Lies, The Devil's Doctrine

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan came upon the scene with total deceit. By implying that God was holding something back from man that was good and desirable, he lied about God's concern and care for man. He still uses the same tactics, for he has no other. His work then and now, is that of trying to drive a wedge between God and man.

His influence is seen clearly in man's readiness to accept falsehood. Nowhere is falsehood more abundant than in the plan of Salvation and God's plan for the service of the saved. Hundreds of ideas have gone forth and have been readily accepted by man as to how to be saved. Because of satanic influence, the simple Bible plan, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved', is largely overlooked.
It is a sad truth that Satan is able to take an apparent truth and use it to man's disadvantage.
There is an old adage which says, "charity begins at home". This is generally accepted as simple fact. Is it?
No one in his right mind would deny the fact that one has a responsibility toward his family, but this is NOT where responsibility begins. Many are providing time, money and effort in support of their families, and yet are failing miserably, by not providing their spiritual needs. In providing for their spiritual needs he MUST begin with his own relationship with God. Charity does NOT begin at home. Man must first learn to love the God of heaven! He can't even begin to provide properly for his family, until he recognizes the validity of God's claims upon him.

Though a child should grow up with a father who is a real buddy; a mom who provides a wonderful home and well balanced meals; attends the finest schools; and gets regular dental and medical check-ups, what will it profit him if he and his parents spend eternity in hell? If you really love your home and family, why not show it? Make that home a place where the Love of Christ is manifested. Don't endanger the eternal welfare of those you love by putting God last.

Another favored falsehood is, "There is a little good in the worst of us". Men search desperately for some good deed or motive in the lives of the worst criminals. In story, song and legends, the most bloodthirsty criminals of the past become misunderstood, tender-hearted robin-hoods. Most are considered to have been driven to their deeds by circumstances and law-abiding citizens with hardened hearts.
Could this be an effort to justify the average sinner, by showing that the worst have some good qualities, while the best have some bad?
Why not just accept God's statement about the matter?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Let us examine a few biblical statements and see if we can find any possibility of acceptance by God, on the basis of a 'little good' in an evil heart.
Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Jesus is not describing a heart that is essentially good but misunderstood. He speaks of the heart of unsaved mankind. Jeramiah describes it thus; Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Solomon poses a rhetorical question; Prov 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Job puts another question and gives the answer; Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Goodness and evil might be relative to men, but to God they are absolutes. As far as God is concerned, before any good can come from the heart of man, man must have a new heart. The most nutritious milk is no good, if poured from a filthy, unwashed pail!

What then is the answer? Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
The devil is not only a liar, but he is not even consistent in his lies. Consider these opposing ideas he has planted in human minds. They can't be both right, and in truth, both are dreadfully wrong.
On the one hand, he tells some that the christian life is dull and boring and God doesn't want them to have any fun. Then he turns to another and says, "Enjoy yourself. God wants you to have fun, FUN FUN!"
In answer to the first false statement, a christian's dedicated life is far from being dull. You never know what's going to happen next! One person might receive your witnessing with great joy and accept Christ as his savior. The next might want to whip you for insinuating that there is anything wrong with him. Then the next might want to challenge you for a debate on how to tbe saved.
The life for Christ is far from dull to those who have gone to mission fields. Even for those who are stay-at-home, everyday, committed christians, one can experience the thrill of answered prayer.

The world has a saying, 'If you haven't tried it, don't knock it'. Well, if you have never lived a dedicated christian life, don't put it down, for you don't know what you are talking about!
It is the most thrilling and enjoyable experience available to human beings.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

God does want his people to have fun and enjoy themselves, but not with the devil's idea of fun. His concept of fun is what keeps the prisons full, and makes our streets unsafe to walk. It has spread death and destruction around the world through venereal disease and narcotics. The booming business being done in the world's jails, hospitals, divorce courts and cemeteries would drop dramatically if only men would rid themselves of the illusions of satan's idea of fun.

On the one hand satan's lies involve platitudes which are based on apparent truths, on the other he weakens some of the greatest Biblical truths by causing superficial acceptance.

It is a wonderful and comforting truth that God is able to keep his own in perfect safety. This doctrine is called 'the security of the believer' and has been brought into discredit in the eyes of many through satan's lie that it teaches that you can be saved and then enjoy your fill of sin. This is not a new lie, but has been around for centuries. The apostle Paul faced it in his day.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

It is true that when one is saved. nothing can ever separate him from the love of God, but if one who claims to have been saved, still has the desire to live in sin and can be happy doing it, there is something wrong with the experience he called his conversion. He had better examine himself as to whether he was really saved or not.
Even the simple plan of salvation has been distorted by the devil's lies. In many cases it has become meaningless or worse.

The Phillipian jailor asked a simple question and was given a simple, straightforward answer. "What must I do to be saved?" was the question and the answer was "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." He had certainly heard the Gospel, for Paul and Silas had been engaged in singing and praising God ever since they were placed in his care. His actions after the earthquake, demonstrated that he had come to repentance as many still do today. This is where the devil enters in with his lies. "Just raise your hand if you want to be saved"
Repeat this little prayer, and you're on you way to heaven."; "Be baptized"; " "join a church"; "Do good works and follow the 'golden rule".
On and on comes the confusing advice to the weeping, sin-struck seeker, while the simple plan of salvation gets more and more lost in the obfuscation of the devil's lies.

Even the simple, basic fundamental of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, has been almost destroyed by superficial acceptance. It becomes lost in the forest of christmas trees , crowds of Santas, herds of reindeer, elfs, and toys. The devil doesn't give a fig, as to how tall your tree is, or how brightly it is decorated or of the mistletoe you hang. He doesn't care about your sleighbells or carols or creches. You can get sentimental over the babe in the manger and the three wise men. Just don't think of the the fact that He came into the world to save sinners by dying on the cross!
The same is true of the glorious truth of the resurrection of Christ. Its observation by the world, has been diluted by bunnies and colored eggs. The most 'spiritual' part of its observance by many, is the finery they wear to their one church service of the year.

Satan doesn't mind if you celebrate with pagan practices, but just don't confuse the issue by the resurrection of one who shall sit in judgment upon all men! Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Here are some simple truths God wants you to know. Don't accept satan's version of any of them.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Except you repent you shall all likewise perish.
Christ died to save sinners.
There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby you must be saved.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved.
These are God's truths! Don't accept any substitutes!