1. Two opposing Bible teachers: Spirit of God and Deceiving spirit of Satan
God warns ‘be not deceived.’ But how to not be deceived? As we study the Bible, we must know that behind every Bible study there are only two possible teachers. One is the Spirit of God, and the other is the spirit of Satan as the old Deceiving Serpent. God told Adam and Eve "thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:17) The serpent told Eve, "Ye shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4). The Serpent made a statement contradicting God. But the Serpent is not wiser nor superior to God, He is merely a Deceiver who will be punished by God. Adam and Eve’s souls were destroyed eternally since Eve believed the Serpent. It is not wise to contradict God nor believe those who contradict God, because the consequence is everlasting torment. Revelations 20:10 says, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." And in Luke 6:39 Jesus says, "Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" God will punish deceivers, the deceived and the disobedient. To not be deceived, we must learn the Word of God from the Spirit of God.

2. Satan’s Deception = Disobey God without eternal consequence
Satan’s main method to stop souls from entering the kingdom of God is deceiving people to disobey God. Revelations 12:20 says, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." Let’s look closer at the old serpent’s cunning lie in the Garden of Eden to better understand how Satan deceives. Please notice the serpent did not tell Eve to disobey God and he did not force Eve to disobey God. All he did was lie to her. The serpent taught the Word of God with assurance that disobeying God’s commandment would not result in eternal death. This deception removed fear of God with the lie that there would be no eternal consequence to disobeying God. Now also deceiving pastors and churches teach the Bible with the lie to sinning churchgoers that their place in heaven is secure and disobeying the commandments of Jesus will not result in eternal damnation. Satan’s main deception is to teach the Bible with the lie that you may disobey God without the consequence of eternal punishment. Those who learn from these deceivers and believe this deception, will disobey God, and they will face eternal damnation just as Adam and Eve.

3. Three study standards: Wholesome word, Jesus’s words, Doctrine of godliness
The Bible warns us to not be deceived because Satan and his servants are masters of deception. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness." Deceiving servants of Satan appear as servants of God teaching the Word of God. So how to distinguish truth from deception? There are three key standards that true servants do not contradict when teaching the Word of God: first the wholesome words, second the words of Jesus, and third the doctrine of godliness. This guidance to identify and avoid deceivers is in 1 Timothy 6:3-5: "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." Anyone who does not teach according to these three principles is proud, ignorant, evil, has no truth in them and falsely believes that their personal gain is godliness. The Bible says to withdraw from such people. Let’s examine these three standards point by point.

4. Wholesome Word: Context matters, No contradiction, Purpose is righteousness
The first standard is agreeing to wholesome words. The Bible is the Word of God and the only authority on God, eternal life, hell, and heaven. The only one who can revoke or revise the Word of God is God himself. However, most pastors, Bible teachers and churchgoers have learned the technique of adding, removing, twisting, and pulling out of context bits of Scripture to suit their desires of what they would like to hear and believe. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, "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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Doctrine is teaching on how we ought to live our life. Those who do not love truth reject sound doctrine that upholds the wholesome Word of God, and instead embrace teachers who preach doctrine of men and devils which allow them to satisfy their sinful desires without fear of eternal condemnation. From Genesis to Revelation, God the Creator is a holy, righteous God who created people with the choice to be good or evil; He blesses those who choose to obey Him and do good, He curses those who choose to disobey Him and do evil. Doctrine of men and devils will teach a God who is merciful, loving, gracious and leave out that God is also vengeful, righteous and hates sin. Just as half-truths are lies, twisted parts of the Word of God are deceptions of the devil.

Sound doctrine from the wholesome word teaches that you must be righteous from the heart and obey God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." God has given all scripture for the purpose that you do righteousness. Satan twists scripture for the purpose that you do sin. The purpose of true doctrine, true ministry and true servants of God is to teach the church to grow in holiness and righteousness to the gold standard of Jesus himself. Ephesians 4:11-14 says, "And he [God] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" There are two key points here. First, true servants given by God will teach doctrine to build up believers who are the body of Christ to be as righteous and holy as Jesus who is the head. Second, false servants teach a variety of cunning, deceptive doctrine that deviate from the purpose of growing in godliness. Those who do not want to live righteously, twist Scripture to show that salvation is assured by only claiming Jesus’s finished work of the cross. Those who do not want to obey God, twist Scripture to show grace and faith as empty of obedience. Those who do not want to take responsibility for their choices, twist Scripture to show everything is God’s doing and responsibility. Deceivers and deception are contradictory and unrighteous, but God and God’s Word are not. If someone teaches the Bible such that to prove their doctrine, they contradict one part of the Word of God with another, take Scripture out of context, or otherwise twist the wholesome word of God, they are a false teacher.

5. Words of Jesus: Way of eternal life, Standard for judgment, True gospel
The second standard to identify truth and truth-tellers is agreeing to the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus have elevated importance in the Bible because Jesus taught the righteousness required for eternal life. In John 6:68, Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." Jesus’s words have absolute weight for final judgement because every soul will be judged according to obeying or disobeying His words. In John 12:48 Jesus says, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Those who obey the commandments of Jesus will be eternally blessed, those who disobey will be eternally destroyed. The words of Jesus are so important, that the Bible tells us we should not have fellowship or wish God’s blessing on anyone who teaches doctrine that opposes the doctrine of Christ. In 2 John 1:9-10 it says, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed…" For example, the doctrine of Christ includes the teaching that obeying Jesus’s commandments is required for eternal life and every soul will be judged for eternity according to their works. If anyone opposes these teachings, they oppose the doctrine of Christ and do not have God’s presence; and true believers ought not to have unity or fellowship with them.

The Bible contains specific warnings to not alter and corrupt the ways of Jesus Christ. Acts 13:9-10 says, "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" Changing the preaching of Jesus Christ to not require righteousness for heaven may please people’s itching ears, but it will also bring the curse of God. Galatians 1:6-8 says, "… there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Changing the preaching of Jesus is changing the gospel of Jesus to another gospel. Some deceivers interpret Paul’s words and teachings on grace, faith, and the gospel, to undermine and oppose Jesus’s words and teachings. But Paul’s teachings are part of the wholesome Word and Jesus’s teachings have elevated importance for eternal life and final judgment. So those with true revelation of God’s truth will teach Paul’s writings such that they always support and never contradict Jesus’s words.

6. Doctrine of godliness: Be Righteous and Be Holy, it is the Will of God
The third standard to identify truth and truth-tellers is agreeing to the doctrine of godliness. The will of God is that we be like Him in character; this is the reason God made man’s soul in His own image. God is righteous and holy, and His purpose in creation is to have children like Himself who become righteous and holy. 1 John 3:7,10 says, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he [God] is righteous...In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God..." 1 Peter 1:14-16 says, "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." If you cleanse your life of sin and draw close to God, God will draw close to you and pour out His spirit, power, and grace so you may grow to obey Him more and more and become righteous and holy. Deceivers and the deceived consider themselves godly based on personal gain and glory in this world, but the Bible says they are "destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (1 Timothy 6:3-5). True servants of God will teach Scripture emphasizing the doctrine of godliness and exhorting believers to grow in doing righteousness and holiness as God is righteous and holy.

7. Avoid false teachers who contradict doctrine of Christ
So how to not be deceived? Identify truth and true servants of God with the three standards of not contradicting the wholesome Word of God, words of Jesus and doctrine of godliness. The truth of God’s word is kept by those who love and obey the truth with these three principles. Paul warns true believers to make note of and avoid deceivers who teach false doctrines that contradict true doctrine. In Romans 16:17-18 it says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." These verses make two key points. First, true believers and disciples of Jesus will not have unity and fellowship with deceivers. Light does not have fellowship with darkness. Righteousness does not have agreement with unrighteousness. Those in Christ do not have unity with those in Satan. Second, false preachers do not serve Lord Jesus Christ but rather their own belly, that is gain for money and glory; so, they use nice sounding words and sermons to deceive churchgoers to do what they want them to do.

8. True servants of God love truth; they please and obey God above men
Jesus is the gold standard of a true servant of God. In Matthew 22:16 it says, "Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men." True servants of God are honest and teach truth because they do not care to gain respect or praise from others, they only seek to please and honor God. True servants of God are not taught, accredited and ordained by religious organizations, rather God calls and reveals the truth to them. In Galatians 1:10-12 Paul says, "…do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Only those who seek to please and obey God above men are true servants of God.

9. Signs, miracles, and wonders can be Satan’s deception
To not be deceived, you must love and obey the truth above all else. Even signs, miracles and wonders are not a definitive marker for God’s truth versus Satan’s deception. God is real and Satan as the deceiving Old Serpent is real. God has allowed Satan to be prince of this world and Satan has power to deceive even with wonders. In Matthew 24:24 Jesus says, "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." Jesus specifically warns that false servants will show signs and wonders so impressive that, if it were possible, it might deceive the very elect. However, the very elect who truly love and obey God above all else are not deceived. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 says, "…the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." These verses tell us that Satan has great powers, signs, and wonders to deceive those who enjoy unrighteousness and do not love the truth. Furthermore, Satan is not thwarting God’s plan by doing this, as God himself sends delusions to these people who take pleasure in unrighteousness and do not love the truth. To not be deceived, love and obey God’s truth above seeking supernatural wonders. Satan and his servants may do great signs and miracles, but they will never bring the truth that came by Jesus.

10. Love, Know and Obey Truth above all else to not be Deceived
The Bible gives repeat warnings to not be deceived that you may disobey God and not suffer eternal consequences. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." These verses tell us that those who are unrighteous shall not enter heaven; it even specifically names examples of sinners and the sins they do that will not allow them to enter heaven. The righteousness mandatory to enter heaven is obeying the commandments of Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Apostle Paul warns of corrupting the truth that came by Jesus, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Children of God obey God’s commandments and, they will inherit the kingdom of their heavenly Father. Children of the Devil disobey God’s commandments and do the sinful works of their Father the Devil. The Old deceiving Serpent and now many pastors, contradict the wholesome Word of God, words of Jesus, and doctrine of godliness to teach that it is nothing you do or do not do that will take you to heaven. These false servants are not wiser or greater than God. Galatians 6:7-8 says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Eternal life is not according to what you claim to believe, it is according to what you do. You will reap what you sow. James 1:22 says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Deception twists the Word of God to teach obeying the commandments of Jesus is not mandatory, not possible, and offer alternate routes to heaven. The spirit of deception is a spirit of disobedience. To not be deceived, love the truth, know the truth, obey the truth.

SUMMARY Points

Be Not DECEIVED
Two OPPOSING Bible Teachers: Spirit of GOD versus Spirit of SATAN
Do Not CONTRADICT God or believe those who contradict God
Deceivers, Deceived, Disobedient face God’s EVERLASTING Punishment

Satan’s Deception = Disobey God without Eternal Consequence
Serpent’s Deception = Remove FEAR of GOD with Lie
Church Deception = Heaven Secure for Sinning churchgoers

Servants of Satan APPEAR AS Servants of God teaching WORD of God
3 Standards for Bible study: Wholesome word, Jesus’s words, Doctrine of godliness
Use to Identify and AVOID Deceivers
False teachers = Proud, Ignorant, Evil, No truth, Falsely believe Gain is godliness

FIRST standard = WHOLESOME words
Wholesome Word: Context matters, No contradiction, Purpose is righteousness
Only GOD who can revoke or revise the WORD of God
Deception = Add, Remove, Twist, Pull out of Context for sinful LUSTS

DOCTRINE = Teaching on HOW to LIVE Life
Doctrine of MEN and DEVILS = Satisfy SINFUL desires without Fear
SOUND Doctrine of GOD = Be RIGHTEOUS = OBEY God
TRUE Church Doctrine = Be Righteous and Holy as Jesus
FALSE Church Doctrine = Deviate from requiring godliness
FALSE Teachers = Contradict Scripture with Scripture, Out of Context, Twist Scripture

SECOND standard = Words of JESUS
Words of JESUS= Way of ETERNAL LIFE
Words of JESUS = Standard for JUDGMENT
Words of JESUS =True GOSPEL

NO Unity with those Opposing Doctrine of Christ
PAUL’s words Never Contradict JESUS’s words
God’s Curse is on those who pervert and change the gospel of Jesus

THIRD standard = Doctrine of GODLINESS
Be RIGHTEOUS and Be HOLY = WILL of GOD
LOVE and OBEY Truth

AVOID false teachers who CONTRADICT doctrine of Christ
NO UNITY of Disciples of Christ and Deceivers
FALSE preachers serve their OWN Belly

True Servants = Called by GOD & TRUTH by Revelation
True Servants = Please and Obey GOD above Men

Signs, Miracles, Wonders can be Satan’s Deception
DECEIVED = Enjoy Unrighteousness & Do Not Love Truth
GOD allows DECEPTION of those who do NOT Love Truth & Righteousness

RIGHTEOUSNESS required for HEAVEN
Spirit of DECEPTION = Spirit of DISOBEDIENCE
To NOT be Deceived = Love, Know and Obey Truth ABOVE ALL