Bulletin
Make Sure No One Deceives You
“Make Sure No One
Deceives You”
This admonition is repeatedly directed to those in church, who have believed and heard about Jesus. This is not for people who are outside of Christ, but inside. It is directed to the very people who are attempting to follow the instructions of Jesus. “… in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;” (1John 3:5-7). The opposite of this is a phony righteousness that doesn’t resemble Jesus.
John goes on to say, “the one who practices sin is of the devil” (v.8). If I practice sin, I’m like the devil. If I practice righteousness, I’m like Jesus.
The christians Paul worked with were just like the Christians John worked with. Paul too saw the potential for a Christian to be deceived in the exact same area of sin. “Or 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. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1Cor. 6:9-11). Should we be washed from these sins so we can continue in these same sins? How can this possibly be what God had in mind for the followers of his son?
Paul after describing in detail the sins of the flesh in contrast to the fruit of the spirit, saw the potential of Christians being deceived. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal. 6:7-9).
I hope and pray by this time you have read these passages with me, that you have reached a decision to put away whatever sin or hindrance you have to follow Jesus in your heart and in your actions. My heart reflects my actions, says Jesus (Matthew 15:15-20), so don’t be deceived. There is great joy on the other side of repentance. This inner joyful life with Christ is waiting for you. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7). Amen! Dan Peters
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