2 Corinthians 11:3 - Do not be Deceived (11-8-11)

2 Corinthians 11:3 - "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."  

Once we are saved by the grace of God the devil would like nothing more then to deceive us about the things we believe. That's why we're exhorted throughout the New Testament and in the epistles especially to "not be deceived." The word used here, "deceive" means: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way, to go astray, wander, roam about, to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, etcetera. This word is used by Jesus in the parable of the shepherd and the sheep found in Matthew 18:12-14 - "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish." We're told in Isaiah 53 that "all we like sheep have gone astray" but Jesus sought after us and found us. But now that we're saved it's the devils desire to keep leading us astray, to keep deceiving us. Jesus also uses this word when He's talking to the Sadducees in Matthew chapter 22 when He said "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God." We need to take heed to the things that God has told us in His Word and guard our hearts and minds lest we be led astray by the deceiver.

1 Peter 1:13 - "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."