DISCERNING TRUTH FROM DECEPTION
In the Bible, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tells us: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). But he warns us to: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). However, the “inspired” biblical Word of God “completely equips” his people to discern the lies and deception of false teachers. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12-13).
The Lord loves people enough to have died for them, that they might have eternal life with him (John 3:16). But false teachers may cause people to believe lies that result in their dying and being eternally separated from God (John 8:21). The truth of the Word of God inspired by the Spirit of God exposes lies and deception, and leads to salvation
RECOGNIZING THE DEVIL AS THE FATHER OF DECEPTION
The Bible reveals: The devil is a liar and the father of lies; and of those who practice deception. (John 8:44).Essentially, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
By observing the deceptive strategies of the devil, as disclosed in the Bible, we are better prepared to deal with the basic tactics of all spiritual deceivers. The devil essentially distorts the words of God. His imitators basically distort the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as the devil appeared as a serpent in misrepresenting the words of God, his imitators come in different forms to deceive concerning Jesus Christ. They may come as: wolves in sheep’ clothing Matthews 7:15)–false Christs and false prophets (Matt. 24:24)–angels of light like Satan, and ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
SEEING THE BASIC DECEPTIVE TACTIC OF THE DEVIL
In Genesis, chapter 3, we see the basic deceptive strategy of the devil. After God made Adam and Eve and placed them in a Garden called Eden; God told them they could eat of every tree in the Garden, but “You must not eat from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die”(verse 2).
However, the devil, masquerading as a serpent in the Garden, distorted the words of God by saying: “ You will not surely die…for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4: Revelation 20:2). Tempted and deceived by the devil, the woman saw the tree was pleasant to the eyes and desirable to make one wise, she took fruit from the tree and ate it. She also gave fruit to her husband and he ate it.
The day Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree they died. They were separated from God, and died spiritually in trespasses and sin (Colossians 2:13; 1Timothy 5:6). Physically death was set in motion immediately (Hebrews 9:27).
Yet, God had a plan to save mankind from the consequences of the deception of the devil. Although “the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
DISCERNING BIBLE TRUTH FROM FALSE TEACHING
The Bible clearly states in Galatians 5 and other scriptures concerning sin: “the acts of the flesh… sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21).
And the biblical Word of God charges teachers and preachers: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:1-3).
But the Bible warn us: some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following” (Acts 20:30).
The biblical Word of God also instructs us: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” and all other things you need will be added unto you (Matthew 6:32-33). And “ set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2). However, an example of false teaching may be seen in “prosperity teaching and preaching” which focus primarily on seeking temporal earthly things.
Prosperity teachers and preachers often distort the biblical Word of God by selectively taking scriptures out of Bible context, to support their emphases on seeking wealth and earthly things. They may select scriptures like Jeremiah 29:11, and focus on earthly things in attempts to justify their deceptiveness: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you.” Reading this scripture in Bible context, you will see that this is God’s promise to people who were in captivity because of their sins. For the Lord told them: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
Adding more insight, another scripture says: “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:28-29). The Son, Jesus Christ, said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
KNOWING GOD WANTS TO SAVE ALL PEOPLE FROM DECEPTION
Adding other scriptures for our love and understanding, the Bible says: “a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
God has saved us from deception who are repentant believers in the truth of Word of God. For we truly repented and believed: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38 ). The Holy Spirit who dwells in us who have repented and believe in Jesus Christ, enables us to love and obey the Lord’s commands (1 Corinthians 6:16); and to grow in producing the fruit of the Spirit—”love, joy, peace, longsuffering…” (Galatians 5:22).
Yet, the Bible says: God is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).For God has concern for people who are deceiver, and for their followers. God’s Word says, “pray for all people,” including distorters and opponents of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1). And gently try to instruct them “in hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25). And the Bible tells us “the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do” (Ephesians 6:8).
