How can we recognize deception?

Knowing your Bible is the best defense against falling prey to deception. When you hear one-sided Gospel messages, such as those that proclaim "Jesus will make you happy, healthy and wealthy," you are sitting under dangerous teaching. Jesus was despised and rejected. He prophesied that the Church is a small flock. Paul confirmed that the Church's calling is mostly from among the rejected: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1st Corinthians 1:26-27). If you are grounded in the truth of God's Word, then you should be able to immediately recognize deception as soon as you hear a one-sided Jesus being taught. We do not deny that Jesus offers an abundant life and can certainly grant you happiness, health and wealth, but that may be the exception because, as we have just seen, the Bible portrays the Church in a much different light.