Do not be deceived! by Roy Davison

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Do not be deceived!

There are many warnings about deception in the Scriptures.

What is deception?

One is led to believe something that is not true or not to believe something that is true.

We must avoid deceivers.

Paul wrote: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped” (Titus 1:10).

We may not deceive others!

“You shall not bear false witness” (Matthew 19:18).

“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

We must be careful not to spread the lies of others, either by mouth or by keyboard. Brainwashing and propaganda are powerful tools of deception used by the devil. Especially via the Internet, false ideas and slogans quickly spread to millions because people pass them on without checking whether they are true. Christians should be careful not to be virtual liars. Do not forward something without checking to be sure it is true.

“Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

In churches of Christ we are careful to avoid deception in religious matters. I assumed that Christians would be cautious in other areas as well. In recent months, however, I have been disappointed that many Christians have forwarded false statements without checking whether they are true!

Alertness is required!

“Let no one deceive you by any means” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). “Many deceivers have gone out into the world” (2 John 7).

“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:13-15).

Know the Scriptures!

To avoid being deceived, we must know the truth revealed in the Scriptures.

Jesus prayed for His followers: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). In Psalm 119 we read: “The entirety of Your word is truth” (verse 160). The Scriptures give warnings about deceivers: “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you” (1 John 2:26).

Do not mislead yourself!

“Let no one deceive himself!” (1 Corinthians 3:18). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless” (James 1:26). “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

Don't be fooled by pride.

“The pride of your heart has deceived you” (Obadiah 1:3). “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3).

Don't be fooled by associating with bad people!

“Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Don't be fooled by liars!

Lies abound, especially in the fields of religion and politics. Beware of people who repeatedly say things that are not true! There is a name for them: “Liars”!

God said about Israel in Jeremiah's day: “Everyone will deceive his neighbor, and will not speak the truth; They have taught their tongue to speak lies” (Jeremiah 9:5).

Why do people lie?

Some lie to harm others. A girl lied to the fiancé of her girl friend because she was jealous, and caused them to break up.

Secret services spread misinformation in an enemy country to harm its people and government.

People can die because of misinformation about an illness. Politicians spread lies about their opponents. People lie to hide something they have done wrong. People lie to hide a previous lie. Many lies are spread for financial gain. Some people are habitual liars; they lie their way through life.

Some lie for the fun of it. For ten years a false story has been spread on the Internet about a dog named Daisy who supposedly saved a thousand lives on 9/11. People like the story and forward it. The person who wrote the false story is probably “proud” that people are still being fooled by it!

Don't be fooled by the majority!

Just because many people believe something, does not make it true. Ten of the spies who went to see the promised land were wrong. Only two were right (Numbers 13:1-33).

"You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice" (Exodus 23:2).

The power of propaganda is that repeating a lie over and over, especially in the form of a slogan, causes many people to think it is true!

Don't be fooled by the smooth words of people who depart from the original gospel!

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17, 18).

“Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words” (Colossians 2:4). “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Don't be fooled by false prophets!

“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed” (Jeremiah 29:8).

Jesus warned: “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matthew 24:11).

John warned: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Don't be fooled by signs and wonders!

Jesus predicted: “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

Don't be fooled by people who say, “The time is near!”

Jesus warned: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them” (Luke 21:8).

Don't be fooled by unrighteousness!

“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

“For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them” (Ephesians 5:5-7).

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

What have we learned?

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:16).

There are many deceivers. Alertness is required. To avoid being deceive, we must know the truth revealed in the Scriptures. Don't be fooled by pride. Don't deceive yourself. Don't be fooled by associating with evil people. Beware of liars. Don't be deceived by blindly following the majority. Don't be fooled by the smooth words of people who depart from the original gospel. Don't be fooled by false prophets! Don't be fooled by signs and wonders. Don't be fooled by people who say, “The time is near!” Don't be deceived by unrighteousness.

The Bible contains many warnings that can help us distinguish between what is true and what is false. Do not be deceived!

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)