Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture from 2nd Thessalonians, but before that….
There will be many people who begin the Christian Life who won’t be able to complete it. Like climbing a mountain, the path will become too steep, too narrow, and too restrictive. Rather than developing a love for the teachings of scripture and repenting of their sins, their hearts will be led astray by all of the temptations and the pleasures of this world.
Luke 8 ¹² Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
God’s Word leads us on the path to eternal life, but when people refuse to submit to its teachings, they will begin to believe a lie instead. At that point, they will start living a skewed form of reality that is based on false beliefs and hope. They will become so deceived that they will actually convince themselves that what they are doing is acceptable with God. This is evidenced by all of the false forms of Christianity in the world today, places that are filled with open immorality and wicked living. Rather than turning away from sin, they will develop their own false narrative, one that supports their lie, rather than accepting the truth. This is one of the punishments from God for all those who chose to rebel against the teachings of His precious Son Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 2 ¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: ¹² That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The message of repentance towards Christ has been preached for thousands of years, but it is a message that many people still choose to ignore. This is because they don’t want to give up their wicked lifestyles, proving by their own disobedience that they love their sins more than Christ Jesus. In order to obtain eternal life, we must believe the truth, live the truth, and love the truth. It is only through a liberal dose of scriptural truth that we can ever become converted and completely transformed into an obedient child of God.
“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
The world is surrounded by a sea of false Christianity, people who claim that they can see, yet they still abide in their sinful condition. They believe that they are on their way to heaven, but refuse to do what is required to obtain eternal life. In order to find healing and forgiveness with God, they need to be converted to the truth, because without repentance, their souls will be lost forever.
“For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Acts 28:27
Many people who profess the Christian faith are living like complete reprobates. Many of them claim to know the will of God; they just choose not to do it. Unless you submit to its teachings, you will never be converted from anything, and any hope of salvation will be lost. Like mosquitoes breed mosquitoes, religious hypocrisy breeds hypocrisy.
……. the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:” Job 8:13
Matthew 15 ⁷ Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, ⁸ This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Not everybody is a brother in the Christian faith. Jesus explains the requirements for becoming part of God’s family.
Matthew 12 ⁴⁷ Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. ⁴⁸ But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? ⁴⁹ And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! ⁵⁰ For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
To actually be a friend of the Lord Jesus requires obedience to His will.
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14
Some people will be filled with all types of religious works, thinking that they well somehow earn them a place in heaven, but unless they repent and submit the will of God, everything that they have done will be fruitless.
Matthew 7 ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Numerous false prophets are infecting the world as we speak, leading people astray from true obedience to God. Many of them have become a household name and are highly esteemed, but they are a complete abomination to God. Those who preach scriptural truth will be hated by this world, not adored by them.
“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15
If people are going to reject the truth, then it is a just punishment by God that they are deceived by false prophets. Masses of people will follow them, places that are infected with sin and filled with the leaven of hypocrisy. They are so far away from God, that when somebody speaks the truth in Christ, they will cast out their name as evil. The prophecy is fulfilled in them, because God has sent them this delusion.
2 Peter 2 ¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
The only inheritance that these people have is God’s wrath.
“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,” Romans 2:8
2 Timothy 4 ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
A delusion is defined as a false fixed belief that will not change, even in light of conflicting evidence. It is an altered reality that is consistently held, even though it is a complete lie. It’s impossible to bring these types of people to a place of repentance because God will send them this delusion. They claim that they can see, but the reality is that they are completely blinded by their own impenitence.
Those who don’t love the truth of scripture enough to repent, will certainly not enter into heaven. Although they sincerely believe that they will be there, the truth is that they are completely deceived. When they turn their ears away from the truth, all that is left for them is to believe a lie, live in their own fantasy, and walk in a…
……. Fools Paradise
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious goups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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