1.1 Defining Deception: Deception is the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. It is the act of misleading or tricking someone into believing a lie or untruth. Proverbs 12:22
1.2 The Origin of Deception: Deception originated from Satan, who is described in the Bible as the father of lies. He deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, leading to the fall of man. (John 8 44, (Genesis 3 1-6) Genesis 3:1-6
1.3 The Danger of Deception: Deception can lead to destruction and eternal separation from God. It can cause us to stray from the truth and live in sin. Proverbs 14:12
2.1 Satan's Deception of Eve: Satan deceived Eve by twisting God's words and making her doubt God's goodness. This led to the original sin and the fall of mankind. Genesis 3:1-6
2.2 Jacob's Deception of Isaac: Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceived his father Isaac to steal his brother Esau's blessing. This led to a lifetime of strife and conflict. Genesis 27:1-29
2.3 Ananias and Sapphira's Deception: Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit about the amount of money they received from selling a piece of property. Their deception led to their sudden deaths. Acts 5:1-10
3.1 Broken Relationships: Deception can lead to broken relationships, as trust is shattered and bonds are broken. Proverbs 16:28
3.2 Spiritual Death: Deception can lead to spiritual death, as it separates us from God and leads us into sin. James 1:15
3.3 Eternal Judgment: Those who persist in deception and do not repent will face God's eternal judgment. Revelation 21:8
4.1 Abiding in God's Word: We can overcome deception by abiding in God's Word, which is truth. John 8:31-32
4.2 Discernment through the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit helps us discern truth from deception. John 16:13
4.3 Accountability in Christian Community: Being part of a Christian community provides accountability and helps guard against deception. Hebrews 10:24-25
5.1 Speaking the Truth: As followers of Christ, we are called to speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15
5.2 Walking in the Truth: We are called to walk in the truth, living lives that reflect God's truth. (3 (John 1 4) John 1:4
5.3 Worshiping in Truth: Our worship must be in spirit and in truth, free from deception and hypocrisy. John 4:24