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Deception Our Greatest Danger

June 18, 2006

 

Deception defined
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: To deceive means to mislead the mind; to cause to err; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose on; to delude.
 
Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: deceive, mislead, delude, beguile. It means to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness. deceiveimplies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment. misleadimplies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional. deludeimplies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth. beguilestresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.
 
The brethren can be deceived from the truth
James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err [Gk. planao –  translated deceive twenty-four times] from the truth  (“things to come,”Jn.16:13), and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way (from his deception) shall save a soul from death (“the second death” for 1,000 years Rev.20:6;21:8), and shall hide a multitude of sins.  
 
The deceiver of the whole world
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…”
 
The world and its lust have no future
1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides [or endures] unto the age.
 
in times past we were ALL deceived
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves (elect of God, 1:1) also were sometimes [or in times past] foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
 
A new beginning for God’s elect
1 Peter 1:23-25 Being born again Having been (the elect in 1:2) *begotten from above, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by [or through the means of] the word of God (“the mysteries of the kingdom of God,” Lk.8:10-11), which liveth and abideth for [or with a view to] ever the age (that is the age to come - to “live and reign with Christ the thousand years,” Rev.20:4) 
 
*The Greek word ana-gennao, found in 1Peter 1:3 and 23, is translated by most English versions as “born again.”  However, the prefix ana which is a preposition can be translated "up, upwards, above, or on high."  The word gennao means, “to be born or begotten.”
 
no longer deceived
1 Peter 1:14-15 As obedient children (the elect 1:2), not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance (deceived): 15 But as He which hath called you (to His kingdom 1Thes.2:12)  is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. 
 
The elect are not of the world
John 17:16 They (the elect – those the Father has given the Son, v.9) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
 
they are of The household of the faith
Galatians 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (NAS)
 
the masses are easily deceived
John 3:19 Jesus said “… men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
 
They enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction (denying self, taking up your cross) with the people of God (the church), than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
 
deceived by turning to your own way
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray [or have been deceived]; we have turned every one to his own way;
Isaiah 56:11 “…they all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain”
 
the deceitful lusts
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
 
the devil is a liar
John 8:44 “...the devil, ...abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 
 
Eve was deceived by Satan's lies
Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
 
We also can be deceived by his lies
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 For I am jealous over you (the church of God which is at Corinth 1:1) with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband (to be faithful), that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled [or “deceived” NKJ] Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted (with unholy plans, purposes, and desires) from the simplicity [or singleness of mind] that is in Christ.
 
Jesus warns His church of deception
at the end of this age
Matthew 24:3-5,11,24 And as he (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them (His church – His disciples – not unbelieving Jews in the tribulation), Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 24"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (NKJ)
 
Deceivers shall be on the increase
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
 
Deceitful workers in Christ name
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
 
The main reason people are deceived
Matthew 22:29  Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, (Why?) because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God.  (NET)
 
seven warnings of Teachings that deceive
 
(1) We inherit the kingdom no matter how we live
Ephesians 5:5-6 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 
 
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived..”
 
(2) Evil company will not effect your behavior
1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications [“evil company,” BBE] corrupt good manners [or behavior].
 
(3) Present actions have no future consequences
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.    8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (RSV).
 
(4) You are not responsible for your own sin
James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err [“do not be deceived,” NKJ], my beloved brethren.
 
(5) We do not need to confess sin
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  
(6) You can be righteous without living righteously
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth [or practices] righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
 
(7) Christ can return at any moment
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the same coming in 1:7-9), and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ (immediately after the tribulation Mt.24:29-30) is at hand had come and is here. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.