Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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:
Deception is by it's very nature convincing. How then can we avoid it? The word of God seems to say that everyone will have a chance to hear and understand the gospel (John 1:9, John 12:32, etc.). But it also says that some will hear a lie and still believe it, thus sealing their eternal fate. We seem to be witnessing it. I heard again recently that most of the people in the average church are not saved. I saw again recently where a person “went forward”. They were asked if they believed certain fact (that Jesus is the Son of God, etc.,) and then put on track to become a member of the church. I met a lady recently who told how she had gone from church to church and finally found one that preaches the truth. I have a client who claims that she likes her church but cannot explain what it teaches. I know a lady who believes in healing, who attends a church where healing services are held each week but has never seen a person healed. Is it because these people have heard the gospel and rejected it? It is evident that we cannot be saved without the active involvement of the Holy Spirit (John 3:6, 1 Cor 12:23, etc.). It is not surprising that The Evil One is also active in influencing us away from God and salvation. It is also interesting to consider that God may send other spirits, other than the Holy Spirit to delude us. Who is not fascinated by the fact the Lord can send us an evil spirit? That is what he did in the case of Saul. We read “The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him” (1 Samuel 16:14). Who is not intrigued by the fact God can send us a lying spirit? That is what he did in the case of Ahab. Micaiah said, “Behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning you” (1 Kings 22:24). Who is not sobered by the fact God sends delusion? That is what is promised to those who fail to believe the Gospel, to those who “received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved”. God will 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” (2 Thessalonians 2:11,12). Who is not troubled by the fact God may leave a man to be controlled by his own sick mind? But that is what happens to those who do not respect God. They have only their natural spirits to discern right from wrong. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28). One supposes that the Holy Spirit in us can resist and defeat Satan and any spirit he sends. But what will he do with the other spirits that have come from God? These are questions one might ask of those who have a reputation of being sound in doctrine, who have not been tossed about by every wind. What has happened, do you think, to people who were not satisfied with the simple gospel but have found satisfaction in something more exciting? |
Bible Answer: Hi Aixen7z4, You ask "Who is not fascinated by the fact the Lord can send us an evil spirit, a lying spirit, and a spirit of delusion?" You wrote "One supposes that the Holy Spirit in us can resist and defeat Satan and any spirit he sends. But what will he do with the other spirits that have come from God?" Jesus Christ is indeed in us because God has placed Him there. We indeed have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I would go on and say that we are to be filled with holy spirit because we receive a spirit of adoption as sons. Romans 8:15. We know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error because we are from God. 1 John 5:6 John 3:3, "Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God." I would interpret the next verse as saying, "Unless one is born of water and the spirit, he can not see the kingdom of God." We have to test the spirits to see which ones are from God. We are justified and given life by the gift of righteousness, even the One, Jesus Christ/. Romans 5:18. Ephesians 4:22, "that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the (s)pirit of your mind, and put on the new self which in the likeness of God/ has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." From the heart, Ray |