Articles
Do Not Be Deceived
Do Not Be Deceived
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV))
Deception is the great weapon of Satan. He is called the ‘deceiver of the word in Rev. 12:9. He was a liar from the beginning and when he speaks he lies (John 8: ). The various temptations that are set before us are just more of such deception. "It won’t hurt you." "It won’t cause you to be condemned." "It will give great pleasure." "It will make you wise as God." And so it goes.
There is no reason to allow ourselves to be deceived about such things for God has told us ahead of time. God will not surprise us on the day of judgment with some unknown law. That which God condemned in the first century is still condemned. The only thing about the temptation that has changed is that it is now US and not them.
Having warned us and instructed us concerning godliness and the judgment to come, God continually warned us about being deceived (see list below). The biggest problem most of us face with this is self-deception. WE are dealing with ourselves and we simply over-estimate our abilities and intuitions while underestimating the wrong. We end up judging ourselves by ourselves. We must have a better rule to judge by! We need to learn to judge ourselves in line with God’s Word.
Brethren - be not deceived!
Hugh DeLong
1 Corinthians 3:18 18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 15:33 33Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 3But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Galatians 6:7 7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Ephesians 5:6 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2 Timothy 3:13 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
James 1:16 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
James 1:22 22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:26 26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
1 John 1:8 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 2:26 26I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
1 John 3:7 7Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
