So often we look for peace and happiness in this world, but this world is not where we will find that. That's just one of the lies that the Devil will tell us.
We need to learn to identify the things that the Devil does. He spreades his lies around the world especially in the religious world. He takes delight in the deception of mankind.
His lies go all the way back to the beginning, with Adam and Eve the garden. Satan's first and consistent sin toward humanity has been deception.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3
Paul was concerned that the Corinthian Christians would fall into the same lies, and temptations that Satan would put before them.
- Revelation 12:9
Satan and his servants have continues to mislead innumerable folks.
- John 8:39-45
Satan is a liar from the beginning and is the father of lies. Satan and his servants at times appear to be what they are not.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Paul is speaking of Judaizing Christians who are seeking to turn Christians back to Judaism, but Paul says they're lies are of Satan.
The Devil's Lies are Many
The Devils says one church is as good as another. However, the Bible says there is one church.
- Matthew 16:18
- Acts 20:28
- Ephesians 1:22-23
- 1 Corinthians 15:24
Christ, His church is His kingdom. We looked a few weeks ago at premillennialism, which is a lie that says Christ failed in His first mission and will come back to establish a new kingdom.
The Devil lies when he says, "Being a good moral person is enough to go to heaven."
- Acts 10:1-2,48
He is shown to be a great man. He fears God, loves his neighbor, yet he was still not saved. Peter was sent to show him what to do in order to be saved.
In the same way the Devil says that those who have lived a profane life can't go to Heaven, but the Bible teaches that, one can turn from immorality.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
The Devil lies when he says, "There is no God."
The Bible portrays anyone who doesn't believe in God as a fool.
- Psalms 14:1
Mankind knew there was God. God spoke directly to Adam and the other patriarchs. They knew there is a God, and He created the universe. This fact, should teach us that there is a God.
- Romans 1:21,28
They didn't like to retain God in their knowledge. Thus, they were given to a reprobate mind. We can see why atheism exists in the world, because they didn't like to retain Him as God.
The Devil lies when he says, "There is no Hell."
This doctrine is comforting to people who want to live an immoral lifestyle saying it doesn't matter.
- Hebrews 11:25
The New Testament clearly teaches us that there is a Hell. The Bible, specifically the New Testament, speaks of Hell much more than it does of Heaven.
- Matthew 25:41
It is an everlasting fire. It will never go away. Many try to say that it is an annihilation. But, the Bible doesn't speak of this, it says it will never go away. Transversely if there is no eternal Hell, there is no eternal Heaven. Because the Bible speaks of both.
The Devil lies when he says, "Faith Only Saves"
The Bible equally defines the need for both belief and baptism. Both are required for salvation.
- Mark 16:16
- James 2:24
Faith and obedience can't be separated. Faith without obedience is dead. For those who say, all you have to do is believe that Jesus is the son of God, is a falsehood.
The Devil lies when he says, "A person has to be sincere to be saved."
sincerity must be coupled with truth.
- John 4:23
Worship must be accompanied with beauty of holiness, sincerity and in the truth which God requires.
The Devil lies when he says, "True happiness can be found in worldly pleasures."
Pleasure is short-lived, Hebrews 11:25. Sinful pleasure precedes slaughter. In Isaiah he writes to the children of Israel because of their sin, and they were about to be led into captivity.
- Isaiah 47:8-9
- James 5:5
- Isaiah 21:4
- Luke 16:25
The Devil lies when he says, "Those who have not heard the gospel are not lost."
Some say that if one doesn't have the chance to hear the gospel then God won't judge them. While this sounds loving, man was already lost before Jesus came into the world. They remain lost if they our not in Christ.
- 1 John 3:5
- John 3:16-18
Someone who may be dying in a country where they don't' have access to modern medicine. They are dying because they are sick, not because of where they live.
The Devil lies when he says, "You will have second chance after death."
People come up with ideas like, Purgatory, and you go to some place where you wait for a certain period of time to work your way out, or someone living can pray you out. Or, they make up ideas such as reincarnation. But the Bible knows no such thing as this. There is nothing in the Bible about a second chance religion.
- Luke 16:19-31, (vs. 26)
- Hebrews 9:27
How to Identify the Devil's Lies
Study of God's Word
Only by appealing to the Word of God can one know the truth of God.
- Ephesians 4:11-14
Studying the Word will enable to discern between the Devil's Lies and Biblical truth.
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- Acts 17:11
- Hebrews 5:14
We can't adequately discern between right and wrong if we don't' study the word.
God expects man to inspect what they are taught to confirm that it is the Word.
- 1 John 4:1
- Galatians 1:6-9
God Expects People to Inspect Themselves Against the Word of God
- 2 Corinthians 13:5
We need to spend time inspecting ourselves to determine if we are living our lives doing the will of God.
Only by inspecting the Word, and appealing to God's word are we able to discern the between the truth and the Devil's lies.
If you have not put your belief into action, not man's works, but being and doing the will of God, by repenting, confessing Christ and putting Him on in Baptism, then you need to ask yourself are you listening to the Devil's lies, or God's truth? What will you do today?
If we can assist you in learning to listen to God's Word, please contact us.
