Is deception a spirit? There are two passages which come to mind that answer this question. In 1 Timothy 4:1 we read, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to DECEIVING SPIRITS and doctrines of demons” (NKJV). Now let’s read 1 John 4:1-3, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God; because many FALSE PROPHETS have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” A “deceiving spirit” describes a person who is either possessed by an evil spirit (demon) or under the evil spirit’s influence who then teaches false doctrine concerning the Person of Jesus Christ. They deny that the eternal Son of God became flesh and that while here on earth He was God manifest in the flesh. This false teaching contradicts John 1:14 and 1 Timothy 3:16 which says, “And the Word BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.” This is called the “spirit of the Antichrist” because its teaching is AGAINST THE TRUTH OF WHO CHRIST IS.

Can a Christian be deceived? How can a Christian prevent deception? The Apostle Paul wrote to the saints at Ephesus and taught them that they needed to be under the sound teaching of gifted men (Ephesians 4:7-13) to grow spiritually. In verse 14 he issued a warning against false teachings that could deceive them: “That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of DECEITFUL PLOTTING.” After a Christian is saved, he is vulnerable to false teaching until he is established in the truth. The word “children” in this verse speaks of “babes in Christ” which are those who have just been born again into God’s family. (See 1 John 2:18-27 for further instruction to them.) To “prevent deception” the babe in Christ must, as we have seen, be under the sound teaching of gifted men who will teach them all that they need to know about their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They will then grow strong and the Word of God will give them the victory over “deceiving spirits.” The Apostle John spoke to this in 1 John 2:14, “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” The “young men” are believers who are ‘no longer children (babes)’; they have grown spiritually and are now able to defeat Satan’s minions who come with their false teachings with the purpose of deceiving them.

I would also encourage you to read Ephesians 6:10-18 where we learn more about our spiritual conflict with evil spirits. We are exhorted to “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (verses 10-13). I highly recommend studying each “piece of armor” in verses 14-17 so you can put them on and be “fully equipped” for the spiritual warfare that we are in.  (DO)  (654.1)