The Danger of Self Deception
Jeremiah 37:9
A reality that all of God’s people face. When we hear the Word of God, do we believe that it will actually come to pass? Do we somehow believe that we are above what God has said will happen? Obadiah 1:3 (pride)
Self-deception is to think or believe thoughts that are contrary to the truth. It is to lie to myself. God’s Word is truth and is no lie. If I believe something contrary to His truth-I am deceived. (To err from the truth). We are in danger of deception when we err from the plainness of truth. Prov. 8:9 God’s Words are all plain
How can a person be self-deceived?
- To believe that something will not happen that God says will—Jer. 37:9
- To hear the Word of God and fail to let it change my life—James 1:22
- To have religion without relationship, spirituality—James 1:26
- To believe that I may live in disobedience and not realize the consequences of my actions—Gal. 6:7-8
- To believe that I will enter Heaven upon any other merit apart from Christ—I Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:6
- To be turned from an intimate relationship with the Living God to any idol—Duet. 11:16
- To enjoy the effects of alcohol and believe it will not happen to or hurt me—Prov. 20:1
- To believe that I can sin and it will not hurt me but fulfil me—I Timothy 2:14; Hebrews 3:13
- To believe that I am something when I am nothing—Gal. 6:3; I Cor. 3:18
- To believe that I am without sin—I John 1:8
- To believe that the wicked as well as the righteous are evidently saved—I John 3:7-8
Devil’s Deception:
Ultimately the devil is the great deceiver. He wants to trick people into their own destruction. He is the Master Deceiver—he has had years of practice.
He desires to deceive the lost into never being saved.
He desires to deceive the saved into destroying their lives with sin.
Titus 3:3
Revelation 18:23; 19:20; 20:3, 8, 10
The Devil has lied from the beginning—Gen. 3:13
II Cor. 11:3; John 8:44
Divine Delusion
II Thess. 2:10-11 Definition of Deception (To believe a lie)
Believe the truth now or believe the lie later! (Deception-Delusion-Damnation)