Avoid being a victim of deception

 

Avoid being a Victim of Deception?

Jesus Christ the greatest Prophet and Teacher of all times issued a stern warning to His disciples saying; “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.” What will attribute to this global deception according to Jesus, it is because, “You (believers) will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:9-13).

Lawlessness as one can clearly see is the root cause of deception, but the irony of truth is, there is a way by which one can avoid being, or becoming a victim of deception, and this way is simply by knowing, believing and practicing the truth. Like Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8: 16-17).

But what is the truth that we need to know, believe and practice in order to help us avoid being, or becoming victims of deception? The irony of truth is, there are at least four (4) vital truths we need to know, believe and practice which are:

1.         The truth about the immutability of God and His laws

It is imperative that we hold on to the fact that God and His word are both immutable and do not change as clearly state by the Lord who says; "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob”. And with regards to the law, although no one is justified by the law in the sight of God and the just shall live by faith, nevertheless, the law is holy, just, good and spiritual (Malachi 3:6; Romans 7:12, 14).

The truth of the matter is, not being justified by keeping the law does not nullify it and makes it obsolete. On the contrary according to the apostle Paul; “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” He said again; “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (Galatians 3:31; Romans 7:7).

Therefore it is preposterous for anyone to believe, or assume that the commandments of God are no longer in force. Anyone who believes or are in the assumption that the commandments of God are not in force, are under a huge cloud of deception. For Jesus Christ said categorically: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” He went on to validate the certainty of the commandments by saying; “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).

Therefore, although without a shadow of doubt, it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast, we nevertheless are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them and the good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them are all inscribed in His laws, the manual and guide book given to man in order for man to know how to live in the Spirit. The irony of truth is, there is a life which is in accordance to the laws of God, or in the Spirit, and there is a life which is in accordance to the flesh, or in accordance to the customs and traditions of men.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph