Galatians 6:7 warns us, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.“
I wondered if the phrase be not deceived appeared elsewhere in the Bible. Much to my surprise, I discovered that it appears five times (five is the Bible number representing grace).
God, in His mercy and grace, dictated what He wished us to beware of in His Word. He has not left us to chance – He has not left us to wonder what to do. So what are these five areas of which God wants us to take heed? Let’s take a look:
1. He warns us against deception:
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; ~Deuteronomy 11:16
We are warned not to be conned into worshipping or serving other gods! God’s Word says that God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) and does not want any other gods in our lives. There are many gods out there – many that most people don’t even realize are gods. Anything that you worship or put ahead of God is a god in your life. Is it a religious god, like Mary, Muhammad, Joseph Smith? Is it gambling? Is it alcohol? Is it your job? Anything that takes our eyes off the God of Glory and consumes our thoughts is a god in our lives.
2. He warns us of false Christs (anti Christs):
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. ~Luke 21:8
I can hear some saying now that we could never be deceived by false or anti-Christs. But there are some who preach a false gospel – they are just as bad. They preach just enough truth but the rest is deception. Remember, there is no need to warn someone when the false preacher teaches open and blatant heresy. It’s the cunning lies and the cunning deceptions that one must be concerned with. The false teachers will appear to be Christ. Look at Satan – he is called the “Angel of Light.” He will strive to deceive even the elect [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. ~Matthew 24:24 ]
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is plain and simple: He is the Son of God, He came down to earth in the form of man, born of a virgin, died on the cross to pay our penalty for sin, three days later He arose from the dead, then He ascended into to Heaven and now sits at the right hand of God awaiting His return. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ and no other. We have nothing to do with salvation. It was provided by God through Christ (For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9). Anything else that is preached is a false gospel.
3. He warns us of who won’t enter the Kingdom of God:
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. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
