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NASB | 2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, |
Bible Question:
I share the concern expressed in the issue of delusion. I am concerned that we believers can be deceived and can stray away from our service for God when we have failed to live in the light of God’s revealed truth. Also, I see that many people can believe they are saved when they are not, because they refused to believe the gospel when they heard it and later believed something else that they thought was the gospel but was not. I would love to see a discussion on those two points. First, what happens when a believer will not endure sound doctrine? What happens to him then? (See 2 Timothy 4:3,4). Can this situation be connected to the shipwreck mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:19? Second: What happens when a person refuses to accept the Gospel? Can it be that they are then allowed to think that something else is the gospel? (See 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11). If they believe a false gospel, won’t they be believing they are saved when they are not? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Aixen7z4 - please forgive me for not responding earlier - troubling issues in my life right now. You wrote: "believers can be deceived and can stray away from our service for God when we have failed to live in the light of God’s revealed truth." Yes, I'd agree. This is suggestive of "works" apart from Christ - "apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 I'm not sure that people can believe they are saved when they are not -The Holy Spirit assures us of our salvation. We are told in 1 John to "test the spirits." We are told, "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Cor 13:5" See also Phil 2:12 You asked: "What happens when a believer does not put up with sound doctrine?" Kalos offered this in a previous post: re apostacy - How does apostasy differ from heresy? "Apostasy, 'falling away,' is the act of professed Christians who deliberately reject revealed truth as to (1) the Deity of Jesus Christ, and (2) redemption through His atoning and redeeming sacrifice. Apostasy differs, therefore, from error concerning truth, which may be the result of ignorance, or heresy, which may be due to the snare of Satan (2 Tim 2:25-26), both of which may exist with true faith. The apostate is perfectly described in 2 Tim 4:3-4. Apostates depart from the faith, but not from the outward profession of Christianity (2 Tim 3:5). ... Apostasy in the church, as in Israel, is irremediable and awaits judgment." (p. 1304, New Scofield Reference Bible, Oxford, 1967) You asked: "What happens when a person refuses to accept the Gospel? Can it be that they are then allowed to think that something else is the gospel? (See 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11)." First of all, there is only one true Gospel. The rejection of that truth opens the door to all sorts of idolatrous belief. The rejection of salvation by Grace assumes that one relies upon works. IMO this is pride at the zenith. It is contrary to God; it is anitchrist. The embrace of this deceptive philosophy is the perversion of the true gospel - remember that Satan perverts and conterfeits. People who reject the Gospel, most often refuse to believe that they are in need of saving - they don't understand WHAT they need to be saved from - God's wrath. I suspect that folks who want to believe in universalism fall into this category. How can a loving God . . . God is merciful . . .but because they are so self focused, they lose sight of God's holiness. Mercy without justice is not mercy. Aixen, while I understand your questions, perhaps this particular Forum is not the place for this dialog, especially when some of what you have posted might prompt unnecessary doubt in the hearts and minds of some "babes in Christ." Blessings, mommapbs |