There is a buzz around of people REALLY not wanting to be deceived.
That is good.
But it can also be us judging the family of God because they are different than us.
That isn’t good.
So this blog is going to look at two ways we can look at the issue of not wanting to be deceived. First, the reality of what the Bible says. Secondly, a warning to judgmental Christians.
I’ll start with the most obvious….what the Bible says about false teachers, prophets and what will accompany deception.
I will use only the Bible to interpret my conclusions.
1. Antichrist: the phrase “antichrist” is only used in 1 and 2nd John.
I John 2:18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
1 John 2:22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist–denying the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
2 John 1:7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Conclusion on antichrist/s: These are ones who say Jesus isn’t the Christ, they deny God and Jesus and don’t believe He came in the flesh.
That is someone who is anti….Christ.
Secondly, let’s look at what the warnings say:
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
How do you test the spirits? Glad you asked. John answered that for us.
1 John 4:2-3 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Now for Paul.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
Conclusion, these will abandon the faith….and will follow deception and unBiblical things, will believe sin is okay, and have a false sense of asceticism.
Now Jesus.
Matthew 7:15-20 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Jesus is saying look at the fruit and you will know if they are in the Jesus Tree.
But then a caveat.
He continues on…
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
So Jesus is saying….yes, you will see fruit. But if He doesn’t know you…then He didn’t create that fruit.
So fruit can still happen apart from Him? Yes, I would call that plastic fruit.
So how do we know real fruit from plastic?
Glad you asked. Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
So, look at the fruit…see their relationship with Jesus…and see how they live what they believe. That should be a good sign.
Another one of Jesus’ warnings:
Matthew 24:23-24 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!‘ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Here we have a clear warning. Jesus already came. He is the Messiah.
What does Peter have to say about this?
2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Beware of people who deny Jesus.
2 Peter 2:2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
Do they agree with sin? Do they compromise truth?
Now for my warnings to judgmental Christians.
I know we want to be careful, not to be deceived and in line with truth. We don’t want to accept every wind of doctrine.
That is good.
But there is an extreme to this “cautiousness” and I think it is where we got denominations from. The “I am right” judgmental view that scrutinizes everyone different that you.
We are a body for a reason. We are all different. Everyone will express themselves differently. Just because they are different, doesn’t mean they are “deceivers.”
We need a healthy spoonful of the fear of the Lord before we strike the temple of God….our brothers and sisters
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who couldn’t accept a doctrine different than the one they grew up with.
Let’s look at the truth in Matthew 12:
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
So here we have Jesus doing something outside the box of religion.
A demon possessed man gets healed.
The knowers of the law wonder if satan didn’t do it.
Jesus warns that THAT is the only unforgivable sin. YIKES. Please Jesus, help us not call something demonic that is YOU just because we can’t wrap our minds around it.
So my advice to you:
Over everything, know Jesus and let Him know you. Spend time with Him every day.
Our whole Christian life is about following HIM. If you follow Him, you will walk in the light.
Spend time reading His word every day to renew your mind on what is Biblical verses what is culture, man’s opinion, your mom n’ nem’s opinion, and what your preacher said when you were 2.
Test everything you hear by the Word of God.
Be open to the fact your brother or sister in Christ might flow in a different way. That is why we have the body of Christ. We are MEANT to be different and wired certain ways.
Give everyone a blank slate…seek to understand them. Listen to more than one YouTube clip. Joseph Pine said “The experience of being understood, versus interpreted, is so compelling you can charge admission.”
Please, whatever you do, don’t gossip about your brother/sister in Christ. If at all possible, if you think they have taught something falsely, go to them and talk. Be open to people talking to you too!
Be VERY careful with calling something that is the Holy Spirit, something from the devil.
Ask Jesus to make you discerning. To see people how He sees them.
I believe if you follow the above, you won’t be deceived.
Help us Jesus. Deliver us from our religious, Pharisaical, and hypocritical lenses and help us live lives that see Truth….You. In Jesus’ name.
And er’body said?
