'ARE YOU BEING DECEIVED
"ARE YOU BEING DECEIVED?"
GALATIANS 3:1
INTRO: In a world filled with deceit one might easily be led astray if they are not led by the Spirit and taught by the Word. 1 John 4:1 exhorts us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Oliver B. Greene in his commentary on the epistles of John states: "This country has entirely too many teachers and preachers of false doctrines, those who take great joy in using great swelling words and beautiful phrases to make an impression on the listener and lead him into the way of heresy. Beloved, there are literally tens of thousands of false prophets abroad in the land, Jesus declared that the out-standing sign of His return would be an abundance of deceivers and
false prophets. He said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For
many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive
many…and many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive man"
(Matt. 24:4.5, 11) (1). Yes there are many deceivers in our world
today and many are being deceived.
Such was the case at Galatia. Paul suggests that the Galatians are
"bewltched, " the word here means "fascinated or easily attracted".
This fascination is to the point of them losing their wits. Paul had
preached Christ unto them, but now they were in danger of turning
from the Truth unto fables. Paul had preached the Gospel unto them.
It says, “…Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently, set
forth, crucified among you. " Literally, “to whom before your very eyes Jesus Christ was portrayed as crucified.” (Robertson's Word Pictures) Thus they were without excuse and yet they still were being deceived. Many people today are also being deceived. Are you one of them? Let us look at three areas Satan uses to deceive men today.
ARE YOU BEING DECEIVED?:
(1) IN THE AREA OF SALVATION
GALATIANS 3:1-5; 4:8-10
*Paul had preached Christ crucified, not obedience to the Law; this was the
message they believed, and it changed their lives. They had received the Spirit (the evidence of salvation, Romans 8:9) by the hearing of faith; and believing the Word of God (Ephesians 1:1-13-14), not by obeying some law. Certainly the Gospel Paul preached, the Gospel that changed his life and theirs was the true message. For them to go back to the Law after all the Spirit had done for them was to act like fools! (2). But this was exactly what they were doing!
A. What Does Satan Tell Us About Salvation?
1. There is more than one way to be saved. There are many today who
preach and teach that it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe something. They say, "There are many avenues which lead to God's presence. There are many ways to heaven." But the Bible makes
it clear that simple faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the
cross is sufficient to save "whosoever will". Romans 10:9-10 declares,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
2. The good works you perform will save you. Many believe by keeping
the Ten Commandments, being good to their neighbor, practicing the
Golden Rule, or doing deeds of charity that they will be afforded a place
in heaven when they leave this life. This is Satan's lie! According to
Isaiah 64:6, the best we can do is unacceptable in satisfying God's
righteousness and securing us a home in Heaven, “But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all
do fade as a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
God's Word is clear in Titus 3:5-7, “Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the
washing or regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he
shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being
justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of
eternal life. Good works can not, will not or has not saved anyone!
ILLUS: "No amount of good deeds can make us good persons. We must
be good before we can do good"-Chester A. Pennington (3).
3. The religious observances you keep will save you. Many believe that
because they have been baptized, joined a Church, partake of the
LORD'S Supper, and attend Church regularly they are saved and have a
home in Heaven. Although all these are good things, they will not save a
person. The only thing that will save a person is simple faith in Christ
and His sacrificial gift on the Cross of Calvary. The Galatians were told
by the Judiazers, "go ahead believe in Christ, but remember you must
observe the Old Testament Law." Religious observances cannot save!
Paul said in Chapter 2:21, "...for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.” If by following religious observances, I can be
justified before God, then Christ died for no purpose!
4. The belief you have in God will save you. As God's people witness to a
lost and dying world many times we are met with this response, "I
believe in God." But is merely believing there is a God sufficient to save
a person? James 2:19 says, "...the devils also believe, and tremble.” If
the demons believe does this mean they are saved? Of course not!
Unless a person's believe goes farther than mere mental assent and
agreement to the truth that person will still be lost and face eternal
damnation in hell. A "living" faith produces good works. A "dead" faith
damns a soul to hell!
5. The Christian upbringing you have will save you. Many think that
just because they come from a Christian home they will be saved. But
Salvation is personal. It must be experienced by each person individually for one to be saved. John 1:12-13 tells us “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. " Matthew Henry said, "Many say that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again. This new birth is through the Word of God as the means, 1 Pe 1:23, and by the Spirit of God as the Author" (Matthew Henry's Complete Commmentary). If we are to be His and He ours, we must receive Him by faith or else we will die in our sins!
B. What Does God Say About Salvation?
1. All Are Sinners and Need to Be Saved (John 3:3). Jesus told
Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The word MAN here is universal. It speaks of the whole human race. Thus the necessity is universal. Being “born again" means "being made anew in Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Why must we be
saved, “born again”? Because WE ARE ALL SINNERS! (Romans 3:10,
23). Though men differ greatly in the nature and extent of their
sinfulness, there is absolutely no difference between the best and worst
of men, in the fact that "all have sinned," and so underlies the wrath of
God (Jamieson, Fausett & Brown Commentary).
2. All Can Be Saved (John 3:16; Revelation 22:17). It matters not how
vile a sinner, God’s Grace can save him. The Apostle Paul describes
himself in 1 Timothy 1:15 as the Chiefest of sinners and yet as v16 of that Chapter declares,".. I obtained mercy.." If God can save "..a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious.." person like Paul He can save anyone! The reason people remain lost is not because God cannot save them, but that they CHOOSE to live in sin rather than receive God's gift of grace! Christ, according to 1 John 2:2, "is the propitiation
for our sin’s: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole
world.” No one, no matter what they have done, is beyond the hope of
forgiveness. All A person must do is turn to Christ in repentance and
faith and he shall be saved!
3. All are Saved by Faith in Jesus Alone (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John
5:10-13). The Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, What must
I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). They answered in v31, “BELIEVE ON
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED…” There is
God’s simple plan of salvation: Believe on the Jesus Christ! Many try
to add to God's perfect plan saying, "this or that must be done also,"
but if a person simply had John 3:16 and nothing else he could be
saved!
ILLUS: Charles Spurgeon said, "This is the whole Bible in miniature. It
is essence of the gospel, the good news in brief” (4).
Are you being deceived? There is only one way to be saved, not many ways. Your best will not save you. Good works cannot save you. Believing in God will not save you. Only realizing you are a sinner, repenting of your sin, and receiving Christ in simple faith will save you.
(2) IN THE AREA OF SERVICE
EPHESIANS 2:1—“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which Cod hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
*Friend, God has saved you for a purpose. You are his workmanship—
literally, "a thing of His making"; “handiwork.” He has “created” us unto
"good works." Dr. Oliver B. Greene, in his commentary on Ephesians,
says concerning this passage, "Salvation is not OF works, but salvation is
'unto good works.' By our good works we prove to ourselves and to our
fellowman that we are saved...We do not work to try to gain heaven-we
work because we are on our way to heaven. Salvation is totally and
entirely by grace, the gift of God. Our eternal reward will be determined
by our faithful works... our faithful stewardship" (5).
Satan has deceived many believers into thinking that it does not matter whether we serve God or not. But it does matter! "There's no such thing as Christians who do not work. It's a work of service. You can't build a home without work. You can't build a church without work." -- Anthony Evans, “Follow the Leader,” Preaching Today, Tape No.149
A. What Does Satan Tell us About Service?
1. Someone else will do the job. We see the need but we seem to think it is
someone else's responsibility to take action, to do something about it.
ILLUS: Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Peter Anybody, and Joe
Nobody were neighbors, but they were not like you and me. They
were odd people and most difficult to understand. The way they
lived was a shame.
All four belonged to the same church, but you would not have
enjoyed worshipping with them.
Everybody went fishing on Sunday or stayed home to visit with
friends.
Anybody wanted to worship but was afraid Somebody wouldn't
speak to him. So guess who went to church -- uh, huh --Nobody.
Really, Nobody was the only decent one of the four.
Nobody did the visitation. Nobody worked on the church building.
Once they needed a Sunday school teacher. Everybody thought
Anybody would do it, and Anybody thought Somebody would do it.
And you know who did it? That's exactly right -- Nobody!
It happened that a fifth neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the
area. Everybody thought Somebody should try to win him for Christ. Anybody could have made an effort. You probably know who finally won him: Nobody!
2. You don't have the time to serve God. We give God as much of our time as we want Him to have. Psalm 90:12 tells us, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. No one should ever be too busy or pressured or tired to make a time and place for God in their lives. After all, he has to manage the whole world, and he’s never too busy for us.-- Sadie and Bessie Delany. Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no.2. We have become enslaved by time and cannot see how we will accomplish the things we think we must do. We terribly overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can do in five.--Ted Engstrom, Leadership, Vol.3, no.2.
3. You don't have the talents to serve God. God has given each believer talents and abilities to perform the work He has called us to do. But we, so often, would rather believe in Satan's lie than in God's enabling.
ILLUS: Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no
birds sang there except those that sang best. --Henry Van Dyke,
Bits & Pieces, March 31, 1994, Page 16
God has gifted each member in the Body of Christ with the gifts, talents and abilities necessary to fulfill His Will for his or her life. 1 Peter 4:10-11, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability that God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and do minion for ever and ever. Amen.” John Wesley said concerning this verse, "As every one hath received a gift
-Spiritual or temporal, ordinary or extraordinary. So minister it one to another - Employ it for the common good. As good stewards of the manifold grace of Cod - The talents wherewith his free love has intrusted you." (Wesley's Explanatory Notes)
B. What Does God Tell Us About Service?
1. Every Christian is expected to serve There is no reason why we should not serve God. By our service to God we show our likeness to and love for Him. Someone has said. "Service is love made visible" (6). If we love God we will serve Him. Jesus said in John 14:15, 23, “ye love me, keep my commandments, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart, there will be obedience. Love will be a commanding, constraining principle; and where love is, duty follows from a principle of gratitude. (Matthew Henry's Commentary).
a. The branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off (John 15:1-2).
Of what use is a branch that will not bear fruit? Of what use to the
kingdom of God is a Christian who does not bear fruit? How many has
God taken away because they would not bear fruit for the glory of God? "The Christian who fails to abide in Christ becomes like a useless branch, like the salt that loses its taste and is good for nothing. First Corinthians 3:15 teaches that our works will be tested by fire. The Christian who fails to use the gifts and opportunities God gives him will lose them" (7).
b. We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). According to its definition the word AMBASSADOR means "A personal representative or messenger." Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are the ambassadors for Christ…” On Christ's behalf, we have been entrusted with the Gospel message to take to a lost and dying world that the world might be reconciled unto Him!
ILLUS: God's Holy Spirit orchestrates our lives to touch others-
strangers, friends, work-related people, service-industry
workers and more--if we would just open up and be ourselves.
How? Be free to be in love with Jesus in front of people. Be an
ambassador through whom he can introduce himself. There is
a world out there, hungry and searching for Jesus and his love.
Don't keep him to yourself. -- Becky Tirabassi, From Wild
Things Happen When I Pray. Copyright 1993 by Becky
Tirabassi. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House,
Grand Rapids, Michigan. Marriage Partnership, Vol. 11, no.2.
2. Every Christian is a part of a mission (Luke 24:45-48). Our mission is to go with the Gospel! Each of us should be witness to this world of what Christ has done in our lives. How He has changed us, enabled us, and empowered us to do His will for our lives!
ILLUS: Every Christian ought to be ready to stand up courageously and
unashamedly for the Lord. How inconsistent that a person
redeemed by the blood of Christ experiencing saving power should
cower before an unbelieving world!
On one occasion Frederick the Great invited some notable people
to his royal table. Including his top-ranking generals. One of them
by the name of Hans von Zieten declined the invitation because he
wanted to partake of communion at his church. Some time later at
another banquet Frederick and his guests mocked the general for
his religious scruples and made jokes about the Lord's supper. In
great peril of his life, the officer stood to his feet and said
respectfully to the monarch, "My lord, there is a greater King than
you, a King to whom I have sworn allegiance even unto death. I am
a Christian man, and I cannot sit quietly as the Lord's name is
dishonored and His character belittled." The guests trembled in
silence, knowing that von Zieten might be killed. But to their
surprise, Frederick grasped the hand of this courageous man,
asked his forgiveness, and requested that he remain. He promised
that he would never again allow such a travesty to be made sacred
things. (Romans 1:16)
Let us never be ashamed of our Lord or of His Gospel. Paul reminds us in 2
Timothy 1:7-8, “For God hath not given us that spirit of fear, but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony
of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of
the gospel according to the power of God.
Are you being deceived about service? Do you think someone else will do the job or you don't have the time or talent to serve God?
(3) IN THE AREA OF SIN
JAMES 1:14-15- 'But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when sin hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
*Sin is the most destructive force in our world today. Because of sin, man has taken the deity out of religion, the supernatural out of Christianity, the authority from the Bible, God out of education, morality out and virtue out of literature, beauty and truth out of art, ethics out of business, fidelity out of marriage (8). Many are being deceived about sin today.
A. WHAT DOES SATAN TELL US ABOUT SIN?
1. There is no such thing as sin. Many choose to believe Satan's lies
about sin. Why? Because they believe:
a. You are being deprived of pleasure if you don't do as you please.
Noting is easier than sinning.-- Martin Luther, "Martin Luther-The Early Years,'t Christian History, no.34. Friend, let me ask you, 'is the pleasure of sin worth the price you must pay in this life and in eternity?"
ILLUS: In 1982, “ABC Evening News” reported on an unusual work of modern art--a chair affixed to a shotgun. It was to be viewed by sitting in the chair and looking directly into the gun barrel. The gun was loaded and set on a timer to fire at an undetermined moment within the next hundred years. The amazing thing was that people waited in lines to sit and stare into the shell's path! They all knew the gun could go off at point-blank range at any moment, but they were gambling that the fatal blast wouldn't happen during their minute in the chair. Yes, it was foolhardy, yet many people who wouldn't dream of sitting in that chair live a lifetime gambling that they can get away with sin. Foolishly they ignore the risk until the inevitable self-destruction. Wake Up Calls, Ron Hutchcraft, Moody, 1990, p.60.
b. You have to do what makes you happy. It is hard for me to imagine that lying, cheating, stealing, cussing, killing, etc. will make a person happy. But the truth of the matter is, that the heart of man apart from God is a cesspool of iniquity. The dirty, vile, and filthy are not only welcomed there but find a home there. The Bible tells us in Romans 1:32 that the ungodly, ".. knowing the judgment of God, that they which do such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
2. There is nothing really bad about sin. The evil heart of man is swiftly ready to believe this lie of Satan. Because man would rather live in sin than live his life apart from sin (John 3:19-20). Sinners not only live in darkness; but love the darkness, and refuse to come to the light where their sins will be exposed and be forgiven. The unregenerate heart says:
a. sin is only bad to the "old fashioned." We are living in a society today in which the concept of sin has become outdated. It no longer fits into the more sophisticated society of today. But let me ask you, "Has God changed His mind on sin?" IN God's sight, Abortion is sin, homosexuality is sin, adultery in sin, drunkenness is sin...God has not changed His mind about sin!
b. God is more concerned with social issues. The wicked heart of man says that God is more concerned with feeding the hungry, helping the poor, and loving everybody as they are instead of the ravages of sin on the lives of mankind! In many pulpits today, a social gospel is being preached instead of "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
B. WHAT DOES GOD TELL US ABOUT SIN?
1. Sin is a reality to be dealt with. It is a universal problem. 1 John 5:19 says, "..The whole world lieth in wickedness." The whole world - All who have not his Spirit, not only is "touched" by sin, but by idolatry, fraud, violence, lasciviousness, impiety, all manner of wickedness. The whole world lieth in the wicked one - Void of life, void of sense
ILLUS: What is sin?
Man call is an accident, God calls it abomination.
Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease.
Man calls it an error, God calls it an enmity.
Man calls it a liberty, God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.
Man calls it a mistake, God calls it a madness.
Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness.
Moody Monthly.
2. Sin is serious in God's eyes. It was because of sin that Hell was created. It was because of sin that Jesus had to die. Sin is the root cause of all that is wrong in the world. Because of sin there is sickness, disease, suffering, and death.
3. Sin is forgiven through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7 says, ~IN whom we
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of his grace.” God is ready, willing and able to forgive if we but ask
Him (1 John 1:9).
Are you being deceived about sin? Sin is serious in God's eyes. There is forgiveness through Jesus Christ!
CLOSING: Are you being deceived about Salvation, Service, or Sin? Christ is the answer to the deception of the wicked One. Will you come to the truth today?
NOTES: 1. Oliver B. Greene. The Epistles of John. pp.149-150.
2. Warren W. Wiersbe. Expository Outlines on the New Testament. P.522.
3. Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. P.82.
4. Charles H. Spurgeon. 2200 Quotations form the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon. P.295.
5. Oliver B. Greene. The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians. pp.89-90.
6. Wells. P.184.
7. Wiersbe. P.252
8. Charles R. Swindoll. The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1,501 Other
Stories. P.524.
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