A lie is always a sin. There is nothing that could be called a lie and not be a sin. If it were otherwise, then lying would not be objectively a sin, but rather dependent on the goal and intention of the person.
But this leads to two insoluble problems:
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Who should then decide when lying is not a sin?
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Who could set the boundaries?
Holy Scripture firmly rejects this idea. The Apostle Paul writes:
“But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.” (Romans 3:7–8)
Lying is the opposite of truth. But God is the truth. How could He, who is truth itself, approve of a lie?
Therefore: “Why not do evil that good may come?—Their condemnation is just.” (Romans 3:8).
The apostles confess: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). That is: A Christian must never choose the evil of lying, not even to save others, but trusts that God Himself saves.