James 1:21-22
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Self deception is one thinking that certain things stated in God’s word may not be essential in one’s walk with God, but thinking this is not living by every word of God as we are told to do in Luke 4:4 that says, “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” To live by every word of God means to live by every truth that Gods word reveals and to think what is stated is not really essential, then you are only deceiving yourself. What God has said in his word has forever been settled in heaven meaning that his word will have the final say and will be what will judge us in the last day. We are told these words as stated in Acts 17:31 that says, “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” God will judge the world in righteousness revealing that God demands his righteousness for remission of all the sins we have committed against him. Righteousness is attained by living by every word of God and not just picking and choosing what we may or may not accept to accept and live by. Many people don’t acknowledge what Gods word has to say about certain things they do and allow in their lives, which proves their minds has not been exercised through Gods word to discern what is right and what is wrong as far as God is concerned. Thinking that God overlooks some little insignificant thing in his word that is not seemingly essential enough for salvation will get you in serious trouble with God. God demands belief and obedience to his every word revealed in scripture.
Some people has the mistaken idea by saying or thinking, “Well that don’t seem to be a big deal to me if I don’t do what it says about that” but why then is it written in his word? Why? Because all scripture and not just a greater part of it is to instruct in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, as Paul tells us in II Timothy 3:16-17 that says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” We need to be convinced by the scriptures that what we say or what we do or where we go is the right thing to do and not lean on our own understanding about these things. What John said in 1 John 2:15 covers a very wide area of the things that the world contains that is not permitted for Gods people to get involved in. We are to be lights in this world for an example for others to follow, but if we are not walking “in all the light of God’s word ourselves" then our dim light will be too weak to be seen by others, and if we continue not to walk in all light of truth, then God absolutely will not tolerate it and cut you off. To reject and refuse to walk in the knowledge of God’s word, then he will also reject you as Hosea 4:6 clearly reveals. Our God is a consuming fire.