The Three Parts of Deception in (Matt. 24: 3-5; & v 24), if you have read it. In short, Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition [the Antichrist]" (2 Cor. 2: 3 )
These verses confirm that deception will be the major problem of the last days. Another major source of deception is self-deception. The Bible says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1: 8 ).
There are 3 elements in deception. There is first the fundamental distrust of God and His leadership, authority and Word. But God's Word is truth ( John 17: 17) and He Himself is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14: 6).
The 2nd element of deception is rebelion. Just like Jonah, you know what to do; you simply won't do it. The Bible says, "Therefore, do it, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him is sin" (James 4: 17).
The 3rd element of deception is the rejection of God's love. All cults are loveless. Their enlightenment master never said, "I love you; I want to save you from eternal damnation." They are harsh, dominating, mean-spirited, and critical of everyone except their own. The Bible says, "Love does no harm to a neightbor" (Roman 13: 10) and "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8 ). Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another" (John 13: 34). A church without the love of God is nothing more than a loveless cult.
Deception offers that which is desirable in the beginning but destroys in the end. Satan came to Adam and Eve in the Garden and asked, "Do you want to be like God?" It was desirable in the beginning [A-Want-To-Be-Like] which caused our deception in the heart.
Why does God permit deception to remain on the earth from the beginning? Every New Testament church has deception working in it. Jesus prayed, "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15).
God allows deception to drive us to the Word that we may be "approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth" ) 2 Timothy 2: 15). When heresies, false doctrine, or cults preach another gospel, those who are approved stand boldly and expose the deception.
BEWARE OF 9 TYPES DECEPTION
1: Religious Deception. Paul teaches, "Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths" (Col. 2: 16). Fasting without godliness is an illustration of religious deception. forbidding people to marry is religious deception. Declaring people holy for keeping manmade rules of righteous is deception. (see 1 Timothy 4: -5).
2: Doctrinal Deception. Doctrinal deception occurs when people leave the simple meaning of the Word of God. An illustration of doctrinal deception is those who say, "We have no need of water baptism because the thief on the cross wasn't baptized." My answer is, "Get yourself crucified and then we'll excuse you from water baptism. In the meantime, get in the tank, lake or what have you!" The Scripture doesn't say you need sprinkle of water either!
3: Ethical Deception. This is when Christians profess the lordship of Jesus Christ but cheat and lie in their daily routine lives or business dealings.
4. Moral Deception. Secular humanism is the cornerstone of moral deception. It says, If it feels good, do it!" But Scripture says, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' (Matt. 4:4). You don't break God's law; God's law breaks you!
5: Intellectual Deception. Intellectual deception is when an individual believes that his knowledge and opinions, formed by his intellect, are equal or superior to the teaching of the Word of God. As he continues to plunge it through day after day, well, he allows someone else stands on his shoulder.
6: Fanatical Deception. Jesus taught, "The time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (John 16: 2). The crusaders and leaders of the Spanish Inguisition are historical illustrations of fanatical deception.
7: Mystical Deception. Experiencing dreams, visions, voices, angels, or "a bright light" does not necessary mean you have had a visitation from an angel or Jesus Christ. Paul says that "Satan himself transforms into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11: 14). Anything that inspires you to do anything contrary to the Word of God is demonic.
8: Sexual Deception. Sexual deception is the belief or philosophy that rejects the God ordained monogamous sexual relationship between a man and his wife as the only acceptable sexual relationship.
9: Spiritual Deception. When Christians become bored with the discipline of the Word of God and begin practices that are contrary to New Testament orthodoxy, this represents the genesis of spiritual deception.
Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ;" and will deceive many. Matt. 24: 4; 5
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