The Easy Belief of Self-Deception: Part 2
“Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.” James 1:22 (GW)
In our last post, we introduced the difficult topic of Self-deception. We discussed how there is nothing Satan fears more than the truth of God’s Word. If mankind received the Word honestly, no one would ignore or disavow the gospel, and on Judgment Day, hell would be empty.
This time, we explore Part 2, focusing on the writings of the Apostle Paul.
Bearing One Another’s Burdens
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul addresses the controversy that some Jewish Christians were demanding Gentile Christians conform to the Mosaic Law (specifically regarding circumcision). In Galatians 6:1-5, Paul proclaims how we are all unified in Christ, and how we should each act that way, living the new life of a Spirit-filled believer.
Paul had earlier called out the danger here in the self-deceptive trap of comparison, believing we are holier or more righteous than others if they do not conform to our expressions of faith (Galatians 5:22-26).
Rather than taking delight in the downfall of another for the sake of feeling better about themselves, Paul instructed that if someone is “caught” in wrongdoing, the instinct of those who are “spiritual” should be to “restore” them “in a spirit of gentleness”.
Paul is teaching that our response to those who fall should be to carry them, not bury them! If not, we may fail to carry our own burdens when we ourselves fall short.
Paul’s Warning About the Last Days
In his letters to Timothy, Paul warns about self-deception, particularly during the “last days.” In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, he describes a time when people will be “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive … not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
Paul’s warning is startling because it describes not just the world at large but people who appear godly. They may seem Godly, but their hearts are far from God. They’ve deceived themselves into believing their external behaviors are enough, while their lives contradict the very essence of the Gospel.
This self-deception is particularly dangerous because it can creep into the church. And Paul’s warning is clear: self-deception leads to spiritual ruin. To avoid this, we must continually examine our lives in the light of Scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us and lead us to repentance.
The Consequences of Self-Deception
The consequences of self-deception are severe. Jesus spoke of those who would come to Him on the last day, saying, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” (Matthew 7:22, ESV).
His response is chilling: “Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.’” (Matthew 7:23, GW).
These are people who believed they were doing God’s work. They had convinced themselves that their actions were righteous, that their faith was genuine.
But they had deceived themselves, and their self-deception leads to their condemnation. They had mistaken religious activity for a relationship with Jesus, and as a result, they were eternally separated from Him.
This is the ultimate danger of self-deception. It blinds us to the reality of our spiritual condition. We can become so convinced of our own righteousness that we fail to see our need for repentance and transformation.
We might know all the right doctrines, say all the right prayers, and engage in all the right practices, but without a heart truly surrendered to Christ, it’s all in vain.
A Word of Encouragement
The battle against self-deception is not one we fight alone. God is faithful and will equip us with everything we need to walk in truth. If you find yourself recognizing areas of self-deception in your life, take heart. This recognition is a gift from God, an opportunity to repent and draw closer to Him.
This is in part what Jesus meant when he told newly-converted Jews who believed in him “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32, ESV).
Jesus invites us into a relationship, not a performance. He desires our hearts, not just our outward compliance. As we seek to live authentically in His presence, let us cling to the promise that “If we confess our sins, He forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.” (1 John 1:9, GW).
Let us continually seek to live in the light of God’s truth, allowing His Word to shape and transform us. In doing so, we can avoid the easy belief of self-deception and walk in the fullness of life that Christ offers.
May God continuously lead your path