LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU

1 John 3:7-9 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Verses that precede the lesson text tell us that Jesus is our great example of spiritual purity. To have the hope of eternal salvation, and to meet Jesus in the air on Judgment Day, Christians must strive to emulate the pure, sinless nature of our Lord during their life on earth - to be pure as He is pure (Vs. 3). Certainly, the sin-free life of Jesus Christ is the perfect example, but such perfection is impossible among all earthly beings. Paul assured all mankind of this fact in his letter to the Roman Christians when he wrote, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23, also see Rom. 5:12).

We find in the three verses preceding the lesson text that sinis the transgression of the law (of God) (Vs. 4). However, God's holy word makes it known that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to take away our sins (Vs. 5),that we might be made pure in His sight. Abiding in Him (Vs. 6), we have the encouragement, or disposition, to refrain from the sinful nature of the world. And when we do err, and fall short of the glory of God, we have a great High Priest in ...Jesus the Son of God, and by His atoning power we may obtain mercy, and forgiveness by God's grace (See Heb. 4:14-16).

With this in mind, John gives this stern warning, not only to little children, in the sense of newly converted Christians, or babes in Christ, but to little children, meaning all Christians: let no man deceive you. This warning tells us that eternal salvation is not assured by simply becoming a child of God. Christians can, and often are, deceived into believing false teachers - antichrists, liars that seduce you, by teaching a doctrine that denieth the Father and the Son (See 1 John 2:18-26).

The apostle Paul, on many occasions, taught this same message to all Christians: Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9b-10). It is evident that there were false teachers deceiving Christians into believing that such sins would not separate them from God, and from His promised inheritance of His kingdom. Be not deceived by false preachers that teach giving in to unrepentant sinful desires of the flesh still allows one to reap life everlasting (See Gal. 6:7-8). Let no man deceive you with vain words.

Regardless of how Satan's followers gloss over sin and its consequences, be assured that ...the wrath of God (will come) upon the children of disobedience (Eph. 5:6). Therefore, let no man deceive you into believing that righteousness can be attained while practicing a sinful, unrighteous life on earth. Some Roman Christians were once the servants of sin, but through obedience to the doctrine of God, that was delivered to them by Paul, they were made free from sin, (and) ...became the servants of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18).

The deceptive power of Satan is demonstrated when a Christian falls back into a sinful life. A person that willingly, or habitually, commits sin, is of the devil. The mission of Christ on earth was to destroy the works of the devil, that is, to destroy the soul-condemning, eternal effects of sin through forgiveness. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. A Christian cannot remain in God's grace, be His child, enjoy the promise of eternal life, and still allow their lives to remain under the sinful influence of Satan. As long as the seed of God (His holy word) remains planted, cultivated, and given spiritual food, it will firmly remain as the guiding influence of that person, and keep them from giving in to the sinful ways of the devil. As long as the true spirit of God is invited into, and is allowed to dwell in, the heart of a Christian, he or she will never give in to the devil and his followers, who attempt to deceive you into living a life of unrighteousness.

The indwelling word of God - the truths found within the inspired words of the Bible, as long as they are well "cultivated and watered" in true worship toward God, will become strong, and will not allow sin to overtake the soul of a righteous Christian. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein (Rom. 6:2)? Let no man deceive you in to believing anything that is contrary to God's word.