The devil is deceitful, everyone knows that, right? Well, maybe with
the exception of outright satanists, who in a sense have it the most
correct of the worldly religions. The satanists worship Lucifer, satan,
as "god". Everyone who worships any other god than the "God of the
Bible" worships satan. This world's false religions include The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhism,
Mohammedism, Roman Catholicism, the Sikh religion, Shintoism, Seventh
day Adventism, secularism, humanism, and even Judaism, just to name some of the more common
ones, and ALL OF THESE worship satan, whether they know it, or believe
it.....or not. The truth remains what it is no matter who wants to
believe whatever they may want to believe. Their god that they worship (even if it is themselves that they worship---truthfully it usually is) well, this "god"
is the god of this world, and he (satan) is powerless to save them. He
(satan) can only keep them deceived and worshiping himself to their
complete destruction and downfall. How do I know this? The Bible tells
me this.
2Co 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.(ESV)
People can believe whatever they want, they can remain blinded, deaf, and unbelieving, and practice any kind of religion that makes them "feel good", and still be worshiping the devil. He doesn't care which false thing you want to worship him as, as long as you remain lost he could care less what you believe. If you want to worship him as a demon or as an "angel of light" it makes no difference, you are still under his control.
Only God's truth will set you free from the devil's devices. The truth is we are horrible sinners, made of dirt, stinky and horrible, until He gives us His Holy Spirit to indwell us. Then we still fight the flesh, but we no longer enjoy sin, nor would we want to worship anything that takes us away from the truth of God's word. Don't believe me? Believe God's word where He says:
2Ti 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2Ti 3:6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
2Ti 3:7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.(ESV)
Having a "form of godliness"? Yes, exactly. They appear to be good on the outside. They might even attend a Christian congregation. But God will "out" those deceivers eventually:
1Jn 2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.(ESV)
and this as well:
1Pe 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1Pe 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
1Pe 1:9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Those who are truly saved have faith as a gift of the Spirit of God. Those who rely on their own ability won't have it. They are trusting in their own power and ability to save themselves. They "have a form of godliness but deny His power" by doing it themselves. There is a huge difference. One hangs on to the end, the other does not, and those who are of the second group may try to convince others of the first group to trust in their own strength rather than in the power of God and to join them in their deceived state. But those who are truly of the Lord won't be fooled because we listen to Him, not these deceivers.
Heb 3:6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Wow, there it is, isn't it? We are his house IF INDEED WE HOLD FAST...and our confidence, and boasting is not in ourselves and our abilities, and our wisdom, etc, but in our hope, which is Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior forever and ever. Amen.
2Co 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.(ESV)
People can believe whatever they want, they can remain blinded, deaf, and unbelieving, and practice any kind of religion that makes them "feel good", and still be worshiping the devil. He doesn't care which false thing you want to worship him as, as long as you remain lost he could care less what you believe. If you want to worship him as a demon or as an "angel of light" it makes no difference, you are still under his control.
Only God's truth will set you free from the devil's devices. The truth is we are horrible sinners, made of dirt, stinky and horrible, until He gives us His Holy Spirit to indwell us. Then we still fight the flesh, but we no longer enjoy sin, nor would we want to worship anything that takes us away from the truth of God's word. Don't believe me? Believe God's word where He says:
2Ti 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2Ti 3:6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
2Ti 3:7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.(ESV)
Having a "form of godliness"? Yes, exactly. They appear to be good on the outside. They might even attend a Christian congregation. But God will "out" those deceivers eventually:
1Jn 2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.(ESV)
and this as well:
1Pe 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1Pe 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
1Pe 1:9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Those who are truly saved have faith as a gift of the Spirit of God. Those who rely on their own ability won't have it. They are trusting in their own power and ability to save themselves. They "have a form of godliness but deny His power" by doing it themselves. There is a huge difference. One hangs on to the end, the other does not, and those who are of the second group may try to convince others of the first group to trust in their own strength rather than in the power of God and to join them in their deceived state. But those who are truly of the Lord won't be fooled because we listen to Him, not these deceivers.
Heb 3:6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Wow, there it is, isn't it? We are his house IF INDEED WE HOLD FAST...and our confidence, and boasting is not in ourselves and our abilities, and our wisdom, etc, but in our hope, which is Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior forever and ever. Amen.
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