Who are the people that are being deceived?

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Joey1964

Guest
#1
There are many verses in the Bible about being deceived. Is it possible for a true born again believer to be deceived or are these people not really born again. I struggle with this, especially with what is happening all over the world. Let me give an example. My sister-in- law in South Africa works for a church, they have women pastors, they have gay pastors and they perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Is she being deceived? I would say so, but when I speak to her about this, her standard answer is that things have changed since the Bible was written. This is such warning sign to me that all I can say to her is "Run, Sister, Run, but yet, she is still working there. I no longer live in South Africa, but I speak to her very often about this and everytime she gives me her standard answer.

So to ask the question again, can a true born again believer be deceived?
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,430
6,707
113
#2
Those mentioned in Thessalonians will believe lies for the reason given in the prophecy, they are those who have chosen evil over good.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,319
3,619
113
#3
There are many verses in the Bible about being deceived. Is it possible for a true born again believer to be deceived or are these people not really born again. I struggle with this, especially with what is happening all over the world. Let me give an example. My sister-in- law in South Africa works for a church, they have women pastors, they have gay pastors and they perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Is she being deceived? I would say so, but when I speak to her about this, her standard answer is that things have changed since the Bible was written. This is such warning sign to me that all I can say to her is "Run, Sister, Run, but yet, she is still working there. I no longer live in South Africa, but I speak to her very often about this and everytime she gives me her standard answer.

So to ask the question again, can a true born again believer be deceived?
This isn't an easy question.

I'm hesitant to give an opinion about another person's salvation, but I will say that when someone says that things have changed since the Bible was written they're definitely deceived. All deception comes from a lack of the knowledge and understanding of the Bible. It's unfortunate but many, many people are deceived these days. They've abandoned God's word for their own vain imaginings.

John 10:1-5 says: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

The sheep hear His voice and follow; they won't follow a stranger. If a person follows a stranger, you have to wonder if they're truly His. Of course a person may simply be naive or immature. In any case, it doesn't sound like a good situation for her to be in.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,335
29,584
113
#4
The great deception is to deny God. All others pale in comparison.
 
Feb 16, 2017
1,037
285
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#5
There are many verses in the Bible about being deceived. Is it possible for a true born again believer to be deceived or are these people not really born again. I struggle with this, especially with what is happening all over the world. Let me give an example. My sister-in- law in South Africa works for a church, they have women pastors, they have gay pastors and they perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Is she being deceived? I would say so, but when I speak to her about this, her standard answer is that things have changed since the Bible was written. This is such warning sign to me that all I can say to her is "Run, Sister, Run, but yet, she is still working there. I no longer live in South Africa, but I speak to her very often about this and everytime she gives me her standard answer.

So to ask the question again, can a true born again believer be deceived?

Lots of deceptions that a believer can fall into.

Hebrews 13:9 tells you why this happens.

And yes, its a deception to BELIEVE that "gay marriage" is allowed by God., as this "pastor" and her sheep have to believe that homosexuality is not a sin, to then allow for gay marriage.
Gay adoption is worse.
 

Pemican

Senior Member
Sep 27, 2014
959
246
43
#6
There are many verses in the Bible about being deceived. Is it possible for a true born again believer to be deceived or are these people not really born again. I struggle with this, especially with what is happening all over the world. Let me give an example. My sister-in- law in South Africa works for a church, they have women pastors, they have gay pastors and they perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Is she being deceived? I would say so, but when I speak to her about this, her standard answer is that things have changed since the Bible was written. This is such warning sign to me that all I can say to her is "Run, Sister, Run, but yet, she is still working there. I no longer live in South Africa, but I speak to her very often about this and everytime she gives me her standard answer.

So to ask the question again, can a true born again believer be deceived?

Yes a born again believer can be deceived. Our protection is knowing the Word of God, and of course God Himself. If your sister is a believer in Christ, she will come under a lot of divine discipline for being so out of line with God's Word. This is God's way of showing love to one of His own children. But if her life continues on much as before with no sign of discipline, I would question whether she is a believer at all. She would just be another unbeliever who buys into all the satanic, humanistic lies, and sets aside the Bible as no longer relevant.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,777
113
#7
So to ask the question again, can a true born again believer be deceived?
Yes, it is entirely possible. Many born again Christians have not been properly grounded in the Word of God, nor have they been discipled, nor have they invested the time and effort to (a) carefully, prayerfully, and seriously study the Word of God and (b) inform themselves of all the deceptions that have entered into Christendom and also the world at large.

Regarding women and gay pastors and same sex marriage, that should be a no-brainer. Every Christian should be on the same page. But by listening to false teachers and preachers, people have allowed themselves to be deceived. You are just wasting your breath trying to change another's views. Those who go into error rarely -- if ever -- come out of that,

As to South Africa, a beautiful country has been utterly ruined by those who have followed the lies of Satan and allowed racism, hatred, corruption and anarchy to take control. But this is also the condition of all Western countries today, particularly the USA. Black Racism has become official government policy in America since January 2021.
 

Nebuchadnezzer

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2019
1,134
205
63
#8
There are many verses in the Bible about being deceived. Is it possible for a true born again believer to be deceived or are these people not really born again. I struggle with this, especially with what is happening all over the world. Let me give an example. My sister-in- law in South Africa works for a church, they have women pastors, they have gay pastors and they perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Is she being deceived? I would say so, but when I speak to her about this, her standard answer is that things have changed since the Bible was written. This is such warning sign to me that all I can say to her is "Run, Sister, Run, but yet, she is still working there. I no longer live in South Africa, but I speak to her very often about this and everytime she gives me her standard answer.

So to ask the question again, can a true born again believer be deceived?
We all are deceived. That is why we need to be saved. Once born again we still see dimly. Why? Because we are still being deceived on many things. But we are patient, we endure, and we strive for all our actions to be rooted in love because love cover a multitude of sins.

Above all we hold fast to what is truth. That Jesus is Lord and Savior, and that His Word is trustworthy and true. This is the truth we hold fast to.