According to the Bible who are the most easily deceived believers?

Answer 1

"Jesus told them [His disciples], 'Don't let anyone mislead [deceive] you. For many will come in My Name, saying, ''I am the Messiah.'' They will lead many astray.'" (Matt.24:4-5 NLTNew Living Translation)

John's 8th chapter reveals a group of "believers in Christ," who, "didn't believe a Word He said"... and they tried to kill Him! Some may compare this to the hundreds of disparate modern professing Christian denominations extant in the world today: each one who "believes" their Jesus is a little bit better than everyone else's.

"...many who heard Him... believed in Him. Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, 'You are Truly My disciples if YOU KEEP OBEYING My teachings. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.'" (John 8:30-32 NLT)

It was this apparently innocuous statement that lit the fire of resentment in the hearts of these "believers" who already thought themselves to be "God's free people." As the argument progressed, the exchange grew more heated:

"Jesus replied, 'I assure you that everyone who sins [disobeys God's Commandments - I John 3:4] is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet SOME OF YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL ME because MY MESSAGE DOES NOT FIND A PLACE IN YOUR HEARTS.'" (verses 34-37)

Jesus proceeded to reveal to these "believers-in-Him" how far from His disciples they truly were:

"...'if you were children of Abraham, you would follow his good example. I told you the Truth I heard from God, but YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL ME. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that. No, you are obeying YOUR REAL FATHER when you act that way... For you are the children of your father THE DEVIL, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the Truth..."

[TRUTH IS THE WORD OF GOD, The Bible - see John 17:17; the Words the Father gave Jesus to speak that these "deceived believers" also hated, same as their father the Devil]...

"There is no Truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.'" (verses 39-44)

"'So when I tell you the Truth, you just NATURALLY DON'T BELIEVE ME!'" (verse 45)

Everyone in the world "believes" in something or other. But this account in John's 8th chapter reveals that it's a deeply spiritual subtlety that unrepentant, unconverted, carnal minded "believers" can't grasp or understand that it's entirely possible for people to "believe in Christ" and "not believe a Word He says! "

Jesus says that True "believers-in-Him" OBEY HIM! "...if you keep OBEYING My teachings...".

This is something that many denominations of modern professing Christianity "don't believe" or teach.

"Obedience to Christ's teachings" [manifesting... showing, displaying... their Faith through their works or their deeds] is not in their message. They teach that "it's impossible to obey the Laws of God." Laws that they also teach are "done away" -- that they no longer exist [a teaching that Jesus Christ commands His servants not to even consider - see Matt.5:17]. These deceived denominations teach instead "Faith [belief] only"... without works, or obedience. This is a very popular... and often undetected... form of deception among unconverted "believers."

"'Anyone who listens to My teaching and OBEYS ME is Wise, like a person who builds a house on Solid Rock.'" (Matt.7:24 NLT)

"Believing" something [whatever it may be] requires NO EFFORT! It's easy to do... because you don't DO anything when you "believe" something. Believing is a "spiritual" act, not a "physical" one. It's "acting" on one's beliefs that makes all the difference.

"Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was declared Right with God because of WHAT HE DID when HE OFFERED HIS SON ISAAC ON THE ALTAR? You see, he was Trusting God so much that he was WILLING TO DO whatever God told him to do. His Faith WAS MADE COMPLETE by WHAT HE DID - BY HIS ACTIONS... So you see, we are made Right with God by WHAT WE DO [OBEYING what Jesus says], not by Faith [belief] alone." (James 2:21-24 NLT)