Don't Be Deceived - Part 2 by Pastor Jim Baugh

Review is always a good thing, especially when it comes to God's truth. Last month we looked at point one of "deception prevention," which was that deceivers always seek opportunities for entrance, and acceptance into our lives. Jude 4 tells us that deceivers seek to "creep in unnoticed" to a local fellowship, or a believer's life. In other words, they won't jump into your life doing a belly flop! It's so important that we know the truth so well that we can spot a counterfeit teaching from afar. I am distressed to hear that a high statistic of people involved in "Christian sounding" cults came out of Christian churches. That is, cults are parasitic. They only come into areas where the true gospel is being preached, to steal sheep. But what are the sources of deceit? Where does deception ultimately come from? The Bible tells us in II Corinthians 11:14 where deception's sources are:

The First Source - Satan

"And no wonder," Paul writes, "for Satan transforms himself into an angel of light…." This angel of light is really the prince of darkness! The Lord Jesus describes Satan as the ultimate liar in John 8:44 when He says - "When he [Satan] speaks, he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [nature], for he is a liar and the father of all lies."

Let's not think that Satan's sedition would look like or sound like a lie in its initial presentation. Satan's lies initially sound so close to the truth, but are not. Satan is indeed an angel of light. Isn't it interesting to realize that pseudo-Christian claims are usually delivered supposedly by an angel? Mormonism's angel Moroni supposedly brought Joseph Smith a new "restored" gospel, didn't he? Satan was originally created as an angel wasn't he? Satan's lies usually contain some truth, but they are deceptively twisted to lead others away from the truth. Isn't that why Paul warns in Galatians 1:8, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you then what we have preached, let him be accursed"?

No doubt, Satan is the source of deception. He's the source of Mormonism's deception. I choose de-truth from Jesus over deception from Satan. How about you?

The second source of deception is Satan's carriers, his teachers

In II Corinthians 11:13 Paul states, "for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ." Verse 15 tells us these false teachers "transform themselves into ministers of righteousness." History proves Joseph Smith to be an immoral deceiver, yet he presented himself to his followers as "a man of God." Too often, true followers of the Biblical Jesus (not the Mormon pseudo savior) fail to recognize that deception tries to morph itself to prevent its true nature from being revealed.

Yet, the true work of God is very distinct from Satan's sedition. God's work is always in the light. It has no sacred secrets. We have no hidden rituals. We have no "upper echelon" teaching that's only available to the initiated few. God's truth, found in God's Word, the Bible, is available to whosoever wants to come.

True believers are true to God's truth. We aren't afraid to put the Bible's historical claims to the test of accuracy. We believe the Bible, from Genesis to maps! And we believe the Bible's central message is that God loved us so much, that He became a man, that as the God-man, He could die in our place, and live the completely sinless life that heaven requires. We believe that if we put our complete trust in Him as our Savior and Lord, that He takes our sin, and in exchange, gives us His righteousness. Salvation is not found in the believer "doing" anything, because the work's been done by Jesus. All God calls us to is to believe. Trust Him. Have you?

Anti-counterfeit experts don't study counterfeit money to discover false funds. They study the real bills, backward and forward, so they can spot a fake a mile away. I challenge you to stay in the Bible, God's Word. And let the Bible stay in you. Know what you believe and why you believe it. If you've never done systematic Bible reading, let me encourage you to start. For example, start in a book of the Bible (John) and read a chapter a day. Jot down at least one truth from your reading. Then, think about that truth during the day. When you get done with one Bible book, start on the next (Romans, for example). Soon you'll be able to spot deception, because you know what the Bible really teachers! God's truth: love it, learn it, and live it. It will be your best prevention against deception!

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