Have You Ever Been Deceived

Which is worse - to be insulted embarrassed or deceived?

The Nature of Deception

If I were to insult you, you’d feel the sting immediately. If I were to embarrass you, you’d be the first to know. But if I were to deceive you, you might never know it!

As painful as being insulted or embarrassed can be, at least you’re aware of what’s taking place. But people who are being deceived are not even aware they are being misled unless they are confronted with the truth. Tragically, many go to their graves, deceived about life‘s most important issue – “What must I do to be saved from eternal condemnation? “

Choose Your Source For Truth

What is your source for truth? Is it trustworthy? Will it protect you from the schemes and lies of Satan, the master deceiver, whose servants disguise themselves as apostles of Christ? “Such men are false apostles and deceitful workers “( 2 Corinthians 11:13–15).

There is really only one truth source that is absolutely trustworthy. Jesus Christ declared, “I am the truth “and he said, “that word is truth “(John 14:6, 17:17). Knowing this, our only protection from being deceived is to abide in Christ in his word (John 8:31–32).

Who Will You Trust?

Many believe their pastors or priests uphold the truth of the Bible. But how can we know for sure? We must do what the first century Christians did. They examined the scriptures daily to test the truthfulness of the apostle Paul’s teaching (Acts 17:11).

Since scripture was the standard for testing an apostles teaching, the same standard must be used for testing all religious leaders, including popes, priests, pastors, and Sunday school teachers.

The Danger of Deception

Since your eternal destiny depends on what you believe and whom you trust, do not be “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming “(Ephesians 4:14). The most terrifying words anyone could ever hear will come from the Lord Jesus when he tells the victims of deception, “Depart for me. I never knew you “(Matthew 7:23). This is why you must “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves“ ( 2 Corinthians 13:5, 8). What are you to look for when you examine your faith? The first question is simple. Is your faith based on the infallible word of God or the infallible teachings of men (Romans 10:17)?

Are you trusting Jesus alone as you’re all sufficient savior or adding sacraments, purgatory and other religious rituals (Hebrews 7:25)? Are you trusting Christ's finished work of redemption or your own Works (Ephesians 2:8–9)? Are you trusting the baptism of the Holy Spirit for your conversion or water baptism? ( 1 Corinthians 12:13). Are you trusting his righteousness as your passport to heaven or your own righteousness? ( 2 Corinthians 5:21). If you failed the test you must repent and believe the true gospel of grace (Mark 1:15).

God’s Word Exposes Religious Error

The Bible reveals man is saved, not by what he does, but by trusting what Christ has done (Hebrews 10:10, 14). Any religion that teaches salvation is obtained through human effort and merit is nullifying the grace of God. Grace is the only means by which God saves sinners! The Bible says, “if by grace, it is no longer because of Works; otherwise Grace would no longer be grace “(Romans 11:6).

Misplaced Faith

Some people blindly put their faith in religious leaders, assuming their leaders would never deceive anyone. Yet the apostle Paul warned that " from your own church, men will arise, perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them “(Acts 20:30). Other people simply ignore God‘s word and listen to teachers who say what they want to hear ( 2 Timothy 4: 2–4). Then there are people who have a zeal for God, but not according to biblical knowledge (Romans, 10: 1-4).

It was misplaced faith that separated Adam and Eve from God. They were the first victims of deception when they ignored God‘s word and put their faith in the devil and his lies. That fatal decision brought spiritual and physical death to them and all their descendants. The only way anyone can be reconciled to God is by faith, that is by trusting Jesus and his word and renouncing the fatal lies of false religions. By repenting , changing our mind, and turning to Christ in faith, we receive spiritual and eternal life: “he who believes in the son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him “(John 3:36). Are you basing your eternal destiny on the eternal truth of God’s word or on man’s teachings and religious traditions?

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

The Bible makes it clear – we will either spend eternity and enduring the wrath of God or in His loving presence (John 3:36).

Jesus said, “Whoever rejects me, and does not accept My words, has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day “(John 12:48). Those who reject the words of Jesus and follow the traditions, opinions, and philosophies of men will be condemned. By contrast, how wonderful are God‘s words, “as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name “(John 1: 12).

What Will You Do Now?

Will you submit to the supreme authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and his word or continue to trust religious leaders, and their traditions without testing them?

Please be aware that in this life, you can be wrong about a lot of things and still survive. But when this life is over, if you were wrong about God‘s only provision for your sins, you will pay for that mistake throughout all eternity.

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