But you are right in saying that faith is a means by which people can be duped, for it is the very means that a person is also liberated from the deceptions of this world. For some reason, whenever a genuine phenomenon has value, there is also a counterfeit being made by some counterfeiter.
Foolish people put their faith in statements such as “with evidence no faith is required” but overlook that faith is required by them to assure themselves that what they believe to be evidence is true. Then they will say “with faith no evidence is required” and try to dupe you into having faith in what they believe.
Why are such people called fools in the Bible?
The simple answer is because they reject the truth.
In the Bible, we are taught that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. And by faith we understand the truths of life.
- Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
- And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings [Old Testament—Law and Prophets] which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)
- But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. (Romans 10:8–10)
- For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 1:7)
- And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)
- You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39–40)
- And they devoted themselves to the apostles’teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)
- Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture [Old Testament—Law and Prophets] is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:12–17)
- I have applied all this to myself and Apol′los for your benefit, brethren, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (1 Corinthians 4:6)
- Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
The elect are those who seek to know Lord Jesus Christ and be chosen by Him because they hate evil. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13). The fear of the Lord leads to life, and those who possess a hatred of evil will not be disappointed (Proverbs 19:23); indeed, the “reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4). Why envy sinners or have fear of men, when by possessing the hatred of evil, you can exercise faith in the Lord God, Creator of Heaven and Earth (Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 29:25).
The key to knowledge is understanding good is better than evil and recognizing the truth that existence is futile, if we are born only to die. Once this is understood, and if we possess an aversion to evil, providing that we are humble enough to acknowledge our incompetency to overcome death, for any one of us to call out to God, requires us to desire truth,rather than allowing ourselves to be duped into deception.
The Bible teaches that the Son of God searches the hearts of men to see who really wants the truth and who is insincere; who will walk the narrow way and who will settle for anything, as long as it tickles their fancy.
What one puts one’s faith in depends upon what one is hoping to receive. Con artists know this, and they play the majority of people for fools. Politics is evidence of this. the propaganda spewed out by the television, radio and media outlets is evidence of this. That every country in the world is in debt (to who?) is evidence of this.
When you put your trust in the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Infinite Eternal One, then by proving His trustworthiness, you will prove His existence. What is there to lose?
But if you prefer to put your trust in a human being, consider this: What could a mere mortal provide you that is of eternal worth?
The Ten Commandments Were Designed For You To Enjoy And Possess Eternal Life
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