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Christian Deception - it's way too easy Created 17 May 2017

The following passage speaks to believers and unbelievers, as I see it:

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first.

Note, the term "falling away" is from the Greek word αποστασια (Strongs 646), which means 'defection from truth' (properly, the state) ("apostasy")). You cannot be "falling away" from Christ unless you are already in Christ. So, clearly this particular passage speaks about Christians who depart from the truth as the Bible also teaches in other areas - refer 1 Timothy 4:1-3.

Overall, 2 Thessalonians 2 addresses the question about Christ returning. In it, Paul makes it clear that some will be deceived before that happens. Accordingly, some will 'fall away' from Christ.

You can read the passage below in one of two ways, if you want to:

  1. those who are perishing will be deceived, or
  2. those who are deceived will perish

As I see it, both are true: deceived people will perish - they will follow the false Christ since they cannot distinguish the true Christ from the false Christ, because they were never really interested in seeing truth from error. Note that God will send a delusion, which I do not believe that any untrained mind will be able to withstand.

And then also, perishing people - the unrighteous (unbelievers) - will be deceived because they never subscribed to Christ in the first place.

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 9-15

I do not know the man in the video below. But, it seems to me that he knows Jesus. He is a Jew growing up to believe that the Bible was written by people who persecuted the Jews. That was his belief. A very wrong belief, but that was nevertheless his belief.

So, how did he come to Jesus? Simply put, God took him on a unique journey - one special for him. The thing that made the difference for him was that he genuinely sought to understand truth. That is what made the difference. And, as a result, he learned from the Father without even knowing that the Father was teaching him (see John 6:44-45).

It does not matter where we start off in life - how far we are from the truth. The important thing is that we seek truth. Because then we will hear the Father, learn fromHim and come to truth - Jesus - in a greater and greater way, every day.

 

 

 

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Please consult the Bible and test what is written here. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom in this area. Keep that which is good and reject that which is not Scriptural. Should you come to a different understanding than I please let me know - perhaps I can learn from you.

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