Scripture Post #873: *DECEPTION*

John 16:2: "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service."

Disclaimer: The image used for this Scripture Post, in its original form, was from an image search engine. It is not an image of my own. 

This Scripture describes Apostle Paul's former life. Back when his name was Saul. Back when he persecuted the Church. He was terribly deceived. (Gal. 1:13: "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:")

It's terrible when people strongly believe they're serving GOD, when in actuality, they're serving the Devil. Deception is totally avoidable, however. 2nd Thess. 2:9-12 gives 2 reasons people are deceived: 

Reason #1: those deceived, "…received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

Reason #2: they "…believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

(2nd Thess. 2:9: "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"

V. 10: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

V. 11: "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"

V. 12: "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.")

Avoid deception. Avoid believing you're doing right, when you're actually doing wrong. Avoid this by loving JESUS, WHO is the TRUTH (John 14:6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."). Which includes having a love for that which is true. Which means not rejecting truth when you hear it. Also, avoid deception by not having pleasure in unrighteousness. If it displeases GOD, why on earth shouldn't it displease you, too? Are we HIS children or are we Satan's?

Originally Published: Mon. 2/2/15