Bible Study About Integrity: Walking in Wholeness and Honesty

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Integrity Before God, Wholeness Before Men

Brethren, hear this: God delights in truth in the inward parts. He calls us to walk uprightly, to speak Yea, yea; Nay, nay, and to live with clean hands and a pure heart. Integrity is not a slogan. It is a whole life aligned with the Word, the will, and the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Friends, this is our charge: be the same person in the dark that you are in the light, refuse corruption when it is costly, keep your word when it hurts, and let your conscience be void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Praise be to God: in Christ we see perfect integrity, and by the Holy Ghost we receive power to live it out day by day. Thank You, Lord. Today we choose truth. Today we choose wholeness. Today we walk in integrity.

Introduction: Why Integrity Still Matters

Have you noticed how easy it is to bend a story, pad a report, or promise more than we plan to deliver? It starts small. It never stays small. Scripture says, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them” and “he that walketh uprightly walketh surely”.

The crooked way always collapses. The straight way stands. Will we be guided by truth or dragged by compromise? Praise the Lord, He has not left us guessing. He has given us His Word, His Spirit, and a path that is secure.

Key idea: Integrity is wholeness of heart that shows up as honesty, uprightness, consistency, and incorruptibility. It is living undivided before an all-seeing God.

What Integrity Means in Scripture

Wholeness, not fragments. The Old Testament language of integrity carries the sense of being complete and without blemish. Think of a life with no cracks. Not Sunday one person and Monday another.

Honesty, not spin. God forbids false witness and demands just weights and measures. Truth in speech. Truth in business. Truth in private.

Consistency, not double-mindedness. “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay.” Say what you mean. Do what you say.

Incorruptibility, not bribery. The righteous cannot be bought. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” That settles it.

Scriptures: Genesis 20:5–6; Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 19:35–36; Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 11:3; Proverbs 19:1; Psalm 25:21; Psalm 24:4; Matthew 5:37; Acts 5:29.

Old Testament Foundations: Straight Paths, Clean Hands, True Hearts

Friends, look back and learn.

Abimelech acted in the integrity of his heart, and God restrained him from sinning unknowingly (Genesis 20:5–6).
The Law guards truth: no false witness and fair measures (Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 19:35–36).
Wisdom shouts it: “The integrity of the upright shall guide them”; “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely”; “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity” (Proverbs 11:3; 10:9; 19:1).
David prays, “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me” and offers himself to God’s examination, “I have walked in mine integrity.” God wants truth in the inward parts and hearts that are clean (Psalm 25:21; Psalm 26:1; Psalm 51:6; Psalm 24:4).
The prophets tie worship to life: do justly, love mercy, walk humbly. Empty ritual without honesty is an offense to God (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 1:13–17).
Even the Thummim on the high priest’s breastplate speaks of perfections, pointing to God’s guidance through truth (Exodus 28:30).
Noah is called just and perfect in his generations. Not sinless, but blameless in a corrupt age (Genesis 6:9).

Praise the Lord, straight paths still lead home.

New Testament Clarity: Integrity From the Inside Out

Jesus goes to the heart.

Straight speech: “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay.” Anything more questions your everyday truthfulness (Matthew 5:37).
Single eye: A single eye fills the whole life with light. Undivided motives bring clarity (Matthew 6:22).
Spotless integrity: Our Lord was tempted in all points yet without sin. He never broke faith with the Father, not even in the wilderness trial (Matthew 4:1–11; Hebrews 4:15).

The apostles press it into daily life.

Speak truth. Put away lying. Provide things honest before all (Ephesians 4:25; Romans 12:17).
Clean conscience: Paul strove to keep a conscience void of offence and renounced the hidden things of dishonesty (Acts 24:16; 2 Corinthians 4:2).
Suffer with integrity: Peter blesses the believer who does well and suffers for it with patience. Keep a good conscience even when slandered (1 Peter 2:20; 3:16–17).
Doers, not hearers only: Let your yea be yea. Don’t deceive your own selves (James 5:12; 1:22).
Walk in the light and love in deed and in truth. This is integrity lived out in fellowship (1 John 1:7; 3:18).
Walk worthy of the Lord in all pleasing (Colossians 1:10).

Friends, the New Testament does not lower the bar. It puts the bar in our hearts.

How Christians Practice Integrity Every Day

Be honest. “Lie not one to another.” Let your normal speech be trustworthy without props or oaths (Colossians 3:9; Matthew 5:37).
Keep your word. The righteous swear to their own hurt and change not. Show up. Follow through. Pay what you owe (Psalm 15:4).
Be the same in secret. Give, pray, and live before the Father who sees in secret. Integrity thrives when no one is clapping (Matthew 6:4–6).
Refuse corruption. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Bribes pervert judgment. A clean refusal is worship (Acts 5:29; Proverbs 17:23).
Be faithful in little. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” Small truths train big truths (Luke 16:10–12).
Live integrated worship. Present your bodies a living sacrifice, and do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. One Lord over every compartment (Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:17).

Brethren, start where your feet stand. One true word. One kept promise. One clean refusal. Repeat.

Living Examples God Recorded For Our Sake

Joseph: He refused Potiphar’s wife. “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” He suffered for righteousness, then forgave with these words, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” That is integrity under pressure and power (Genesis 39:9; 50:20).

Job: Introduced as perfect and upright. Tempted to abandon his integrity, he answered, “Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.” God vindicated him in the end (Job 1:1; 2:9; 27:5).

Daniel: As a young exile he purposed in his heart not to defile himself. As an old statesman, his enemies found no fault but his prayer life. He honored God and God shut the lions’ mouths (Daniel 1:8; 6:4).

David: His conscience smote him for cutting Saul’s robe. When he fell, he repented with Psalm 51 and later is remembered for shepherding with the integrity of his heart. Repentance is what integrity does when it fails (1 Samuel 24:5; Psalm 51; Psalm 78:72).

Ruth: Loyal love with a clean name. “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” All the city knew she was a virtuous woman. God wove her into Messiah’s line (Ruth 1:16; 3:11).

Others to note: Nehemiah’s transparent leadership, Esther’s brave truth, Nathanael “in whom is no guile” (John 1:47), and Paul’s good conscience in ministry (Acts 24:16).

Praise the Lord, their God is our God.

Blessings of Integrity and Warnings for Crooked Paths

Blessings that follow the upright:

•Guidance and security: “The integrity of the upright shall guide them.” “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.” A clean conscience sleeps well (Proverbs 11:3; 10:9).
God’s preservation and favor: “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me.” “Thou upholdest me in mine integrity.” The righteous father’s children are blessed after him (Psalm 25:21; Psalm 41:12; Proverbs 20:7).
A trusted name: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.” Paul rejoiced in a clear conscience and godly sincerity (Proverbs 22:1; 2 Corinthians 1:12).
Peace at the end: “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” (Psalm 37:37).

Consequences that shadow dishonesty:

Exposure and ruin: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” “He that perverteth his ways shall be known.” Ananias and Sapphira warn every church heart about pretending (Numbers 32:23; Proverbs 10:9; Acts 5:1–10).
Shattered trust: “Confidence in an unfaithful man… is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” Relationships limp under deceit (Proverbs 25:19).
Inner drought: David hid his sin and felt his bones grow old. Then he confessed and found freedom. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The soul breathes again when it stops lying (Psalm 32:3–4; John 8:32).

Friends, God is not trying to rob us. He is rescuing us. Integrity is freedom.

Christ At The Center: The Standard and the Source

Fulfillment in the Lamb: All the “without blemish” offerings point to Jesus Christ, “a lamb without blemish and without spot.” He could ask, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” None could. He always pleased the Father.

He is holy, harmless, undefiled. No guile in His mouth, just as Isaiah foresaw (1 Peter 1:19; John 8:46; John 8:29; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; Isaiah 53:9).

Gospel exchange: Our crookedness was laid on Him. His righteousness is credited to us. “He hath made him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Our salvation stands on Christ’s integrity (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Heart-level teaching: Not murder only, but anger. Not adultery only, but lust. Righteousness that exceeds the surface and a pure heart that sees God (Matthew 5:21–28; 5:20; 5:8; Micah 6:8).

Power by the Spirit: Faithfulness is fruit of the Spirit. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do. Stay in step with Him and integrity grows (Galatians 5:22; Philippians 2:13).

Integrity in the Church: Early believers ate with gladness and singleness of heart and corrected partiality to protect honest witness. We grow by speaking the truth in love. God writes His law on our hearts (Acts 2:46; Acts 6:1–7; Ephesians 4:15; Hebrews 8:10).

Praise the Lord, the Standard is our Savior, and the Source is His Spirit.

A Call To Decision: Choose the Straight Path Today

Brethren, the crossroads is right here. Will we live for an audience of One? Will we confess where we have shaded truth and ask for grace to stand straight? The Father tries the heart and has pleasure in uprightness. Let us give Him that pleasure today, not in theory, but in one honest word and one upright deed that we actually do.

Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, for Jesus, the spotless Lamb. Cleanse our hearts. Align our words and our ways. Grant us a single eye, a faithful tongue, and a conscience at rest in Your sight. Make us men and women without guile, filled with the Spirit, steady on the straight path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Complete Scripture Index Used In This Study

Pentateuch and History: Genesis 6:9; 20:5–6; 39:9; 50:20. Exodus 20:16; 28:30. Leviticus 19:35–36. Numbers 32:23. 1 Samuel 24:5. 1 Chronicles 29:17.

Poetry and Wisdom: Psalm 24:4; 25:21; 26:1; 37:37; 41:12; 51:6; Psalm 51; 78:72. Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; 19:1; 20:7; 22:1; 25:19.

Prophets: Isaiah 1:13–17; 53:9. Micah 6:8. Daniel 1:8; 6:4.

Gospels: Matthew 4:1–11; 5:20–28; 5:37; 6:22; 6:4–6. John 8:29; 8:32; 8:46; 1:47. John 3:21.

Acts: Acts 2:46; 5:1–10; 5:29; 6:1–7; 24:16.

Pauline Letters: Romans 12:1; 12:17. 2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:2; 5:21. Galatians 5:22. Ephesians 4:15; 4:25; Colossians 1:10; 3:9; 3:17. Philippians 2:13.

General Letters: Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 8:10. James 1:22; 5:12. 1 Peter 1:19; 2:20; 2:22; 3:16–17. 1 John 1:7; 3:18.

Reflection Prompts For Your Journal Or Small Group

Where do I most feel the tug to “cut a corner”? What one honest action can I take this week to close that crack?
Which example stirs me most: Joseph, Job, Daniel, David, or Ruth? Why?
What promise from the Blessings section do I need to pray over my home today?
Who needs to hear my simple Yea or Nay this week?
How can our church family practice singleness of heart in speech, finances, and service?

Friends, you are not alone. The Lord who saved you is the Lord who strengthens you. Walk surely. Walk straight. Walk in integrity. Praise the Lord.

Call to Action: The Question That Demands an Answer

In Acts 2:37 Peter and the Apostles were asked the question – What Shall We do?

And in Acts 2:38 Peter answered, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Do you understand this? After hearing the gospel and believing, they asked what should would do. The answer hasn’t changed friend, Peter clearly gave the answer. The question for you today is, Have you receieved the Holy Spirit Since you believed?

If you’re ready to take that step, or you want to learn more about what it means to be born again of water and Spirit, visit:
👉 revivalnsw.com.au

Come, and let the Spirit make you new.