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Is it possible for the elect to be deceived? Most
Christians have been taught that it is impossible and cite Matthew 24: 24 where
Jesus told his disciples,
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders: insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
The Christian breathes a sigh of relief and
assures himself, "See, Jesus said IF it were possible. That means it
must not be possible." This is a comforting thought, but is not what
Jesus meant, because he said more things about being deceived earlier in this
chapter, and we must take everything he said about this in context to understand
if "if it were possible" really means it is not possible.
At the beginning of Matthew, chapter 24, Jesus'
disciples asked him, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what
shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Before
Jesus even gave them the answer, he warned:
"Take heed that no
man deceive you."
Jesus gave his disciples a command, that if obeyed, would
insure they would not be in darkness, or deceived. This command was to
have a single eye: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine
eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be
evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. "If therefore the
light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew
6:22-23
What does it mean to have a single eye and a body full of
light (truth), and an evil eye with a body full of darkness (deception)?
Jesus explained this the following words: "No man can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else
he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon." Matthew 6:24
A single eye of devotion towards God results in having a
single eye with clear vision. An evil eye, with divided devotion towards
God results in unclear, or even double vision, which renders a man spiritually
unstable and wide open to spiritual deception.
I have some list serv letters on this subject:
Single Eye Equals Not Deceived
The Elect are Commanded
to Let "No Man Deceive You"
return to:
Exposing Satan's Snares in the Church
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