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Self-Delusion.

From: The New Topical Textbook

By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 1 min. read • grade level: 13

A characteristic of the wicked. Psa. 49:18¹⁸Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. (Psalm 49:18).

Prosperity frequently leads to. Psa. 30:6⁶And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. (Psalm 30:6). Hos. 12:8⁸And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labors they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. (Hosea 12:8). Luke 12:17-19¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (Luke 12:17‑19).

Obstinate sinners often given up to. Psa. 81:11, 12¹¹But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. ¹²So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. (Psalm 81:11‑12). Hos. 4:17¹⁷Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. (Hosea 4:17). 2 Thess. 2:10, 11¹⁰And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:10‑11).

EXHIBITED IN THINKING THAT

Our own ways are right. Prov. 14:12¹²There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12).

We should adhere to established wicked practices. Jer. 44:17¹⁷But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. (Jeremiah 44:17).

We are pure. Prov. 30:12¹²There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. (Proverbs 30:12).

We are better than others. Luke 18:11¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (Luke 18:11).

We are rich in spiritual things. Rev. 3:17¹⁷Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17).

We may have peace while in sin. Deut. 29:19¹⁹And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: (Deuteronomy 29:19).

We are above adversity. Psa. 10:6⁶He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. (Psalm 10:6).

Gifts entitle us to heaven. Matt. 7:21, 22²¹Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:21‑22).

Privileges entitle us to heaven. Matt. 3:9⁹And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Matthew 3:9). Luke 13:25, 26²⁵When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: ²⁶Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. (Luke 13:25‑26).

God will not punish our sins. Psa. 10:11¹¹He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. (Psalm 10:11). Jer. 5:12¹²They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine: (Jeremiah 5:12).

Christ shall not come to judge. 2 Peter 3:4⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4).

Our lives shall be prolonged. Isa. 56:12¹²Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. (Isaiah 56:12). Luke 12:19¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (Luke 12:19). James 4:13¹³Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (James 4:13).

Frequently persevered in, to the last Matt. 7:22²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22). Matt. 25:11, 12¹¹Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹²But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:11‑12). Luke 13:24, 25²⁴Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ²⁵When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:24‑25).

Fatal consequences of. Matt. 7:23²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23). Matt. 24:48-51⁴⁸But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; ⁴⁹And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; ⁵⁰The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48‑51). Luke 12:20²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20). 1 Thess. 5:3³For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Exemplified. Ahab, 1 Kin. 20:27, 34. Israelites, Hos. 12:8⁸And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labors they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. (Hosea 12:8). Jews, John 8:33, 41³³They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (John 8:33)
⁴¹Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. (John 8:41). Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3:17¹⁷Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17). Babylon, Isa. 47:7-11⁷And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. ⁸Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: ⁹But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. ¹⁰For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. ¹¹Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. (Isaiah 47:7‑11).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Scorning and Mocking.

• Scorpion, the.

• Scriptures, the.

• Sealing of the Holy Ghost.

• Second Coming of Christ, the.

• Seeking God.

• Self-Delusion.

• Self-Denial.

• Self-Examination.

• Self-Righteousness.

• Self-Will and Stubbornness.

• Selfishness.

• Sidonians, the.

• Simeon, the Tribe of.

• Simplicity.