Imagine the idea. You are born again, into an eternal Kingdom. Love has been put into your heart and you are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. Luke 21:8
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matt 24:24
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matt 3:8
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matt 7:16-20
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matt 10:16
One of the tele-evangelists was written about by their sons friend. He had a safe full of jewels, fine art, rings, drugs, pornography, all the vices you can imagine. Rather than being free from sin they were bathing in it.
This is not the fruit of a victorious life or the fruit of repentance.
How many are divorced, or under fraud charges, or been involved in illicit relationships. These people claim authority, to be a good example, to be worthy of copying, and yet their fruit is the opposite.
So these verses say you will be deceived if you do not test the fruit, look for the reality, because the deception is very real, very pursuasive and evil.
Now think on the fruit in your own life, and if the fruit is not looking good, I think it is time to spend some more time honestly with God and having a heart of repentance.
Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. Luke 21:8
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matt 24:24
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matt 3:8
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matt 7:16-20
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matt 10:16
One of the tele-evangelists was written about by their sons friend. He had a safe full of jewels, fine art, rings, drugs, pornography, all the vices you can imagine. Rather than being free from sin they were bathing in it.
This is not the fruit of a victorious life or the fruit of repentance.
How many are divorced, or under fraud charges, or been involved in illicit relationships. These people claim authority, to be a good example, to be worthy of copying, and yet their fruit is the opposite.
So these verses say you will be deceived if you do not test the fruit, look for the reality, because the deception is very real, very pursuasive and evil.
Now think on the fruit in your own life, and if the fruit is not looking good, I think it is time to spend some more time honestly with God and having a heart of repentance.