Don’t let deceit cause your spiritual death. Eve not only let the serpent deceive her, but it also ruined their chance to live forever^†. So, that lie led to their spiritual death. It also brought sin into our world.

† the tree of life was also in the garden, if they ate from it, they would have lived forever [see Genesis 2:9 and 3:22 and 24].

Revised: Monday, August 14, 2023

Deceit Leads to Death; Truth Gives You Amazing Life

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: 1 Peter 2:1. Bible lesson background 1 Peter 2:1-3: The Bible Knowledge Commentary – Repentance was called for: Therefore, rid yourselves. Peter then listed five sins of attitude and speech, which if harbored would drive wedges between believers.

1. Malice (kakian) is wicked ill-will.

2. Deceit (dolon) is deliberate dishonesty.

3. Hypocrisy (hypokriseis), pretended piety and love.

4. Envy (phthonous), resentful discontent.

5. Slander (katalalias), backbiting lies.

None of these should have any place in those who are born again. Rather, in obedience to the Word, believers are to make decisive breaks with the past.

1 Peter 2:1 [read 1 Peter 2:1-3 (1)]: So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. (HCSB); KJV: Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,

Deception

Matthew 23:27-28 [read Matthew 23:1-36 (27-28)]: Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead people’s bones and all kinds of filth. 28 It is the same with you. Outwardly, and to others, you have the look of religious people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and sin. (OEB); KJV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.; It is often easy to deceive others, simply carry a Bible everywhere, wear a cross, and say religious things. But we must not forget the fact that God sees through and beyond the deception. My friends, please be sincere, your eternal life is at risk.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 [read Jeremiah 17:5-10 (9-10)]: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (NLT); KJV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Deceit in the KJV

Apate: G539 ἀπάτη apate (a-pa’-tee) n. the lusts excited by deceit, i. e. by deceitful influences seducing to sin.; Deceit – Colossians 2:8.; Deceitful – Ephesians 4:22.; Deceitfulness – Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19, and Hebrews 3:13.; Deceivableness – 2 Thessalonians 2:10.; Deceivings – 2 Peter 2:13.
Dolioo: G1387 δολιόω dolioo (d̮o-liy-o’-ō) v. to deceive, use deceit. Romans 3:13.
Dolos: G1388 δόλος dolos (d̮o’-los) n. A) A lure, snare; hence, craft, deceit, guile (all except 1 Peter 3:10). B) To speak deceitfully.; Deceit – Mark 7:22 and Romans 1:29.; Craft – Mark 14:1.; Guile – John 1:47, 2 Corinthians 12:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:3, 1 Peter 2:1, 22, and 3:10.; Subtilty – Matthew 26:4 and Acts 13:10.
Plane: G4106 πλάνη plane (pla’-nee) n.
I. a wandering, a straying about.
A. One led astray from the right way, roams hither and thither.
II. metaph.
A. Mental straying.
i. Error, wrong opinion relative to morals or religion.
B. Error, which shows itself in action, a wrong mode of acting.
C. Error, that which leads into error, deceit or fraud.; Deceit – 1 Thessalonians 2:3. Deceive – Ephesians 4:14. Delusion – 2 Thessalonians 2:11.; Error – Matthew 27:64, Romans 1:27, James 5:20, 2 Peter 2:18 & 3:17, 1 John 4:6, and Jude 11.

Deceit leads to death

Mark 7:20-23 [read Mark 7:1-23 (20-23)]: And then he (Jesus) added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” (NLT); KJV: And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.; Deceit is simply defined as misleading, fooling, or tricking another person. False claims and/or actions are used to do this. It is lying or spreading untrue information as true. The deceiver is untrustworthy.

Jesus is the truth that gives amazing life

The Lord Jesus is the one that tells us the truth about God. He also gives us an amazing life that will not end.
John 14:5-6 [read John 14:1-6 (5-6)]: Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. So how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life [or the one true way to have life]. The only way to the Father is through me [No one comes to the Father except through me]. (EXB); KJV: Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.; G225 ἀλήθεια aletheia (a-lee’-thei-a) n. [per Thayer’s Greek Lexicon for John 14:6] truth; I am he in whom the truth is summed up and impersonated.

Spiritual Maturity Living Truth

Ephesians 4:14-15 [read Ephesians 4:7-16 (14-15)]: So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.
15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (AMPC); KJV: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Let Truth Abide in You

1 John 2:26-27 [read 1 John 2:24-27 (26-27)]: I have written to you about those who are trying to lead you in the wrong way. 27 Christ gave you the Holy Spirit and He lives in you. You do not need anyone to teach you. The Holy Spirit is able to teach you all things. What He teaches you is truth and not a lie. Live by the help of Christ as the Holy Spirit has taught you. (NLV); KJV: These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Have a wonderful day and live a life that is true; You Can Not Fool God! So God’s people should remove false words or actions (trying to fool others). By doing so, they keep away from deceit (anything that will mislead others).

Remember, deceit leads to spiritual death, and truth gives amazing life. I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible lesson. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺