Deceitfulness of Sin

What is deceitfulness of sin?

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Heb 3:13

Deceitfulness of sin means sin so alters our thinking that we do not even realize we are deceived when we sin. Deceitfulness involves misrepresentation of God's truth for one's own glory and pleasure. It involves revealing itself as truth but in fact it is distortion of truth like Satan who deceived Eve(Gen 3:13) and Satan who continually deceives the whole world(Rev 12:9) and our heart which is itself deceitful(Jer 17:9) since Adam's fall.

 

If we go back to Genesis, how sin deceives Eve or Satan who is himself father of deception, we can see sin deceives us by promising everlasting happiness and joy which it cannot deliver. Sin says “You’ll feel better, you’ll be more fulfilled. Life will be better for you. Go ahead and take it. Go ahead and tell the lie. Go ahead and say that dirty word. Go ahead and jump in bed with that person. Go ahead and watch that video. Go ahead, you need this. It will bring you happiness.”

 

In other words,
Sin whispers through the desires of the flesh and the rationalizations of the mind. Sin tricks us into wanting that which we know will dishonor God's name and destroy us eventually. It speaks like- your only hope of future happiness is to have an abortion.  It whispers that you will not have a chance in the future if you don't cheat on this test. It says that you won't be noticed and liked if you don't dress provocatively. It says you will lose the one person who seems to care for you if you don't compromise your sexual standards. It says you won't have job security if you speak up about the dishonest practices at work. It says your life will be wasted in this relationship if you don't get a divorce. It says that only a fool would go on looking weak instead of getting some kind of revenge. Every one of those statements is a lie. It's what Hebrews 3:13 calls "the deceitfulness of sin." Now those lies sometimes are deep, very deep in the heart as thoughts and intentions that seem unshakably true.

 

If sin comes to us as sin, we are quick to hate it, and strong to repel it by the grace of God. When we are walking with God, we only need to know that an action is forbidden, and we avoid it. We shun the evil thing when it is plainly evil. But sin puts on another clothes, and comes to us speaking a language that is not its own. Sin comes as offering advantage to us for our benefit and good end by using wrong means like it gives different word to killing a baby in womb like abortion instead of calling it murder. Murder itself is quickly spotted as sin but abortion is not. Abortion is then deceitfulness of sin promising nice future, healthy body, no responsibility etc. It promises us things like drinking beer to gain clarity, emptiness of mind, peace and calmness whereas God didn't give drinking for this purpose. He gave us Himself for this purpose and we replace Him with this.

 

The one thing deceitfulness of sin does is to make sure the person has no regret when doing it. And thus conscience is hardened and turned into unbelief and this goes into eternal destruction.

These slowly harden heart so much that one goes far from God and row down the river of sin and unbelief and hardened heart. Also one's own righteousness blinds and hardens them and then follows unbelief in Christ & unbelief in The Word of God.

INDICATION ONE IS DECEIVED BY SIN / HARDENED INTO UNBELIEF

1. The Truth doesn't effect us anymore.

2. Not moved by God's immeasurable love manifested in Christ.

3. No remorse, regret or repentance for one thinks he is righteous in all he did.

4. Justifying the sinful means used to achieve good end.

5. Praising oneself for achieving it.

How to get out of this deceitfulness and sin that hardens us?
Seek Christ daily and exhort each other of the unmerited undeserved grace of God upon us who don't deserve any. Plead at the mercy seat of God so He will grant contrite broken-hearted repentance for sins.

A person truly contented and satisfied in all that God is and all that God has done for him will not dishonor or grieve Him by deceitfulness of sin because the person lives upon Him and His Word and he knows his heart is wicked so he doesn't trust himself but walks in The Word of God alone. That's how he remains firm and away from deceitfulness of sin. Though he may stumble but he pleads at the mercy seat of God for His grace to keep him and sustain him as God promised him in Christ.