Can a BELIEVER be deceived? Article by C R Stam

[Lu]

I agree with that.  That seems to be the way it is; don't confront, but if the opportunity presents itself, take the risk and tell some grace gospel truths.
Thanks, Christine.

YFIC,  Lu

[Oasis]

Christine

Hey guys,

I have attempted to do both and quite frankly, people are so hostile to any truth that varies from their "store bought brand" of Christianity taught from their denominational party line that I find it to be more like "throwing pearls before swine." That may sound harsh, but I really believe that if someone is looking for truth, God will make sure that their paths cross with a right divider.

Does this mean we should not take any risks by telling others the gospel?  Nope....thats not  what I mean. I share as often as the opportunity presents itself, and am actually led to be QUIET as often as I speak up. There is alot of animosity that gets stirred up when we confront others on what we know to be a faulty belief system...and we don't want our gospel to be unnecessarily spoken badly of simply because we felt we had to have so many notches on our belts for "sharing the gospel" before we go to bed at nite....wink.

What do YOU think?

Aw man!  You're making me think again!

I agree, Christine, that sharing the Mystery with other professing Christians doesn't only stir the pot...it usually knocks it over!  I have slowed down on how often I share and just make comments here and there.

Christine

Share a little...let them mull it over...and the ones who are truly SEEKING will want to discuss it further. Those who aren't, won't.

The only problem I encounter is that not all those who want to discuss it further are truly seeking, but simply drawing a line in the sand and defending the beliefs they've been taught. 

On a positive note...there is a board I've posted on, off and on, for a couple of years.  I spent a little time on it last spring and a long time poster on that board expressed interest in Paul's teachings, so I gave him a few links, including this one.  I checked on this board again a few weeks ago and to my surprise I read a post where Hudson(the poster in question)explained to the surprise of several other long time posters, that he is in agreement with the Mystery and is convicted that the gospel Paul preached is the gospel for today...and he did it eloquently.  I was elated.  I gave him a couple of other links which he's already perused, so I do believe that even though we are literally run off some boards and branded heretics by some, it is worth the persecution we sometimes go through to present the Truth.

ybiC,
Kab 

[NewDawn]

I have to agree with you Christine.  I believe God will make a way for those who really want to know the truth.   I can attest to that as we all can.  I've been searching for the truth, believing that there was more to what I was being taught, and why does part of the bible say one thing and Paul say's another.
And voila!  Here you all are and here I am!! 
Remember those group of ladies that I have talked to before about the gospel of grace?  Well they ignore me when I post something that Paul say's, such as being free from the law and now under grace.  One lady in particular totally ignores me.  It's funny because I when I mentioned to them that we don't have to live under thelaw and I mentioned the commandments. they were like, "what"!!!  Then that particular lady posted some article about how we have to live by the 10 commandments.  Then one other lady agreeed because that's how she had always been taught!

Well, after that I just left it at that trusting God to give them that desire to know the truth.

Christine, you're right about what you said, that hoping God will lead people to a right divider.

[Oasis]

Diana

Well, after that I just left it at that trusting God to give them that desire to know the truth.

Christine, you're right about what you said, that hoping God will lead people to a right divider.

Christine is right...that's all any of us can do, Diana.  Pray they will eventually be led to the Truth. 

But always pray, regardless.
Besides, when all else fails pray...right?

Nah

When you're up
when you're down
When all is right with the world
When all is wrong with the world
When you're feeling lucid
When you're feeling insane(my personal favorite feeling )
When you're succeeding
When you're failing
When you're winning souls
When you're persecuted for your beliefs?...

Pray without ceasing. 

Diana, God may not honor your prayers with result's you will see in your lifetime because the Holy Spirit keeps His own hours, but he will honor your prayers for and your perserverence toward those you're trying to reach.  Your obedience to God borne of love will increase your heavenly rewards.  Your enthusiasm is infectious, and is adrenaline for your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Don't change. 

ybiC,
Kab   

[NewDawn]

Diana

Well, after that I just left it at that trusting God to give them that desire to know the truth.

Christine, you're right about what you said, that hoping God will lead people to a right divider.

Christine is right...that's all any of us can do, Diana.  Pray they will eventually be led to the Truth. 

But always pray, regardless.
Besides, when all else fails pray...right?

Nah

When you're up
when you're down
When all is right with the world
When all is wrong with the world
When you're feeling lucid
When you're feeling insane(my personal favorite feeling )
When you're succeeding
When you're failing
When you're winning souls
When you're persecuted for your beliefs?...

Pray without ceasing. 

Diana, God may not honor your prayers with result's you will see in your lifetime because the Holy Spirit keeps His own hours, but he will honor your prayers for and your perserverence toward those you're trying to reach.  Your obedience to God borne of love will increase your heavenly rewards.  Your enthusiasm is infectious, and is adrenaline for your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Don't change. 

ybiC,
Kab   

Thank you very much Kab!  You, Glenda, and Christine are so encouraging and I have learned so much from all of you. . . I would say in such little time.  Never have I understood bible as I'm understanding it now.  I've got alot to learn still, but boy when the truth clicks and makes sense, then you can't help but feel compelled to share it with others!!! 

Thanks again Bro!!!

[Oasis]

when the truth clicks and makes sense, then you can't help but feel compelled to share it with others!!!

AMEN!

[Christine]

Kab said:

Aw man!  You're making me think again! 

Oh noooooooo, not THAT???


ROFL

[Roofdad]

As to the title of the post,, "Can a believer be deceived?", I would suggest to someone that believes that a believer can NOT be deceived (or mistaken), to look in the book of Revelation. After John, the apostle that the Lord loved, had been in the spirit, bearing witness to the Revelation, we come to the marriage supper in chapter 19. In verse 9, "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he , these are the true sayings of God."
Now, look at the next verse, verse 10. See here that even John can make a mistake: "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See that thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

If John, who had been with Jesus during His ministry on earth, could make that type of a mistake, then we had better be very careful in believing that we can not be deceived, or make a mistake .

Gee, two days ago, I thought I had it all figured out, and now here I am, back at the beginning again! I would say that yes, if we are not careful, we can surely be deceived.

[Oasis]

Hi Darryl,

You're absolutely right...and as long as we have these fleshly bodies we will continue to be deceived.  Paul speaks of his own struggles in Romans 7:15 to the end of the chapter.  Even though we are Spiritually glorified as Paul teaches in Romans 8, we will not be physically complete until we go to meet the Lord.  Isn't it great that even though we may be deceived time and again throughout our lives, that once we come to truly know Christ as our Savior and acknowledge He is Lord He keeps us Spiritually perfect until the day we go to meet Him?

"Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.  Amen."-Jude 24-25

ybiC,
Kab

[Christine]

I re read this article by Stam again this morning and WOW....such a wealth of information and the dialogue we had was really edifying.

Thot I would bump it, so others who might have missed reading it the first time could read it now.

[NewDawn]

I agree with you Christine.  I have throw a nibble here and a nibble there, when the occasion arises or when it pertains to salvation.  I don't care if they get mad anymore, lol, I just speak the truth.  I can tell though, they don't get it by the answers they give.  But for just learning all this, those that I have showed the truth to but have not yet accepted it, will come to me about praying for them or family members.   
 
I always make it a point to let them know that Paul received these truths by revelation of our risen Lord.   That Paul didn't come to these on his own and that he is our Apostle. 

I wonder why some, like us have accepted this and why others don't?  Us who were also steeped in doctrine, now have found the truth.

Anyway, I thank God all the time for bringing those who teach the truth, in my path!!  Like everyone here are so helpful in informative!!

[NewDawn]

I've got another one here.  I know there are several teachers/pastors out there who are not teaching the true doctrine.  My dad watches Sheperds Chapel and I know he is not teaching the right gospel.  But the things my dad mentions to me are way out there because of what this guy is saying! 
Yesterday he was saying that there is no rapture.  I said yes there is!!  I gave him scripture to prove it.  But this is an example of how people can be deceived! 

I keep telling him not to watch that guy.  I got into his website and his statment of faith is so in error, it's not even funny!!

[Christine]

I've got another one here.  I know there are several teachers/pastors out there who are not teaching the true doctrine.  My dad watches Sheperds Chapel and I know he is not teaching the right gospel.  But the things my dad mentions to me are way out there because of what this guy is saying! 
Yesterday he was saying that there is no rapture.  I said yes there is!!  I gave him scripture to prove it.  But this is an example of how people can be deceived! 

I keep telling him not to watch that guy.  I got into his website and his statment of faith is so in error, it's not even funny!!

The one thing that is hardest to do is to allow people to make their own choices. Shepherds Chapel is but one instance of doctrine run amok and the teaching is extremely unsound.  We are not to take the word of ANY pastor without checking it out with the WORD rightly divided FIRST. All you can do is to tell your dad. If he is not interested in what is true, there is little you can do. If and when your dad wants to talk about what this guy tells him, just nicely tell him that the ONLY way we can know if something is of God is to find it in Scripture....and that if he wants to continue listening to someone who hasn't got a clue what hes talking about, that is certainly HIS choice, but that you are determined to check all doctrine with what you know is true from Gods WORD.

It sounds like dad is baiting you and wants to argue and I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I would just say, "Thats nice dad, but its not true."

We cannot change anyones mind...we are only responsible to tell them the truth...if they decide to continue believing the lie, then that is THEIR choice.

I compare it to being invited to a free steak dinner with the highest grade of beef and all the trimmings, cooked by a CLASS A chef, and then being invited to a bbq possum dinner with maggots on the side. We can all choose which one we would prefer...but many, due to the sin nature, delightedly choose the possum just to be contrary. Mankind truly needs what God has to offer them and the flesh IS at enmity against God.

Don't be surprised when men make foolish choices...continue to pray for them and love em.


Huuuuugs sweetie.

[NewDawn]

Thank you Christineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Hugs!!!

[Roofdad]

Hey Diana!
My mom used to watch that man on TV. He is very persuasive, and if one does not know truth, he could definitely be deceived by this man. I do not agree with everything on CARM.org, but their listings of religious cults is pretty much right on. Show your dad that Shepard's Chapel IS on that list of cults. He can read up a little on this man, and his heretical teachings.
Much love in His name......... your brother in Christ
Darryl