Deceit: Evil of Keeps from Knowledge of God
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Deceit, as presented in the Bible, is a grave sin that not only disrupts human relationships but also hinders one's relationship with God. It is an act of misleading or misrepresenting the truth, often for personal gain or to harm others. The Bible consistently warns against deceit, highlighting its destructive nature and its ability to separate individuals from the knowledge and presence of God.

The origin of deceit can be traced back to the Garden of Eden, where the serpent deceived Eve, leading to the fall of humanity (Genesis 3:1-6). This initial act of deceit set a precedent for the pervasive nature of deception throughout human history. The serpent's cunning manipulation of God's words illustrates how deceit can distort truth and lead to disobedience.

In the Old Testament, deceit is frequently condemned. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." This verse underscores the Lord's abhorrence of deceit and His preference for truthfulness and integrity. Similarly, Psalm 101:7 declares, "No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence." Here, deceit is shown to be incompatible with the holiness required to be in God's presence.

The New Testament continues this theme, emphasizing the spiritual danger of deceit. In Romans 1:29, deceit is listed among the sins that characterize those who have turned away from God: "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice." This passage illustrates how deceit is part of a broader pattern of rebellion against God.

Deceit not only harms others but also blinds individuals to the truth of God. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul writes, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Deceit, as a tool of the enemy, keeps people from understanding and accepting the gospel, thus preventing them from knowing God.

Furthermore, deceit is a barrier to spiritual growth and maturity. Ephesians 4:22-25 urges believers to "put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." This passage calls for a transformation that involves rejecting deceit and embracing truth, which is essential for becoming more like Christ.

The Bible also provides examples of individuals who suffered the consequences of deceit. Ananias and Sapphira, in Acts 5:1-11, attempted to deceive the early church by lying about the proceeds from the sale of their property. Their deceit was met with immediate judgment from God, serving as a stark warning about the seriousness of lying and deception within the community of believers.

In summary, deceit is a sin that God detests and that has far-reaching consequences. It not only damages human relationships but also obstructs one's ability to know and experience God fully. The Bible calls believers to reject deceit and embrace truth, aligning themselves with the character of God, who is the ultimate source of truth and righteousness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Jeremiah 9:6
Your habitation is in the middle of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, said the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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Questions and Answers
... Thus the perpetual cleansing keeps our heart pure. ... murders, thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xii questions and answers.htm

The Light of God
... is of the Devil; and he who keeps any human ... trust; in whom is neither caprice, deceit,
nor darkness ... hermits fancied it, a dark, deceiving, evil earth, filled ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xii the light of.htm

Letter xi. --For 339. Coss. Constantius Augustus ii, Constans I ...
... me evil have spoken vanity, and imagined deceit all the ... them, for they have imagined
an evil imagination, saying ... only, for not one place alone keeps the feast ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xi for 339 coss constantius.htm

Letter viii. To the C??sareans. A Defence of his Withdrawal, and ...
... the evil one by such means devises deceit for mankind ... because its holiness was acquired,
and its evil counsels were ... is nearer to the original, and keeps up the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter viii to the caesareans.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... No; it keeps clear of every extreme, whether in ... designs, and tempers are equally
evil; still love ... these Christian cities, where deceit and fraud, oppression ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 22 upon our lords.htm

Perseverance
... So that it is the power of God that keeps us. ... A Christian has cause to fear lest
the lust and deceit of his ... heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/10 perseverance.htm

Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ...
... public, and then was convicted of his evil teachings and ... by the passages which he
still keeps, shown to ... and likeness of God"not snatching by deceit what was ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/selections from the work against 2.htm

Rom. I. 28
... case and Joseph's, and then after saying, "debate, deceit, malignity ... fearful day,
had told him what an evil it is ... even then did He leave us, but keeps on both ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily v rom i 28.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... But all the wit and skill of such wicked men is deceit. ... often proven treacherous,
so he himself scares at every appearance of evil, and keeps himself from ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Book ix. In the Last Book we Treated of the Indistinguishable ...
... knew this mystery, and had received the knowledge of the ... you astray through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the ... Jesus is Lord in the glory of God the Father ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book ix in the last.htm

Resources
Who was Nathanael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why does God allow deception? | GotQuestions.org

What are elemental spirits? | GotQuestions.org

Deceit: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Deceit

Deceit is Falsehood

Deceit: A Characteristic of Antichrist

Deceit: A Characteristic of the Apostasy

Deceit: Blessedness of Being Free From

Deceit: Characteristic of the Apostasy

Deceit: Characteristic of the Heart

Deceit: Chief Priests

Deceit: Christ Was Perfectly Free From

Deceit: Comes from the Heart

Deceit: David

Deceit: Delight In

Deceit: Devise

Deceit: Doeg

Deceit: Evil of Hinders Knowledge of God

Deceit: Evil of Keeps from Knowledge of God

Deceit: Evil of Keeps from Turning to God

Deceit: Evil of Leads to Lying

Deceit: Evil of Leads to Pride and Oppression

Deceit: False Teachers are Workers of

Deceit: False Teachers: Impose on Others By

Deceit: False Teachers: Preach

Deceit: False Teachers: Sport Themselves With

Deceit: False Witnesses Use

Deceit: Forbidden

Deceit: God Abhors

Deceit: Hatred often Concealed By

Deceit: Herod

Deceit: Hypocrites Devise

Deceit: Hypocrites Practice

Deceit: Hypocrites Practise

Deceit: Impose on Others By

Deceit: Increase In

Deceit: Job's Friends

Deceit: Joseph's Brothers

Deceit: Keeps from Turning to God

Deceit: Laban

Deceit: Leads: To Lying

Deceit: Leads: To Pride and Oppression

Deceit: Ministers should Lay Aside

Deceit: Often Accompanied by Fraud and Injustice

Deceit: Pharaoh

Deceit: Pharisees

Deceit: Preach

Deceit: Punishment of

Deceit: Rebecca and Jacob

Deceit: Saints: Avoid

Deceit: Saints: Delivered from Those Who Use

Deceit: Saints: Free From

Deceit: Saints: Pray for Deliverance from Those Who Use

Deceit: Saints: Purpose Against

Deceit: Saints: Purposed Against

Deceit: Saints: should Beware of Those Who Teach

Deceit: Saints: should Lay Aside, in Seeking Truth

Deceit: Saints: Shun Those Addicted To

Deceit: Sport Themselves With

Deceit: The Devil

Deceit: The Folly of Fools Is

Deceit: The Kisses of an Enemy Are

Deceit: The Tongue is an Instrument of

Deceit: The Tongue, the Instrument of

Deceit: The Wicked are Full of

Deceit: The Wicked: Delight In

Deceit: The Wicked: Devise

Deceit: The Wicked: Increase In

Deceit: The Wicked: Use, to Each Other

Deceit: The Wicked: Use, to Themselves

Deceit: The Wicked: Utter

Deceit: The Wicked: Work

Deceit: Use, to Each Other

Deceit: Use, to Themselves

Deceit: Utter

Deceit: Work

Related Terms

Deception (24 Occurrences)

Guile (21 Occurrences)

Deceiving (18 Occurrences)

Fraud (15 Occurrences)

Deceitful (46 Occurrences)

Utters (26 Occurrences)

Balances (15 Occurrences)

Tricked (25 Occurrences)

Treacherous (34 Occurrences)

Perverseness (46 Occurrences)

Subtil (3 Occurrences)

Subtlety (3 Occurrences)

Subtilty (9 Occurrences)

Subtle (5 Occurrences)

Deceitfully (22 Occurrences)

Mouths (86 Occurrences)

Satan (50 Occurrences)

Falsehood (107 Occurrences)

Deceive (48 Occurrences)

Tells (38 Occurrences)

Unrighteousness (57 Occurrences)

Mischief (64 Occurrences)

Worker (36 Occurrences)

Uttereth (30 Occurrences)

Lays (30 Occurrences)

Gold-worker (6 Occurrences)

Wrongdoer (16 Occurrences)

Foolishness (30 Occurrences)

Falsifying (2 Occurrences)

Treachery (18 Occurrences)

Trick (11 Occurrences)

Deceivers (5 Occurrences)

Delusions (7 Occurrences)

Designing (22 Occurrences)

Decreed (33 Occurrences)

Deceptive (11 Occurrences)

Malice (24 Occurrences)

Purposing (21 Occurrences)

Breather (2 Occurrences)

Bread (433 Occurrences)

Bloodshed (43 Occurrences)

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)

Cunning (43 Occurrences)

Crooked (31 Occurrences)

Snake (43 Occurrences)

False (303 Occurrences)

Vanity (100 Occurrences)

Designs (118 Occurrences)

Breathing (25 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Envy (56 Occurrences)

Wickedness (232 Occurrences)

Unfaithful (58 Occurrences)

Dishonest (33 Occurrences)

Purposes (67 Occurrences)

Lips (199 Occurrences)

Using (88 Occurrences)

Overcome (300 Occurrences)

Err (41 Occurrences)

Balance (12 Occurrences)

Oppression (67 Occurrences)

Hatred (30 Occurrences)

Uncontrolled (58 Occurrences)

Workers (76 Occurrences)

Cursing (53 Occurrences)

False.

Plan (58 Occurrences)

Worketh (49 Occurrences)

Tongue (160 Occurrences)

Untrue (50 Occurrences)

Scales (33 Occurrences)

Desires (151 Occurrences)

Deceased (8 Occurrences)

Refused (89 Occurrences)

Goods (231 Occurrences)

Wrongdoing (122 Occurrences)

Refuse (103 Occurrences)

Secret (341 Occurrences)

Deceit: Evil of Hinders Knowledge of God
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