Truth and Deception

The best deceptions are always those that are based upon partial truths. All great deceivers (cult and false religious leaders) began their “ministries” or movements by interjecting just enough gospel truth into their initial teachings that it would act as a hook to the jaws of their followers. Once that hook was set, they could very easily lead astray their intended victims in all manner of evil directions - even when subsequent teachings began to blatantly contradict God's Word.

There have been many instances where cult leaders, such as Jim Jones (Peoples Temple Cult) and David Koresh (Branch Davidians), used this tactic of hooking their members during their initiation by using familiar scriptures. Ignorance of the actual truth of God’s Word resulted in many people handing over their trust to monstrous evil men. Unfortunately, these unsuspecting souls were being led to their own eventual destruction.

In 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, we read that - I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband - Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.

Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God's Good News to you without expecting anything in return? I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.

But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve (2 Corinthians 11:1-15).

Just as the scripture states, when you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will happily and even eagerly entertain and believe anything that you are told. These are those who believe false doctrines leading to a belief in a Jesus that is wholly unlike the actual Gospel of Christ. Demonic spiritual manifestations will be welcomed and accepted as being from “God” where “new revelations” are accepted as God’s Word as well. So, how do we guard ourselves from being deceived?

The only effective way to guard against and avoid being deceived regarding anything is to know the legitimate, bona fide facts of the subject in question. Therefore, when it comes to God’s Word, we must all - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Without doing so, you will be susceptible to and easily influenced by any person or entity that declares false doctrine, especially when mixed with just enough scripture that it sounds reasonable.

Catholicism’s Immaculate Conception or Immaculate Deception?

The Dictionary describes the Immaculate Conception as: the doctrine that: God preserved the Virgin Mary from the taint of original sin from the moment she was conceived; it was defined as a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church in 1854.

God’s Word surely says that Mary will be called blessed throughout all generations. For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed (Luke 1:45). Mary must have been a very special girl that she would be called blessed. Yet, why then must she had to have been, herself, conceived differently from everyone else who ever lived? Why must men believe something other than what the scriptures state?

Jesus, the very Son of God, who knew no sin of His own, was obviously capable of living in this world and associating with sinful people for His entire life. Why would it have been impossible for Him to live and grow in the womb of an ordinary girl? Well, that is exactly what He did. The Bible clearly states in numerous passages that …all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Ecclesiastes 7:20 states that - For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life (1 Corinthians 15:22). From Adam forward men/women were sinners in need of a Savior – with no exception. Even though Mary was a God-fearing woman, she was not unlike any other woman in that she was still a sinner who was also in need of a Savior. Although the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she was highly favored, she did not possess any inherent grace of her own but was actually still in need of God’s Grace – as we all are. Nowhere in scripture does God contradict Himself. If so, then His Word would be untrustworthy and therefore not worthy of our trust.

Catholicism’s Our Lady of Fatima Apparitions

The entire Our Lady of Fatima apparitions are an example of a grand deception. If you read through what these three Portuguese children in 1917 saw and heard, it is clear that whatever spirit was speaking was doing so in order to deceive a great many people because of their ignorance of God’s Word. The hooks of deception were being set firm as these spirits interjected just enough of what sounded like scripture into their proclamations that millions have now been deceived. The result is that Mary has been granted by men that which only Jesus has the actual ability to do – forgive sin.

Nowhere in the Bible does God grant the ability of any person to forgive sin. Since we established that Mary could not have been sinless, she therefore could never possess the righteousness that it would take to forgive sin. By Grace, she, herself, was saved from her sin – by Jesus. He alone was sinless and completely righteous. He alone was worthy to be a sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of all mankind. If Mary could have done that, why would Jesus, being God, have needlessly condescended to human form with the goal of dying an excruciating death on the cross? God clearly states in the Bible that “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).” Only Jesus.

So, what is the driving force behind all of this deception that has been going on since the time of Jesus? Well, it is the same that has been deceiving mankind since the Garden of Eden. Satan himself. God desires a personal relationship with all people, individually. We are commanded to assemble and worship, but religion itself is not to be what is worshiped nor is it to implement men’s own ideas as God’s doctrine. We have been given, by Him, His Word and by His Word we receive the faith to believe in Him as our Savior. Satan has always used forms of religion that he has twisted and conformed to suit his agenda which is to deceive mankind from believing the truth – that Jesus is the only means by which we can be saved. We cannot earn our way to Heaven either here or in what Catholicism calls Purgatory. It is by grace alone through Jesus’ sacrifice that we can be saved, having the gift of eternal life in Heaven as our reward. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

We are living in a world that has turned upside down morally, ethically, spiritually and many are believing the lies that are being told. Isaiah chapter 5 spoke of a future time when what is right will be proclaimed as being wrong and what is wrong will be proclaimed as being right. We are living in that time. So, how can we know for sure what is real, actual truth? How do we keep from being fooled by deceivers? Listen to what Timothy was told: But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Believe that Jesus Christ alone is the Savior of mankind and that He alone has the power to forgive sin. Pay heed to no other doctrines of men that contradict His Holy Word. Be diligent to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

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