1. 2 Pet. 3:16-18

2. DECEPTION I. THERE ARE THREE WHO CAN DECEIVE A. Satan (Rev. 12:9; 2 Cor. 11:14). B. False Teachers (2 Cor. 11:13-15; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Pet. 3:16-18). C. Self (1 Cor. 3:18; Prov. 21:2). We can be deceived. Our ignorance & neglect make us more susceptible to deception. But we can also DECEIVE OURSELVES!

3. DECEPTION II. COMMON DECEPTIONS A. "I can be righteous without doing righteousness" (1 Jn. 3:7-8; Ro. 6:16ff). 1. God's commands are righteous (Ps. 119:172; Rom. 1:17). 2. God's righteous must be submitted to (Rom. 10:3-4). 3. "Once saved always saved" (1 Cor. 1:2; 6:9-11).

4. DECEPTION II. COMMON DECEPTIONS B. "Partial obedience is enough" (James 1:22-25; 2:10-11). 1. We must be persistent (Heb. 10:36). 2. We must be consistent (1 Jn 2:17). 3. We must be honest (1 Jn. 1:8-10). 4. We must be humble (Lk. 18:11-14). How many sins does it take to separate us from God?

5. DECEPTION II. COMMON DECEPTIONS C. "If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing..." (Gal. 6:3). 1. Pride, vanity (1 Cor. 10:12). 2. Evil companions (1 Cor. 15:33). 3. Peter's betrayal (Matt. 26:31, 37-38, v. 50, 65-72).

6. DECEPTION CONCL: Have you been deceived? A. Believe you are righteous without obeying? B. Believe you are righteous for doing SOME things? C. Think more highly of self than should? "...He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, Is it I, Lord?" (Matt. 26:21-22)