CAN THE ELECT BE DECEIVED?--W.F. BELL

SCRIPTURE MEDITATIONS by W.F. BELL

Matthew 24:24; Titus 1:2; 2 Peter 3:13

All those that God had foreordained,

These shall and must believe;

Not all the craft of earth or hell

Shall one of these deceive.

Daniel Herbert (1751-1833)

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, in His Olivet Discourse, "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24). We live in a world of "false" things, but there is only one true Christ (Messiah), who is also God's true Prophet to sinners, and He said, "if possible, even the elect." But that means it is NOT possible. Ours is a day filled with those who aspire to do "great signs and wonders," religiously, socially, and politically. But the question is, Can one single soul chosen by God be finally and fatally deceived? Can one of God's precious elect be lost? Can even one of Christ's sheep ultimately perish?

What about false preachers and false teachings that the elect hear? Will this deceive them? What about Arminianism and the boastings of those who exalt man's so-called "free will"? Suppose God's elect are wrapped up in false churches or mistaught in certain things, does this damn them? Or, what if those "chosen in Christ" do not hear the gospel of grace preached by a sovereign grace preacher, are they condemned still? Think through this, beloved. Remember, "deception" is in the world, and we must not think it is just confined to Muslims, or Hindus, or Buddhists, or Jews, or Mormons, etc.

No matter what our path is destined to be, if we are truly God's elect, we CANNOT be deceived, and this is our hope: "In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2). If even a single one of God's elect fails to be glorified, then His promises are null and void. But, praise His name, "He cannot lie." By grace alone, we shall behold the glory of Christ in a coming perfect world of righteousness, "according to His promise" (2 Peter 3:13). As Herbert plainly wrote, "ALL those that God foreordained SHALL and MUST believe." And they "shall" believe on Christ, the only suitable and appointed Savior, for only "believers" in the Lord Jesus Christ have "eternal life" (John 6:47). There is great peace in knowing that "Not all the craft of earth or hell shall ONE of these deceive." See also John 10:28 and Romans 8:29-30. Hallelujah!

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

"O that the hand of mercy may now lead you to Christ." C. H. Spurgeon