Guarding Against Deception

1 AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER MUHAMMAD ALI • THE HEAVY WEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION OF THE WORLD • WAS ON A FLIGHT TO HIS NEXT BIG FIGHT • HE HAD TAKEN HIS SEAT ON A 747 • WHICH WAS STARTING TO TAXI DOWN THE RUNWAY FOR TAKE OFF • THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WALKED BY • AND NOTICED ALI DID NOT HAVE HIS SEATBELT ON • SHE SAID, “PLEASE FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT, SIR.” • HE LOOKED UP PROUDLY AND SNAPPED, • “SUPERMAN DON’T NEED NO SEATBELT.” • WITHOUT HESITATION SHE STARED AT HIM AND SAID, • “SUPERMAN DON’T NEED NO PLANE.” • IN LIFE THERE ARE TIMES WE MAY NEED A SEAT BELT • SOMETHING, SOMEWAY TO PROTECT US, TO GUARD US • FROM FALLING FOR FALSE TEACHING • WE NEED TO KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE • FALSE TEACHERS, WHO CLAIM TO TEACH GOD’S WORD • BUT ARE REALLY TEACHING LIES • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AN INSTRUCTION • FROM JOHN TO BE ON OUR GUARD, TO WEAR OUR SEATBELTS • AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS • TURN TO 1 JOHN 3:7 • JOHN HAD JUST TOLD THEM GOD OUT OF HIS GREAT LOVE • HAD MADE THEM CHILDREN OF GOD • HE HAD TOLD THEM THEY WOULD BE CONFORMED • TO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST • AND THAT THEY SHOULD STRIVE TO LIFE THEIR LIVES • BASED ON THEIR HOPE IN CHRIST • HE WILL NOW TELL THEM TO GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED • ABOUT THESE VERY THINGS 1 JOHN 3:7–8 LITTLE CHILDREN, MAKE SURE NO ONE DECEIVES YOU; THE ONE WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, JUST AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS; THE ONE WHO PRACTICES SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; FOR THE DEVIL HAS SINNED FROM THE BEGINNING. THE SON OF GOD APPEARED FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. DECEPTION MUST BE GUARDED AGAINST • WE NEED TO ACTIVELY GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED • IT IS A GRAVE MISTAKE TO THINK JUST BEING A CHRISTIAN • IS ENOUGH DEFENSE AGAINST FALSE TEACHING • JOHN TELLS THEM; LITTLE CHILDREN, MAKE SURE NO ONE DECEIVES YOU; • JOHN IS TALKING ABOUT THE FALSE TEACHERS • THESE FALSE TEACHERS WERE TELLING CHRISTIANS IT WAS OK TO SIN • THESE FALSE TEACHERS WERE LIVING IN SIN THEMSELVES • THESE FALSE TEACHERS WERE SAYING YOU HAD TO HAVE • THE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE THAT ONLY THEY KNEW TO GET INTO HEAVEN • AND JOHN WARNS HIS READERS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE DECEIVES THEM • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED MEANS TO • ACTIVELY GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED • PROTECT YOUR SELVES FROM DECEPTION • PUT YOUR SEAT BELTS ON, PAUL GIVES A SIMILAR INSTRUCTION COLOSSIANS 2:8 SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEPTION, ACCORDING TO THE TRADITION OF MEN, ACCORDING TO THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD, RATHER THAN ACCORDING TO CHRIST. • SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO ACTIVELY GUARD AGAINST DECEPTION? • ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS WE CAN DO IS KNOW OUR BIBLES • LET’S THINK OF THE BIBLE AS OUR SEATBELT • NOW A SEAT BELT DOES NOT DO ANY GOOD IF WE DON’T PUT IT ON • THE SAME GOES FOR OUR BIBLES • BUT PUTTING IT ON MEANS MORE THAN JUST KNOWING WHAT IT SAYS • IT MEANS TRUSTING IN, RELYING ON WHAT IT SAYS • IT MEANS UNDERSTANDING IT IS THE WORD OF GOD • PUTTING ON THE BIBLE AS OUR SEATBELT MEANS • DOING OUR BEST TO LIVE BY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS • IN ADDITION TO KNOWING AND TRUSTING OUR BIBLES • WE NEED TO KNOW DECEPTION HAPPENS • THE TRUTH IS PEOPLE GET DECEIVED ABOUT SIN ALL THE TIME • OUR CULTURE IS CURRENTLY OVERFLOWING WITH LIES ABOUT SIN • MUSIC, MOVIES, NEWS CASTERS, MAGAZINES • TELL US OVER AND OVER AGAIN • GET DRUNK, GET STONED, SLEEP AROUND, • BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE, DO WHATEVER FEELS GOOD • THESE ARE ALL LIES, • JOHN TELLS HIS READERS; • THE ONE WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, JUST AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS; THE ONE WHO PRACTICES SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; FOR THE DEVIL HAS SINNED FROM THE BEGINNING. • TO PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS DOES NOT MEAN TO BE SINLESS • IT MEANS TO WORK TO SIN LESS, TO ADMIT, OR CONFESS WHEN WE SIN • TO REPENT OR TURN FROM OUR SIN, TO TRY TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME • TO PRACTICE SIN IS TO WORK AT, TO HABITUALLY LIVE IN A SINFUL LIFESTYLE • AND JOHN SAYS ANYONE DOING THAT IS “OF THE DEVIL” • JOHN IS TELLING THEM THIS BECAUSE • THIS IS PART OF HOW WE GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED • NOW I DO BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS • ANYONE WHO PRACTICES HABITUAL SIN IS DOING THE DEVIL’S WORK • BUT, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN JOHN WRITES THESE WORDS • HE IS TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE FALSE TEACHERS • THEY ARE PRACTICING SIN, THEY ARE DOING THE DEVIL’S WORK (PAUSE) • ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED • IS BY LOOKING AT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE SEEKING TO TEACH US • ARE THEY PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT ARE THEY SINLESS • NOT ARE THEY PERFECT? BUT ARE THEY STRIVING TO SIN LESS • WHEN THEY MESS UP, DO THEY ADMIT IT? • DO THEY ASK FOR FORGIVENESS? DO THEY FORGIVE OTHERS? • OR ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING TO TEACH US ABOUT GOD • PRACTICING SIN? ARE THEY LIVING A SINFUL LIFESTYLE? • WE CAN GUARD AGAINST DECEPTION BY LOOKING AT THE LIVES • OF THOSE WHO TEACH GOD’S WORD (PAUSE) • ANOTHER WAY WE CAN GUARD AGAINST DECEPTION • IS TO KNOW WHY CHRIST CAME • THE FALSE TEACHERS THAT ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE THEM • TAUGHT THAT SIN WAS NO BIG DEAL, YOU COULD LIVE A SINFUL LIFESTYLE • NEVER CONFESS, NEVER REPENT, MAKE YOUR LIFE ALL ABOUT SINNING • AND GOD IS OK WITH THAT • TO CORRECT THIS ERROR JOHN TELLS THEM • THE SON OF GOD APPEARED FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. • THIS TELLS THEM HOW GOD VIEWS SIN • GOD CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN • LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, DIED ON THE CROSS • AND ROSE AFTER THREE DAYS • AND THE REASON HE DID THIS IS TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL • IF WE UNDERSTAND THIS HOW COULD WE LIVE A LIFE • BASED ON INDULGING IN WHAT CHRIST HAD COME TO DESTROY? • THE FALSE TEACHERS HAVE SAID SIN IS JUST NOT A BIG DEAL • KINDA LIKE OUR CULTURE TODAY • TODAY WE CALL SIN BY ALL KINDA NAMES • INCLUSION, TOLERANCE, FREEDOM, SELF ACTUALIZATION • BUT CALLING IT SOMETHING ELSE DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT IT IS. • ONCE, IN AN ARGUMENT WITH A VERY STUBBORN MAN • ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID, "WELL, LET'S SEE, HOW MANY LEGS HAS A COW?" • "FOUR, OF COURSE," CAME THE REPLY FROM THE STUBBORN MAN. • "THAT'S RIGHT," AGREED LINCOLN. • "NOW SUPPOSE YOU CALL THE COW'S TAIL A LEG; • HOW MANY LEGS WOULD THE COW HAVE?" • "WHY, FIVE, OF COURSE," WAS THE CONFIDENT REPLY. • "NOW, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE WRONG," SAID LINCOLN. • "CALLING A COW'S TAIL A LEG DOESN'T MAKE IT A LEG." • CALLING SIN SOMETHING ELSE DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT IT IS • GOD HATES SIN, GOD CAME AND DIED TO DESTROY SIN • ONE WAY WE CAN KEEP FROM BEING DECEIVED ABOUT SIN • IS UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT DESTROYING SIN IS TO GOD • WE CAN ALSO AVOID BEING DECEIVED BY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LIFESTYLE • OF THOSE WHO MIGHT DECEIVE US 1 JOHN 3:9–10 NO ONE WHO IS BORN OF GOD PRACTICES SIN, BECAUSE HIS SEED ABIDES IN HIM; AND HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE IS BORN OF GOD. BY THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL ARE OBVIOUS: ANYONE WHO DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NOR THE ONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER KNOW WHO DECEIVES • THOSE WHO ARE FROM GOD DO NOT LIVE SINFUL LIFESTYLES • NO ONE WHO IS BORN OF GOD PRACTICES SIN, BECAUSE HIS SEED ABIDES IN HIM; AND HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE IS BORN OF GOD. • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING IMPORTANT HERE • JOHN IS TALKING ABOUT THE FALSE TEACHERS • WE MAY WANT TO USE THIS VERSE TO DECIDE SOMEONE • WHO IS PRACTICING SIN… IS NOT SAVED • AND CERTAINLY BORN OF GOD CAN MEAN SAVED • BUT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO UNDERSTAND THAT PHRASE • BORN OF GOD CAN ALSO MEAN A GODLY PERSON • ONE WHO IS WALKING WITH, ABIDING IN GOD • THIS VERSE IS NOT ABOUT WHO IS SAVED AND WHO IS NOT • JOHN IS TRYING TO HELP THEM WITH FALSE TEACHERS DECEIVING THEM • HE IS NOT TELLING THEM TO INSPECT OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE IF THEY ARE SAVED • THE PROPER USE OF THIS VERSE • IS TO LOOK AT THOSE CLAIMING TO TEACH GOD’S WORD • EXAMINE THE LIVES OF THOSE PREACHING AND TEACHING THE BIBLE • NOW THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE THERE IS SOME KIND OF DOUBLE STANDARD • THAT MAYBE THOSE PREACHING AND TEACHING • SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD • AND AMAZINGLY WE FIND JUST SUCH A THING STATED IN THE BOOK OF JAMES JAMES 3:1 LET NOT MANY OF YOU BECOME TEACHERS, MY BRETHREN, KNOWING THAT AS SUCH WE WILL INCUR A STRICTER JUDGMENT. • LET ME TELL YOU THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THIS VERSE • WAS IN BIBLE COLLEGE, THE PROFESSOR MADE IT VERY CLEAR • IF YOU PREACH OR TEACH GOD’S WORD YOU WILL BE HELD • TO A STRICTER ACCOUNTING BEFORE GOD • I BELIEVE THIS IS JOHN’S POINT HERE • NOT THAT ANYONE WHO PRACTICES SIN IS NOT SAVED • BUT THAT ANYONE WHO PREACHES AND TEACHES • AND PRACTICES SIN IS NOT FROM GOD • JOHN’S INSTRUCTION WAS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE DECEIVES YOU • AND ONE WAY WE CAN GUARD AGAINST DECEPTION IS BY KNOW PEOPLE’S LIFESTYLE • HOW PEOPLE LIVE LIFE CAN REVEAL A LOT ABOUT THEM • JOHN SAYS LIVING A LIFE OF HABITUAL SIN • REVEALS THAT SOMEONE IS NOT BORN OF GOD • BY THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL ARE OBVIOUS: • THAT WORD OBVIOUS CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED • CLEARLY KNOW, EVIDENT, PLAIN TO SEE • JOHN IS SAYING; “IF YOU WILL JUST LOOK AT HOW THEY LIVE • IT WILL BE OBVIOUS, CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT THEY ARE NOT FROM GOD • JESUS SAYS A VERY SIMILAR THING ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS IN MATTHEW 7:16 “YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. GRAPES ARE NOT GATHERED FROM THORN BUSHES NOR FIGS FROM THISTLES, ARE THEY? • PART OF HOW WE GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED • IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FRUIT OF THOSE TEACHING • ARE THEY PRODUCING GODLY FRUIT, ARE THEY PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS • CONFESSING AND REPENTING, STRIVING TO SIN LESS AND • FORGIVING AND SERVING OTHERS • ANYONE WHO DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, • TO AVOID BEING DECEIVED BY FALSE TEACHERS • LOOK AT HOW THEY LIVE • ARE THEY PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS, • NOT ARE THEY PERFECT, BUT DO THEY CONFESS, ADMIT THEY SIN • DO THEY REPENT AND TURN FROM SIN, • IF NOT THEY ARE NOT OF GOD • NOT OF GOD IS THE SAME IDEA AS NOT FROM GOD • THEY MAY CLAIM TO TEACH GOD’S MESSAGE BUT THEY ARE NOT FROM GOD • AND THEN JOHN ADDS ONE MORE THING TO LOOK FOR • NOR THE ONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER. • TO AVOID BEING DECEIVED DON’T LISTEN TO THOSE • WHO DO NOT SERVE, CARE FOR OTHERS • THESE TWO THINGS ARE THE GREATEST MEASURE OF A MATURE CHRISTIAN • ARE THEY LIVING AS GOD AS CALLED THEM TO LIVE? • ARE THEY LOVING, CARING FOR, SERVING, HELPING OTHERS? • ARE THEY ADMITTING, CONFESSING THEIR SINS? • ARE THEY BEING CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST? • IF NOT YOU MAY WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT LISTENING TO • WHAT THEY ARE TEACHING, • JOHN SAYS IT IS OBVIOUS IT IS CLEAR, IT IS EVIDENT • THAT THEY ARE NOT FROM GOD • IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SURE TO NOT BE DECEIVED • WE NEED TO NOTICE THE OBVIOUS SHERLOCK HOLMES AND DR. JOHN WATSON • WENT ON A CAMPING TRIP. • AFTER SHARING A GOOD MEAL • THEY RETIRED TO THEIR TENT FOR THE NIGHT • AT ABOUT 3 AM, HOLMES NUDGES WATSON AND ASKS, • "WATSON, LOOK UP INTO THE SKY AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE?" • WATSON SAID, "I SEE MILLIONS OF STARS." • HOLMES ASKS, "AND, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?" • WATSON REPLIES, "ASTRONOMICALLY, • IT TELLS ME THERE ARE MILLIONS OF GALAXIES • AND POTENTIALLY BILLIONS OF PLANETS. • ASTROLOGICALLY, IT TELLS ME THAT SATURN IS IN LEO. • THEOLOGICALLY, IT TELLS ME THAT GOD IS GREAT • METEOROLOGICALLY, IT TELLS ME THAT WE WILL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TOMORROW. WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU, HOLMES?" • HOLMES RETORTS, "IT TELLS ME SOMEONE STOLE OUR TENT.” • DR WATSON HAD MISSED THE OBVIOUS • WE NEED TO BE SURE TO NOT MISS THE OBVIOUS • IN THE LIVES OF THOSE PREACHING AND TEACHING GOD’S WORD • LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS A KEY PART OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE • IF SOMEONE CLAIMS TO BE A TEACHER OF GOD’S WORD • AND THEY FAIL AT THIS KEY PART OF THE GOSPEL • WHAT ELSE MIGHT THEY HAVE WRONG? 1 JOHN 3:11–12 FOR THIS IS THE MESSAGE WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING, THAT WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER; NOT AS CAIN, WHO WAS OF THE EVIL ONE AND SLEW HIS BROTHER. AND FOR WHAT REASON DID HE SLAY HIM? BECAUSE HIS DEEDS WERE EVIL, AND HIS BROTHER’S WERE RIGHTEOUS. KNOW WHAT WE HEARD FROM GOD • THIS IS STILL PART OF HOW WE KEEP FROM BEING DECEIVED • JOHN HAS NOT CHANGED TOPICS • PART OF HOW WE CAN GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED • IS TO REMEMBER WHAT WE HEARD FROM GOD • FOR THIS IS THE MESSAGE WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING, • HE WANTS THEM TO GO BACK AND REMEMBER WHAT THEY HEARD • WHEN THEY FIRST HEARD THE GOSPEL • WHAT WAS THE POINT THE PRIMARY MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL MATTHEW 22:36–39 “TEACHER, WHICH IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW?” AND HE SAID TO HIM, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “THIS IS THE GREAT AND FOREMOST COMMANDMENT. “THE SECOND IS LIKE IT, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ • THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING • JOHN WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS THE KEY • SO HE TELLS THEM THAT WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER; • SO HOW EXACTLY DOES LOVING ONE ANOTHER • RELATE TO GUARDING AGAINST BEING DECEIVED? • WELL, JOHN HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THOSE PRACTICING SIN • LIVING IN, ABIDING IN, HABITUAL SIN • AND HOW WE CAN KNOW THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT FROM GOD • HERE’S THE THING, PRACTICING SIN AND LOVING ONE ANOTHER • ARE INCOMPATIBLE THINGS, YOU CANNOT DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME • TO SIN IS TO ACTIVELY IS TO NOT LOVE GOD, OR PEOPLE, OR BOTH • SINS ARE SELFISH, SELF SERVING, PRIDEFUL REBELLION AGAINST GOD • IF WE ARE PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS • WE WILL BE LOVING GOD AND LOVING OTHERS • IF WE ARE NOT LOVING GOD AND LOVING OTHERS • WE WILL BE PRACTICING SIN • HOW IS THIS USEFUL IN GUARDING AGAINST BEING DECEIVED? • WELL, IF SOME ONE IS CLAIMING TO BE A TEACHER OF GOD’S WORD • AND DOES NOT LOVE, SERVE, FORGIVE, OTHERS • THEN WE CAN KNOW FOR CERTAIN THEY ARE NOT PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS • BECAUSE PART OF PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LOVING ONE ANOTHER • TO MAKE THIS POINT CLEAR JOHN PROVIDES AN EXAMPLE FROM THE BIBLE • HE POINTS TO CAIN AS ONE WHO WAS NOT LOVING HIS BROTHER • AT FIRST GLANCE THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE • I MEAN, SURLY NON-OF THE FALSE TEACHERS WERE KILLING PEOPLE • BUT NOTICE HOW JOHN POINTS OUT WHY CAIN KILLED ABEL • AND FOR WHAT REASON DID HE SLAY HIM? BECAUSE HIS DEEDS WERE EVIL, AND HIS BROTHER’S WERE RIGHTEOUS. • CAIN’S DEEDS WERE EVIL, HE WAS OF THE EVIL ONE • THE FALSE TEACHERS WERE PRACTICING SIN THEY WERE OF THE DEVIL • AND CAIN KILLED HIS BROTHER RATHER THAN LOVE HIM • WHEN WE ENCOUNTER FALSE TEACHERS WHO PRACTICE SIN • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEY WILL NOT LOVE US • THEY MAY NOT KILL US BUT THEY DO NOT LOVE US A BRILLIANT AND VERY MODERN PREACHER, • WHO HAD PLEASED HIS CONGREGATION • WITH FLOWERY ORATORY AND BEAUTIFUL SERMONS • ON THE LATEST SOCIAL ISSUES AND SELF HELP METHODS • WAS BIDDING FAREWELL TO HIS CONGREGATION • AS HE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THEM FOR A NEW CHURCH • ONE OF HIS YOUNG MEN APPROACHED HIM AND SAID, • "PASTOR, I AM SO SORRY WE ARE LOSING YOU • BEFORE YOU CAME I DID NOT CARE FOR GOD, MAN, OR THE DEVIL, • BUT THROUGH YOUR DELIGHTFUL SERMONS, • I HAVE LEARNED TO LOVE THEM ALL!" • BE NEED TO GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED BY FALSE TEACHERS • IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL THEY MAY TEACH US TO LOVE THE DEVIL ALL OF US NEED A SEAT BELT • SOMETHING TO GUARD AGAINST BEING TOSSED ABOUT BY FALSE TEACHING • WE NEED TO SEE TO IT THAT WE ARE NOT DECEIVED • JOHN HAS INSTRUCTED HIS READERS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE DECEIVES THEM • AND HE HAS PROVIDED SOME THINGS WE CAN DO • THAT WILL HELP US TO NOT BE DECEIVED • 1-WE CAN KNOW THAT THOSE WHO PRACTICE SIN ARE NOT FROM GOD • IF WE SEE SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE A TEACHER OF GOD’S WORD • LIVING IN HABITUAL, UN-CONFESSED, NON-REPENTANT SIN • WE CAN KNOW THEY ARE NOT FROM GOD • 2-WE CAN KNOW THAT CHRIST CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL • AND ANYONE CLAIMING TO TEACH GOD’S WORD WHO SAYS SINNING IS OK • WHO REDEFINES SIN, WHO CALLS SIN SOMETHING OTHER THAN SIN • WE CAN KNOW THEY ARE NOT FROM GOD • 3-WE CAN KNOW THAT ANYONE WHO IS NOT LOVING, • FORGIVING, SERVING OTHERS IS NOT PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS • IF WE SEE SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE A TEACHER OF GOD’S WORD • WHO IS NOT SERVING, FORGIVING, LOVING OTHERS • WE CAN KNOW THEY ARE NOT FROM GOD • THOSE WHO ARE FROM GOD WILL PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS • THEY WILL CALL SIN, SIN. THEY WILL LOVE, FORGIVE, SERVER OTHERS • THEY WILL TEACH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE • THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES US • AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US… 91