I John 2:26 states, “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”
One Sunday morning when the church service had ended, a man appeared in the back of the sanctuary claiming to be the prophet, John. He said a few pious things and quoted a Scripture, then to prove his authenticity, he held out his hands. “See the nail scars in my hands,” he said. I couldn’t see any scars, though some thought they did. He hastened out the door. The first people to follow him out said he just disappeared. I believe he hightailed it around the corner and hid.
Satan is the father of lies. He has many sons and daughters (John 8:44). The Bible is full of warnings about false prophets. Romans 1:18 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” It is not enough to know the truth. God’s wrath is revealed on these men who know the truth—even hold the truth—but are not living a holy life. Paul goes on to say in verse 21, that they did know God, but didn’t glorify him. Their vain thoughts focused on themselves. They let their imagination run wild until, “… their foolish heart was darkened.” By verse 25 they are changing the truth of God into a lie. Finally God gives them up to a reprobate mind (V. 28). It doesn’t stop there. Romans 1:32 continues, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
It is sad enough to be seduced, worse yet, to become a seducer. Perhaps the false-doctrine crowd finds comfort in being one of many. You will find a lot of company on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Certainly Satan delights in the seducer—He was the first seducer. When God confronted Eve for eating the forbidden fruit her response was, “…The serpent beguiled me…” (Genesis 3:13). Satan can appear as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14) and seduce those who are not grounded in the word of God. Proverbs 14:12 states, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Then in verse 15, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Finally, Solomon advises in Proverbs 25:23, “Buy the truth and sell it not….”
Both in Romans 1:21 and I John 2:19, the seducers actually come from the church body.
In Jeremiah’s day, God used the Rechabites to teach Judah and all Jerusalem a lesson (Jeremiah 35). Jonadab was a Rechabite, the son of Rechab. He had given his sons a commandment to not drink wine, nor build houses, sow seeds, or plant vineyards. As a test, Jeremiah was commanded to bring these sons into the house of the Lord, set wine before them, and tell them to drink it. They absolutely refused, praise God, even though the prophet Jeremiah commanded them. They chose to obey their father’s command.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says to lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge God. Your understanding, or mine, is not enough to stand up against THE SEDUCER!
