Can the Body of Christ be deceived?

[MarcR]

This is an aside- but has anyone in this thread really studied out what the Body of Christ is?

Most popular teaching is that it is every true believer. But think about this-

1) The body of Christ is the church
2) The church is defined as a called out assembly, congregation, meeting
3) Every true believer does not assemble together or meet or congregate

Aren't you really talking about the believers within the Family of God?

The body of Christ is either of one particular local body of believers (not a building) or figurative for the local unit.

Examples:

The dog- this is not a universal dog.. but figurative for all dogs plural
The bar- same thing goes.
The post office- same thing goes.

Multiple bodies of Christ? YES! Because the bodies aren't the literal bodies of Christ but representations of the literal body of Christ.

So

Church at Corinth- which is independent and distinct from the church at Antioch.. seperate and distinct from the church at Ephesus.. etc

The body of Christ is a local body of believers.. a local church. That's how the NT defines it. Or it is figurative for all churches plural.

This means a believer can be part of God's family but not in the body of Christ.

The difference is between the Family of God and the Body of Christ.. they are not the same things!

The body of Christ IS the church.. you can't get round that statement.

So I know this is an aside but think about this..

Are you talking about the Family of God or the Body of Christ?

I think that the body of Christ is the Church ( all true believers in every time and place); but that certainly includes the church, if and only if, the church functions under the authority of Scripture.

Unfortunately, there are now many things that call themselves churches; which deny the authority of Scripture, and IMO they are NOT the body of Christ- though they might contain the body of Christ in their membership.

 

[weakness]

I don't think Christians would be warned about being deceived if It It was not possible/ Satan comes as an angel of light. But we know his voice and can depend on our shepherd . Wise as serpents /harmless as doves.

 

[MikkoAinasoja]

The apostasy was predicted to come, and it is here now, and it is hard to make people's listen, because of the nature of man of the last day's.

1. But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4. traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5. holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Everyone seems to know this, but no one seems to see that they own behavior is just like it.

 

[pwrnJC]

You are focusing a little too much on how others react. Because of that, it keeps us in a 'negative' attitude, which weakens our testimony. Yes, the modern day CHRISTIAN is far from what a New Testament Christian was like, including the church as a whole. I do not expect the world to understand, but it does bother me also when a supposedly 'CHRISTIAN" is so open minded, so evasive, so politically correct that a true reflection of JESUS is not seen. You and I could speak of this for the rest of our days on earth, post our oppositions online, but then, what will we have accomplished?

 

[mailmandan]

I also trust the power of the Holy Spirit active in me to keep revealing truth to me. He is the one who keeps my focus on Christ and He is the one who knows the scriptures I need to read again and again to recognize lies.

My Lord is faithful through His Spirit to keep me until the end.

1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will confirm/keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:5 - We are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 - Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Jeff_56]

The apostasy was predicted to come, and it is here now, and it is hard to make people's listen, because of the nature of man of the last day's.

1. But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4. traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5. holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Everyone seems to know this, but no one seems to see that they own behavior is just like it.

true, and we cannot make anyone listen. notice how long, how many years, the rcc catholics have been posting their heresy on this forum, even though it is noted that rcc is heresy.

has any rcc repented? has any rcc turned to jesus to be saved? it doesn't look like it -- they have been 'comfortable' too long, with their apostasy, their heresy, their family, friends and demons.

has the world repented? most never will. GOD'S WORD in REVELATION says the whole world is deceived -- over 4 or 5 billion people? ... most of everyone you(any reader, anywhere) know is deceived and serving demons.

think not? read EPHESIANS . it is written that everyone alive today
--(any exceptions, are few if any- in Ephesians it is written that we all once served demons, even though we thought we were making choices of our own free will (we were all deceived) )....

--has served demons. everyone. and who has repented of serving demons? think real hard...... remember anyone, anyone at all? we few have, yes, in ekklesia, few, have repented of serving demons in our lives , by grace and faith in yahshua(jesus) turned our entire lives over to yahweh and turned to him to serve him in every way, every day, for all eternity, yahweh willing, in and by and through yahshua.

 

[mailmandan]

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matt 24:24

Quoting from AT Robertson - These charlatans will be so skilful that they will, if possible (ei dunaton), lead astray the very elect. The implication is that it is not possible. Notice that the KJV translation says, "if it were possible" and the NIV says, "if that were possible."

 

[Jeff_56]

correct. the elect are not deceived.

the point is for those who are seeking truth and who are not yet in christ jesus that there are many false prophets and false messiahs and deceived multitudes and deceived congregations who have chosen to go along with the deceiver (but of course they have no idea, or they just don't care)
and most will not ever repent.
and most will try to get the elect to go along with them.

 

[PeterJens]

Human nature is to say whatever you are doing or being a part of, it is ok. Once you have accepted a group it is easier to just get pulled along even when you know it is going down the tubes.

Many churches end up with the preacher going off on a tangent, and they just follow along.
On a new speaker comes in, with a new revelation, and suddenly it is the best thing ever.

It is obvious some would like you to believe it is all plain sailing, do not question, think or search.

I would say, if you are spiritually alive you are always thinking, questioning and investigating. If you have stopped doing this you probably have stopped walking with Jesus.

 

[Yet]

Can christians be deceived? Look at some on this site. I've never seen such immature, silly, rebellious brats in all my life. Welcome to much of the church.
Break out a case of pablum.

 

[PeterJens]

Let me say from my own experience, it is easy to react to the immediate emotions that are telling you something, than to understand what is really going on.

We all compartmentalise to cope, and hate to admit needs or weakness or failure. Put us in a positive group who flatter us, and they are the best thing ever. Send a man to point our our needs, our failures those difficult issues that need addressing, and he definately is not of the Lord.

It is so easy to say a sharp word, be sacarstic, demean, excuse, ignore, brush aside. It is so much hard to be a servant, to wash anothers feet, to see the struggles in anothers life. So most of the church has always been deceived and it is mainly about their lack of sin, and how much they need to change.

I testify after 40+ years I am still learning, and boy things really are different than I thought. But hey, this is the Kingdom of God, so what would you expect from a God who became a man and died to show us how much he loves us.

 

[dcontroversal]

The genuinely saved children of God will not be deceived about their God when he truly comes......the bible states clearly that only those who will not receive the love of the truth will be deceived......now... I will say that there are many who have been deceived about the timing of the second coming...they may think they have missed it, just like the Thessalonian brothers, but will soon learn the truth.

 

[PeterJens]

It is an interesting point about those who truly have been saved. I try not to play God, because many seem very confused and go in and out of faith.

What I am thinking about is the issue Peter and Paul had about being a Jewish believer, or a gentile who did not follow Jewish ceremonies. Peter had to change his thinking.

Too many people in the church have sincere hearts but their convictions take them in various directions. I think like the prodigal son people can stray but also return.

I had a christian brother come up to me today to suggest he thought christians enter heaven by faith now, and the rest of the world when they are resurrected. Apart from being unbiblical and apostate, it is difficult to tell if he is serious or just one of those off the wall comments. I responded to him that non-christians are so disfunctional and incomplete they would simply fall apart, so though it sounds nice and loving and woolly it just does not hang together with life as we see it.

I know people who faced with God would just see him as the enemy and try and kill him. But in grace, I will give my friend time. I have known him well for 15 years, but unfortunately he is missing some basic empathetic skills, which maybe more indicative that the core issue of love and transformation have passed him by. But at all other levels he appears to be a christian, but if you have so little understanding of the nature of rebellion in your heart, reconciliation and the love that empowers new birth, I see little hope in people being able to see why Christ is the Messiah, and why we have to change this side of eternity.

Are there two kingdoms? One in which the symbols make sense but never connect deep down, and others where it is a true life experience. Faith can be a good cloak you wear, not your whole life. There are always weeds, tares, lost in the stress of life around you, but never truly grasping who the Lord of love really is.

I could equally be being too harsh, but to me, a universalist is just a denial of everything Jesus stands for or to put it another way, why bother. This is a lie of Satan, from the depths of hell.

 

[Stephen63]

Can christians be deceived? Look at some on this site. I've never seen such immature, silly, rebellious brats in all my life. Welcome to much of the church.
Break out a case of pablum.

There were times I agreed with you..... but not now, 'cuz you've become more legalistic & mean in the past few months. I see a short future here for you if you don't change your ways.....