Intro: When I speak of people being religiously deceived many things may come to your mind such as:

Ø Jim Jones * 1978 * 913 mass suicide * northern Guyana
Ø David Koresh * 1993 * 85 Branch Davidians died in Mount Carmel Center * Waco, TX
Ø Marshall Applewhite * 1997 * Heaven's Gate * Hale-Bop Comet * 39 suicide * souls ride spaceship
Ø Mainstream denominations like - Mormans, JW's, Catholics, etc.
Ø But when the scripture speaks of deception it speaks mostly of "self" deception
Ø All these I have mentioned have mostly themselves to blame (John 8:31-32) (Luke 21:8)

1. When we think we are good enough we deceive ourselves

Ø Many believe that God will weigh the good against the bad
Ø Romans 3:9-12
Ø There are more than a dozen such verses in both old & new testaments
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. (Ecc. 7:20)
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isa. 64:6)

2. When we think we can save ourselves we deceive ourselves

Ø Many people believe that they can do something to earn heaven
Ø Eph. 2:8-9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? (Pro. 20:9)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)
Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Tim. 1:9)

3. When we think that no one can know for sure we deceive ourselves

Ø Because he believes that God will decide after death
Ø 1 John 5:13
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Cor. 6:2)
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Rom. 8:16)
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Cor. 5:1)

4. When we think we must wait until we are better we deceive ourselves

Ø Isa. 1:18
Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Rom. 5:20)
For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. (Psa. 25:11)
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matt. 9:13)

5. When we think that we shall escape if we neglect salvation we deceive ourselves

Ø Hebrews 2:1-3
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. 23:33)
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. (Pro. 11:31)
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Pet. 4:18)
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:28)

6. When we think that simply repeating a prayer will save us we deceive ourselves

Ø Some think that repeating some words in a prayer will save them.
Ø As though the words in that prayer have some magical powers
Ø Romans 10:10
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matt. 5:8)