Class Notes: 8/8/2012

When believers reject the truth they fall for the propaganda of Satan


In our study of Satan's deception in the garden, Gen 3:1-6; we saw last time that when the truth is rejected it is replaced by evil. When we stopped last time we were looking at ways that evil has infiltrated the thinking of believers. This affects the trends in the client nation because as goes the believer so goes the client nation.

But the principle we must always remember is that no matter what happens the truth will prevail in God's timing because God will be vindicated. 2Cor 13:8; Psa 76:10;

We saw that one of the ways was the rejection of the doctrine of eternal security. Another form of evil thinking that has infiltrated Christianity is when believers assume that their works are spirituality. If you assume that your works are spirituality, you assume that human energy and human ability is greater than the omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit and His power.

Believers with this evil thinking reject passages such as Rom 4:4-5; Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Remember Satan's lie always includes some truth so he can quote scripture to support his position. He will quote scripture such as James 2:20; "But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?" out of context for the purpose of deception.

Because the Bible also says in 2Pet 3:16; some things are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

And our Lord himself addresses false application of doctrine in Matt 22:29; when he says, "You are deceived because you do not know the Scriptures, or the power of God."

There is also the evil thinking of the believer who succumbs to the pressures of suffering, adversity, and injustice. One of the great tests in life is when we are unjustly treated but if you have been taught Bible Doctrine you understand that suffering injustice is the normal state of the advancing believer in the devil's world because believers are in the world but not of the world. John17:14-16;

There will come a time in your life when you are absolutely right and will be unjustly treated, and that is a dangerous place because this is when either arrogance and subjectivity or humility and objectivity will surface.

In this situation Satan can deceitfully quote Exod 21:24; an eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot?" But 1Pet 2:19; says, For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God when someone endures hardships when suffering unjustly.

There are also believers under the influence of evil who depend on emotional activity such as rededication services, tongues, inspirational speakers, or personal attention.

This believer erroneously assumes that personal feelings and personal experiences are more significant than Bible doctrine.

Another area where believers come under the influence of evil is when the believer has negative volition toward the communication of accurate doctrine.

1Tim 6:3; If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

v4 He is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

v5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are deprived or withdrawn from the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

They may not intend to be evil but they are evil because have been deceived by Satan's propaganda and as a result are under the influence of evil and they don't recognize it. This is described in:2Tim 4:3-4;

v3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves, teachers in accordance to their own desires;

The word translated "endure" or "tolerate" is the future middle indicative of the Greek word "anechomai" that means to put up with, to bear with, to endure, to suffer. This word is always in the middle voice, which means that they participate in the action of the verb, and then something acts upon them.

In this case it is the evil thinking and propaganda of Satan that acts on them. The verb, "anechomai", says that they prefer to listen to the evil propaganda of Satan, rather than sound doctrine, and they do it from their own free will because they like what they hear.

The word translated "tickled" or "itching" is the present middle participle of the Greek word "knetho", that means they want to hear something new or pleasant or something that they agree with. Net note 7 The "new" things are things that contradict Divine Establishment and Bible Doctrine.

Because Satan has deceived them with his propaganda. 2Tim 4:4; they will turn away from hearing the truth, and turn aside to myths.

Gen 3:7; Adam and the woman react to their fall from innocence with the human good of legalism by making coverings for themselves.

Before the fall, Adam and his wife in the state of innocence had no concept of evil. They possessed a soul, that included self- consciousness, mentality, volition, emotion and the conscience with its norms and standards.

In innocence, the norms and standards of their conscience was only good but now that their eyes were opened and they are also conscious of evil. Since the fall, the conscience of man has become an inner witness, a judge and condemner that reflects mankind's sinful, depraved and fallen condition.

The conscience, however, does not bring man to God; only the Word of God; and the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit can accomplish that John 16:8-11;

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