"And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world..." -(Rev. 12:9; 20:2-3)
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." -(2 Cor. 11:3)
DECEPTION is the default condition of man as the result of the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Man, in his natural state, ... has blinded eyes, is in spiritual darkness, and is under the power of Satan. -(see Acts 26:18); And in this state, he sees things the opposite of the way God sees them! Here are some examples of this from the Bible:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." -(Isa. 5:20)
"... that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." -(Luke 16:15)
"... the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." -(1 Sam. 16:7)
"... yea, the time comes, that whoever kills you (Jesus' disciples!) will think that he does God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me. (John 16:2-3)
"And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, 'Art thou he that troubleth Israel?' And he answered, 'I have not troubled Israel, but you, and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and you have followed Baalim." (1 Ki. 18:17-18)
Is it not any wonder that the world is in the mess that it's in? When we live a life that is "upside-down" to God's intended reality?! This is nothing but the devastating result of replacing trust in GOD with trust in SELF, of replacing reliance upon GOD with reliance upon SELF; A world in rebellion, and consequently... in darkness and deception, for the problem is ... we have been created to have no spiritual Life in ourselves, independent from God (much like a flashlight needs a battery, yet we still try to use it with a dead one !).
"BUT GOD.... commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US (the CROSS)." -(Rom. 5:8)
Jesus said "... I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." -(John 8:12)
"The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly." -(John 10:10)
And while JESUS is the Way, ... faith in His Sacrifice on THE CROSS is the Means whereby we have Light/discernment and abundant Life: not only for salvation, but also for daily living.
"The CROSS" (not a wooden beam, but the BLOOD SACRIFICE Jesus paid for us there) must ever be the object of our faith, which then gives the Holy Spirit the latitude to move and operate in our lives (1 Cor. 1:18; Rom. 8:1-2). The Holy Spirit is likened in the Bible unto OIL for a LAMP (see Matt. chpt. 25); Without that oil, the lamp will not have a flame (which is required to provide Light in the darkness).
God is calling a people, a holy remnant, a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle, who will receive HIS Way and HIS Means, whereby HE will be glorified upon the earth! And although this call is universal ("For God so loved the world..." - Jhn. 3:16), the choosing is very selective, for God only chooses those who surrender their entire life (and particularly their own righteousness) to Him. This is not complicated, but rather so simple a child can do this (ever heard of "child-like faith"?): We don't have to be "perfect", only willing to "fess-up" to our helplessness without God, and to be molded and changed. Throughout history, very few in relation to the whole of humanity have accepted these terms, including many who are "religious" and go to church!
"For many are called, but few are chosen." -(Matt. 22:14)
"Because straight is the gate and narrow is the Way which leads unto eternal Life, and few there be that find it." -(Matt. 7:14)
There are three main reasons as to why most people reject the narrow Way (which, again, is FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE ON "THE CROSS"):
1) A wayward HEART that is far from God. (Matt. 15:7-8; Isa. 29:13-14; Ezek. 33:31)
2) Self-righteousness: Trusting in one's own strength, will-power, talents (ie.: "the flesh") to do (or not do) something to be good/holy/right, etc. (John 9:39-41; Rom. 10:2-3; 2:17-24)
3) Self-will: An insistence upon one's own way (or methods) apart from God, which manifests itself in the commandments and doctrines of man. (Isa. 29:13-14; Col. 2:20-22; Matt. 15:9; Titus 1:14)
Whenever a person possesses these characteristics, DECEPTION will automatically be the result as God simply withholds His Light, resulting in spiritual darkness of varying degrees, depending on the individual. This is how both an unlearned ignorant man with a low IQ can be very spiritual, and at the same time a brilliant-minded man with a high IQ can be a complete heathen!
DECEPTION is allowed and even sent by God; And although it is Satan's goal and work to deceive people (in order to steal, to kill, and to destroy), God uses him as His tool to both 1) test one's heart, and then 2) carry out that deception if the person's motives or object of faith is incorrect. This in turn allows calamity to befall them so that they may perchance "come to themselves" (see Lk. 15:17), and realize that without JESUS they are nothing (see John 15:5).
A person's FREE WILL is integrally involved here (This has always been the case, because God wants us to love and serve Him because we want to, not because we have to); And sadly, most people would rather be destroyed and go to hell rather than submit themselves to God! Now some may ask, "Well isn't God forcing people to follow His Way anyhow? Because if they don't, then He just punishes them and sends them to hell." The answer is "No, God isn't forcing anyone to do anything (They can choose not to submit). The problem is that God cannot allow a bunch of independent rebels into His Kingdom, for if He did, It would become the same sort of mess that this present world is now in- because of man's SIN! Man is loathe to admit that sin (or rather the sin "nature") is his problem, yet the truth of the matter is that it IS, and that it has to be dealt with! God HAS dealt with it on His part by sending His Son to be our substitute on the Cross, at a terrible price (Have you ever seen "The Passion of Christ" movie?). He now waits for us to do our part to seal the deal, which is to repent of our sins and to place our entire faith in the Sacrifice of His Son. And again, this is so simple that even an unlearned person or a little child can do this!
For a good Bible study on how that God Himself allows and sends DECEPTION, and that Satan (with His demons) is His tool to accomplish this, please refer to the following scriptures:
GOD ALLOWING DECEPTION: (2 Thes. 2:10-12; Isa. 6:8-11; 29:10-14; Acts 28:24-27; John 12:37-40; Matt. 13:10:16; Ezek. 14:9)
SATAN THE AGENT (OR TOOL): (Rev.12:9; 13:11-18; Gen. 3:1; Rev. 20:3; 2 Cor. 11:3)
DEMON SPIRITS INVOLVED: (Rev. 16:13-14; 1 Ki. 22:19-23)
DECEPTION in the Bible is likened unto blindness, or "darkness", which is actually "an absence of Light". So... the more LIGHT a person has, the greater will be his "discernment". God, Who is pure Light (1 John 1:5), sent His Son Jesus, the "Light of the world" (John 8:12) to us for this purpose:
"To open their eyes , and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is IN ME (in Christ)." -(Acts 26:18)
"(Jesus said) I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life." -(John 8:12)
Light is dispensed only to the followers of Jesus through TRUTH.
"Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on Him, 'If ye continue in My Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
Jesus, the Truth (Jhn 14:6) sends the Holy Ghost, Who is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:13-14) to reveal (or illuminate) the written Word, which is the Word of Truth (John 17:17; 8:40; Psa. 119:105,142,151; 2 Sam. 7:28; 2 Cor. 6:7; Col. 1:5; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:15).
As would be obvious, this is a supernatural method from God, which cannot be manufactured by man. And again... only the followers of Jesus qualify to receive Truth.
"Followers of Jesus" possess certain HEART CHARACTERISTICS, and if a person through his free will chooses to possess these traits, then God (Who looks at the HEART- see 1 Sam. 16:7) will make sure that person is supplied with plenty of LIGHT, whereby he will NOT BE DECEIVED.
HEART CHARACTERISTICS THAT GOD REQUIRES OF US:
1. A willingness to live one's life by "the simplicity which is IN CHRIST", placing one's total faith for morality in Christ and His shed blood on the Cross. (2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Jhn. 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 3:20-28; Eph. 2:8-10; Gal. 6:14-15)
2. A thirst for God Himself, and to know Him through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. (Jer. 2:13; John 7:37; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17)
3. A willingness to follow Jesus in discipleship, to do His Will no matter the cost. (John 7:17; 8:31-32; Luke 14:26-33)
4. A refusal to hate or to hold unforgiveness toward any person. (1 John 2:9-11; Matt. 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26)
5. An admission to having "moral imperfections" (a sin nature, albeit dormant) and a daily need for the Savior, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:8; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; Job 15:14; 25:4; Rev. 12:11; Rom. 8:33-34; Gal. 5:16; Lk. 9:23)
6. A willingness to admit to wrong-doing, to confess particular acts of sin, to be sorry for those sins toward God, and to turn from them. (1 John 1:9-10; Prov. 28:13)
7. A receiving and a believing of God's Truth. (2 Thes. 2:10-12; John 3:16; 8:24)
8. A refusal to take pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thes. 2:10-12; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4; 1 Thes. 5:22; 1 Pet. 2:11; Psa. 101:3)
9. A greater concern for GOD'S approval rather than for PEOPLE'S approval. (John 12:42-43; 5:44)
10. A willingness to DO the Word, and to not just HEAR it. (James 1:22; Rom. 2:13; Matt. 7:21; 1 John 3:7)
11. A humility, to not think too highly of oneself, realizing that without Christ he is nothing. (1 Pet. 5:5-6; Rom. 12:3; Prov. 16:18; 25:27; Eccl. 7:16; Gal. 6:3; John 15:5)
12. A willingness to add to one's faith... virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and Divine love. (2 Pet. 1:5-11)
If God does not see this in a person's heart, He will not give that person Light, and HE WILL BE DECEIVED. This is the plain and simple truth according to the Bible.
We have looked at many aspects of deception, including the reason for it, how it occurs, and the traits of the heart whereby we can avoid it. Within the Word, however, we find a vital key, a "final solution" to absolutely guarantee us not being deceived. That key is "THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST" (see once again 2 Cor. 11:3 at the beginning of this sermon).
What is this?
KEEPING CHRIST AND HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS AS THE SOLE OBJECT OF OUR FAITH, ON A DAILY BASIS
To "... be found 'IN HIM' (to be united with Christ by a living Faith, which has as its Object the Cross of Christ), not having my own righteousness (not having any righteousness which can be called my own), which is of the law (pertains to "law-keeping" or "legalism"), but that which is through the faith of Christ (what He did at the Cross), the righteousness which is of God by faith (a spotless Righteousness made possible by the Cross, and imputed by God to all who exhibit Faith in Christ and the Cross)." -(Phil. 3:9)This, and this alone, is the foundational Truth which will prompt God to illuminate more Truth for us, causing us to "see".... which in turn, allows us to be "set free" from the bondage of the sin nature (Jhn. 8:31-32,34-36) and to live the "abundant Life" IN CHRIST (Jhn. 10:10).
Notice, if you would, the goal of Paul the Apostle; It was not to rely upon his extensive training and knowledge of the Law (He was considered one of THE foremost religious leaders of his day); Nor was it to try harder to DO something (which really is faith in SELF) . Rather, his great goal was this:
Notice, if you would, the goal of Paul the Apostle; It was not to rely upon his extensive training and knowledge of the Law (He was considered one of THE foremost religious leaders of his day); Nor was it to try harder to DO something (which really is faith in SELF) . Rather, his great goal was this:
To the Lord Jesus Christ be glory for ever and ever! Amen!
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