Blessings in the name of JESUS….🎚️🎚️
10 Ways people are deceived about what they believe…
The Scriptures offer us a sobering reality: our perception of ourselves can be completely out of sync with how JESUS sees us. Nowhere is this more evident than in Revelation 3:17, where JESUS rebukes the church of Laodicea and said, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
This chilling contrast reveals that it is possible to be fully convinced of your spiritual health while being utterly bankrupt in the eyes of GOD. Sadly, many professing believers are self-deceived, thinking they are secure when they are actually standing on extremely shaky ground. At the judgment seat of JESUS CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:10) — where believers are judged for what they have thought, said and done — many will experience deep regret and guilt for how they lived and fear the Judgement.
The following are 10 common ways people deceive themselves spiritually and what Scripture reveals about GOD’S true standard.
- Are you merely religious, or are you truly born again?
(John 3:3–8)
JESUS told Nicodemus, a devout religious leader, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot SEE the Kingdom of GOD.”
Nicodemus had theology, morality, and religious status, but he didn’t have relationship. Church attendance, good morals, or family heritage doesn’t guarantee salvation. The new birth (born again)— a supernatural work of the HOLY SPIRIT — is the ONLY gateway into the Kingdom. If your Christianity lacks inward transformation, (2 Corinthians 5:17), you are merely religious, deceived, and NOT REDEEMED !!.
- Are you saved but not sanctified?
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Salvation is instantaneous, but sanctification is progressive. Paul prayed that the believers in Thessalonica would be “sanctified completely,” meaning conformed to JESUS CHRIST in body, soul, and spirit. Many are content with a minimalist salvation experience, but never pursue holiness. If you’re content with a faith that hasn’t touched your habits, speech, desires, and relationships, you may be saved but deceived since you’re failing to grow into the maturity the LORD our GOD desires.
- Do you think you’re “Saved” and ready to inherit the Kingdom, but sadly, not close enough ??
(Mark 12:34, Acts 11:14)
JESUS told a wise scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of GOD.” Not far — but not in. The same can be said of Cornelius in Acts 10:11, a devout man whose prayers and generosity rose before GOD, but he still needed to hear the Gospel to be saved. Moralism, reverence, and sincerity are not enough. Proximity to truth is not possession of it. Don’t settle for being “CLOSE ” to salvation. Press all the way into the Kingdom of Heaven through repentance and faith in JESUS CHRIST, or else you’re deceived by replacing conversion with moralism.
- Do you claim to be a prophetic but live an ungodly life?
(Matthew 7:15–16)
JESUS warned us: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” Who has the eyes 👀 to see !!
Gifting is not the same as godliness. Just because someone moves in prophetic utterance or spiritual power doesn’t mean they are submitted to CHRIST JESUS Lordship. If your private life doesn’t match your public ministry, your “prophetic gift” is a dangerous counterfeit !!
- Do you move in miracles but lack intimacy with JESUS CHRIST ? It’s called a personal RELATIONSHIP, NO MIDDLE MEN !!
(Matthew 7:21–23)
JESUS declares, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the kingdom… On that day many will say to me, ‘Did we not prophesy… cast out demons… do mighty works?’” And He will respond, “I never knew you” !!
Charismatic power is not the same as covenant relationship. GOD can use people as vessels without endorsing their lives. It’s not enough to move in the supernatural — you must walk in RELATIONSHIP !!. Don’t confuse spiritual manifestations with godliness and spiritual authenticity.
- Are you content with your walk with GOD while missing His fullness?
(Matthew 5:6)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
A dangerous reality is spiritual complacency. Many believers stop pursuing JESUS CHRIST because they’ve STOPPED, THEY reached a plateau — they go to church, read the Bible occasionally, got water Baptized….and stopped !! and to them they think that they had done enough ??. But JESUS pronounces BLESSINGS, not on the satisfied, but on the HUNGRY. If you have no appetite for that direct and personal relationship, a deeper holiness, it may show that you’ve been deceived by feeding on the world instead of drinking from the fountain of LIVING WATERS… of GOD, LORD JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT!! (1 John 5:7)
- Are you reasoning with GOD — or walking away from HIM ?
(Isaiah 1:18)
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD …”
JESUS welcomes honest dialogue and must be rooted in reverence. But today, many are “deconstructing” — dismantling their faith without seeking GOD’S voice, either in prayer or reading HIS WORD, the HOLY BIBLE. They trade truth for being a part of a disconnected gathering of those who are not firmly rooted in the WORD of GOD.
SO saith the LORD “Do you not therefore Err, because you know not the Scriptures nor the power of GOD ! (Mark 12:24)… JESUS invites questions, but not rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23), masked as authenticity. Are you wrestling like Jacob, or wandering like the Israelites ? True faith wrestles with GOD so that you will surrender — false faith deconstructs to escape the Accountability and Responsibility of a true and intimate relationship with JESUS CHRIST our LORD and SAVIOUR 🎚️🎚️.
- Is JESUS CHRIST there for your supposed convenience or is JESUS your entire life?? All in or all out ! (Revelation 3:15-16).
(Colossians 3:4)
“When JESUS CHRIST who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
For the True Believers, JESUS is a part of their lives — not like a spiritual hobby or a Sunday commitment. But Paul makes it clear: JESUS CHRIST IS your life. Everything else — career, relationships, identity — must revolve around HIM. If JESUS is only your “Savior” and not your LORD, you may have been deceived by “added Him” without “surrendering fully and completely” to Him, having become that “NEW CREATURE in CHRIST JESUS. For ALL OLD THINGS (beliefs, habits, ungodly friends, pornography, alcohol abuse,….. everything and anything that represents ungodliness……..must fall away !
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
- Do you think you’re a Christian because you said the sinner’s prayer?
(Matthew 7:13–14)
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, AND FEW BE THERE THAT FIND IT.”
Salvation is not a magic formula. The “sinner’s prayer” is not found in Scripture. While confession is vital (Romans 10:9), true conversion involves repentance, faith, and a changed life. Many walk the aisle or repeat a prayer yet your profession may be false. The Scripture says If your life shows no fruit…… (John 15:4-6), verse 6 says that those who do not abide in JESUS, that they will be thrown in the fire and burned. Scripture commands believers to produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20)
- Do you justify fornication because you ‘love’ the person?
1 Corinthians 6:9–10
“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral … will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Modern culture says, “If you love someone, it’s okay.” Scripture says otherwise. Fornication — any sexual relationship outside of marriage between one man and one woman — is a serious sin that can deceive you into thinking you’re right with God when you’re not. Love that leads you to violate GOD’s Word is not biblical love—it’s idolatry. Holiness is not optional. Sexual sin unrepentant of is eternally dangerous. Examine yourselves to see if you are truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Conclusion…….
Self-deception is one of the most subtle and dangerous threats to a believer’s walk. You can be sincere — and sincerely wrong. You can be near the Kingdom — but not in it. You can think you’re secure — while living in rebellion. Think about what it takes to inherit the KINGDOM ….. Living by the Book of Instruction (Holy Bible) 2 Timothy 3:16 is a great place to start putting together that Relationship with JESUS CHRIST.
WE apologize for the long read, but this has been placed here by the Inspiration of JESUS CHRIST.
Please read. We are here, Colossians 3:17 ministries, to help your start on the Path to eternal life. Help us help you. Participate in your own rescue. No time for pride. Praying that those who read, study and apply what they learn, will be found acceptable on the Day of Judgement.. Amen 🎚️🎚️
Colossians 3:17 ministries ✝️🎚✝️