Deceit

 Deceit

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

     Deception happens daily. Some people lose their life savings because they are deceived into giving it to a crook. Others have been deceived into thinking a policeman was at the door, when in fact, it was a criminal preying on them. People are deceived spiritually when they are led to believe that any “religion” and any “religious” person pleases God. Some are deceived into thinking that so long as God “didn’t say not to” do this or that, then it is authorized. Deceit will blind men to the truth and rob men of their souls if they die in that condition.

            We are warned against being deceived no less than six times in the Bible (Deut. 11:16; Lk. 21:8; I Cor. 6:9, 15:33; Gal. 6:7; I Jn. 3:7). Unfortunately, many do not heed these warnings. The deceit in the hearts of men grows and grows. Paul said, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). Do you want to be counted in this number?

            When people today allow the theories and ideas of men to taint their understanding of the Scriptures, then they are being deceived. Friends, many passages in the Bible are so simple that a man would need help to misunderstand them! Yet, I am afraid that many are getting “help” that they do not need! Please note three everyday deceptions that ensnare men today.

 

The Theory of Evolution

            The theories of men that teach that we are descended from lower forms of life deceive many! It is woven into the fabric of our society, as we see it taught in schools, broadcast on television and the internet, and it seems to permeate every aspect of our lives and thoughts. The Biblical account of creation is considered laughable to the majority of people on Earth. It has even made inroads with Christians who try to combine two philosophies and speak of “theistic evolution”!

            The truth is that God made this world and all living things (Gen. 1-2; Acts 17:24; Ps. 33:6-9). He made men whole, and as distinct sexes “at the beginning” (Matt. 19:4-6). The Bible says men were created at the beginning of the world, literally, on the sixth day (Gen. 1:26-28). Man was not created 6,000,000,000, 6,000,000, 6000, 60, 6 years, or even 6 months after God created the world, but on the 6^th day of Creation (Ex. 20:11, 31:17)!

 

Saying That All “Religious” People Are Saved

            Just because one has religious fervor does not mean he is right with God. The Jews had “a zeal toward God,” yet Paul prayed that “they might be saved” (Rom. 10:1-3). He noted the Athenians were “very religious” because of their varied altars for worshipping many gods (Acts 17:22), but they were not saved (Acts 17:30). Religious fervor alone will not save anyone! We must be obedient to God’s truth (Heb. 5:9)!

 

Justifying Actions Based Upon God’s Silence

            Many false doctrines have been justified because God was silent. God’s silence does not permit action, but prohibits it! The reason Christ could not be a priest on earth was because of God’s silence (Heb. 7:12-14). Paul said whatever we do or say must be by the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17). How do we know what is authorized? We know it when we read it in God’s Book. How regularly are we reading the Bible so that we might not be deceived by men (Jn. 17:17)?

 

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”