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◄ Being Deceitful►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Nature:
Being deceitful involves the act of misleading or concealing the truth with the intent to deceive others. It is characterized by dishonesty, trickery, and falsehood. In the biblical context, deceit is considered a sin and is often associated with the fallen nature of humanity.

Biblical References:

1.Old Testament:
·Genesis 3:13 : "Then the LORD God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' 'The serpent deceived me,' she replied, 'and I ate.'" This passage highlights the first instance of deceit in the Bible, where the serpent deceives Eve, leading to the fall of man.
·Proverbs 12:22 : "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." This verse underscores God's disdain for deceit and His pleasure in truthfulness.
·Jeremiah 9:5 : "Each one deceives his neighbor; no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with iniquity." Here, deceit is portrayed as a pervasive sin among the people, leading to societal corruption.

2.New Testament:
·John 8:44 : "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies." Jesus identifies deceit as a characteristic of the devil, emphasizing its evil nature.
·Acts 5:3 : "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?'" This account of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates the severe consequences of deceit within the early church.
·Ephesians 4:25 : "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another." Paul exhorts believers to abandon deceit and embrace truthfulness as part of their new life in Christ.

Theological Implications:
Deceit is fundamentally opposed to the character of God, who is described as a God of truth (Deuteronomy 32:4). It disrupts relationships, breeds mistrust, and leads to spiritual and moral decay. The Bible consistently calls believers to a life of integrity and truthfulness, reflecting the nature of Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
From a biblical perspective, deceit is not merely a social faux pas but a moral failing that separates individuals from God. It is a violation of the commandment against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16) and is contrary to the call to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39). Christians are encouraged to cultivate honesty and transparency in all their dealings, recognizing that deceit ultimately leads to judgment and separation from God.

Practical Applications:
Believers are urged to examine their hearts and rid themselves of deceitful practices. This involves confession, repentance, and a commitment to truth in thought, word, and deed. The community of faith is called to hold one another accountable, fostering an environment where truth prevails and deceit is not tolerated.

Topical Bible Verses

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 31:30
Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 4:24
Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.
Topicalbible.org

1 Corinthians 11:13
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray to God uncovered?
Topicalbible.org

Library

TheDeceitful Arts and Nefarious Practices of Marcus.
... Against Heresies: Book I Chapter XIII."Thedeceitful arts and nefarious practices
of Marcus.... women, possessed of the fear of God, and notbeing deceived (whom...

HowDeceitful the Love of this World Is, and How Amiable God Is.
... HOWDECEITFUL THE LOVE OF THIS WORLD IS, AND HOW AMIABLE GOD IS.... and the more they
pursue their lusts the more are these upbraided withbeing insufficient. Lo!...

Petilianus Said: "And Again, He who is Baptized by one that is...
... And if it so happen that certain ministers,being deceitful workers, seeking their
own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's, proclaiming the gospel not in...

But You, Beloved, who Possess this Faith, or who have Begun Now...
... you, either the vain heathen, or the false Jews, or thedeceitful heretics, or also...
together all kinds of fishes, as saith the holy Gospel, isbeing drawn unto...

The Bloody andDeceitful Man
... of their interests now aims to cut them off frombeing a nation in the earth
(Psa.83:4). Thus is he rightfully denominated by them "the Bloody andDeceitful...

And at First, Indeed, thatDeceitful and Lawless One...
... And at first, indeed, thatdeceitful and lawless one, with crafty deceitfulness,
will... Then the lawless one,being lifted up in heart, will gather together his...

That theDeceitful Demons, While Promising to Conduct Men to God...
... As to the demons, these false anddeceitful mediators, who, though their uncleanness...
to the weight of the various elements, the aerial demonsbeing set between...

Concerning the Hatred of Learning, the Love of Play, and the Fear...
... in the science of speech, which should get me honour amongst men, anddeceitful
riches... For will any one of good sense approve of mybeing whipped because, as a...

In Order to Forearm the Orthodox against the Stratagems of the...
... The soothing balms ofdeceitful men are poisoned"then must we be on our... man believes
every word." [2320] Thus have they heard and believed,being taken in by...

The Opinion which the Mind Has of Itself isDeceitful.
... Book X. Chapter 6."The Opinion Which the Mind Has of Itself isDeceitful.... For so
it is conformed to them to some extent, not bybeing this, but by thinking...