The Bible is a common possession of hundreds of millions of people, yet despite the repeated words of caution in it regarding not being deceived about being in sin, including lust (Mt. 5:28,29) and having salvation at the same time, multitudes remain deceived! Too many want their ears tickled with a distorted candy-coated poisonous message seemingly from the Bible but isn’t, which allows for eternal life and wickedness at the same time.
NOTE: The phrase do not be deceived (or its equivalent) is repeated frequently in God’s word, but people remain asleep. Many remain deceived about the very thing the New Testament says not to be deceived about! Carefully ponder these:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9,10, NASB)
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person–such a man is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Eph 5:5-7)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:7-9)
But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. (James 1:14-16)
See also Gal. 5:19-21 and 1 John 3:7,8. Sin is the issue, even now, under grace. It is not like the popular heretics (eternal security teachers) have been telling us while they try to dismiss sin as something no longer deadly and able to nullify one’s salvation. Dear reader, if you are deceived, it is your fault. You have been exposed to the facts and they are clear. Eternal life hangs in the balance. You must live holy to enter God’s holy presence (Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:27). You do not have to sin. You can and must obey to have eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9). You can put God’s word into practice (Lk. 8:21) and follow Jesus (John 10:27). You don’t have to yield to sinful temptation. God is faithful (1 Cor. 10:12). Furthermore, real Christians do NOT sin all the time and all sin is not of the same degree. Remember Rom. 6:22:
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
Print a great Do Not Be Deceived tract (pdf).
