth when needed. You don’t have to go out looking for opportunities to speak per se, but you do have to be ready for them if and when they come looking for you. Consider 1 Peter 3:15-16 “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”
Ignoring a call to witness to the truth and failing to appear or stand for the truth is a violation of the ninth commandment. It is bearing false witness and it is a slander against the Son of God. In keeping quiet, you are saying that the most important thing about the truth is simply knowing the right answers, not doing the right things. But that is a lie. As Jesus said in John 8:31–32 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Abiding in the truth is not just sitting around doing nothing. Abiding means keeping up with the truth wherever it goes. Truth is an active thing and if you want to abide with it, you’re going to have to get up and walk with it wherever it goes. And if you do, you will be set free. Staying out of trouble will not set you free. Only the truth can do that. In fact, testifying to the truth will more often than not get you into more trouble. But it is better to be slandered by liars than it is to be condemned by the truth.
We should be more zealous to stand up for the truth than we are to stand up for ourselves and our own interests… but we aren’t. Standing for the truth means refusing to lay down with lies. We must oppose falsehood. So, no more stretching the truth, massaging the truth, avoiding the truth, or denying the truth. In order to avoid bearing false witness, we must appear when the truth is on trial and we must take the stand and testify to the way, the truth, and the life.
CALL TO CONFESSION
Well, since we sometimes hide behind lies instead of behind Christ and because we are sometimes scared to go where the Spirit leads or stand up when the Truth is on trial, we are reminded of our need to regularly confess our sins, whether they be related to this duty or others. So, if you are able, please kneel with me and confess your sins, first privately and then corporately using the prayer found in your bulletin.
CORPORATE CONFESSION
Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge before You our sinful nature and our many offenses. We are prone to do evil and slow to do good. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from Your way, in wasting Your gifts, in forgetting Your love. Lord, we are ashamed and sorry for all the ways that we have displeased You. Father, teach us to hate our rebellious acts, cleanse us from our secret faults, and forgive our sins for the sake of Your Son. Help us to love You with all our heart and mind and strength. And give us the power of Your Holy Spirit so that we may walk in Your ways and serve You all of our days.
DECLARATION OF PARDON
Arise and hear the Good News! The assurance of pardon today comes from…
Romans 5:1, 8-9 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… for God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.”
While we were still bearing false witness, Christ appeared. While we were still lying, Christ testified to the truth. While we were still hiding likes cowards, Christ played the man and died for us. For our sake God made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. So, bear witness to that and be glad. Jesus lived for your righteousness, died for your sins, and rose for your justification. And because He did, it is my privilege to pronounce to you that in Him, your sins really are forgiven… THANKS BE TO GOD!
Now let us ascend to the presence of God in all worship and praise.
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