Don’t Be Deceived

Written By John Girton

“Don’t Be Deceived: Test Everything Against the Word”
Romans 16:17–20

This is a very strong passage for our Agape Men’s Fellowship discussion because Romans 16:17–20 is not simply warning us about false teachers—it calls us to become men who are discerning enough to recognize truth when we hear it. Standing in the place to be defenders of truth, but to do so with humility, love, and reverence for GOD’s Word.

Paul warns the believers to watch out for those who create divisions and put obstacles in the way of sound teaching. Then he gives the reason they can be dangerous: “by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

DON’T BE DECEIVED: TEST EVERYTHING AGAINST THE WORD

Romans 16:17–20 gives us a serious warning: “Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.”

We live in a time when we have access to more information than any generation before us. We read books. We listen to sermons and podcasts. We study commentaries. We watch videos. We hear people who speak with confidence and conviction. And sometimes what we hear sounds so good but we never stop to ask, “Is this true?”

Paul warns us that deception doesn’t always come sounding evil. Sometimes it comes through smooth talk and flattering words.

That means as men of GOD, we cannot allow someone else’s confidence to become our conviction. We cannot allow someone’s reputation to become our authority. And we cannot assume that something is true simply because it is written in a book, spoken from a pulpit, or repeated by someone we respect.

The Word of GOD must remain our measuring stick.

We should read. We should listen. We should learn. We should respect the wisdom and experience of others. But we must also search the Scriptures, examine what we hear, and ask GOD for discernment.

I offer you this six step progression:

Hear → Examine → Measure → Pray → Discern → Stand in Truth.

The question isn’t simply, “Does this sound good?”
The question should be:

“Does this agree with the Word of GOD?”

We are not called to be suspicious of everybody. We are called to be discerning. We don’t test everything because we want to prove someone wrong; we test it because we want to make sure we are walking in truth.

As men, husbands, fathers, grandfathers, leaders, servants, and believers, what we accept as truth doesn’t stop with us. What we believe influences what we teach, what we model, and what we pass on to others.

So tonight, let’s talk about how we protect ourselves from being deceived—not by becoming cynical, but by becoming grounded in the Word, sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and willing to test what we hear.

Don’t be fooled by smooth talk and glowing words. Measure everything against the Word of GOD.

Now I’d like to hear from you guys. Let me hear your thoughts
Questions:

1. Why do you think Paul specifically mentions “smooth talk and flattery”?
   • Why can something that sounds good be more dangerous than something obviously wrong?
2. What are some sources we trust without really checking?
   • Books?
   • Commentaries?
   • Preachers?
   • Podcasts?
   • Social media?
   • Even people we personally admire?
3. How do we distinguish between someone’s interpretation of Scripture and what Scripture actually says?
4. Have you ever believed something for years because someone you trusted taught it to you, only to discover later that Scripture said something different?
   • What did that experience teach you?
5. What does it actually mean to “test” something against the Word of GOD?
   • Is knowing Scripture important?
   • Is context important?
   • Should we compare Scripture with Scripture?
6. Can something be spiritually encouraging and still be biblically wrong?
7. What responsibility do we have when we discover that something we’ve been teaching or repeating isn’t true?

One Important Distinction – Discernment is not cynicism.

We’re not being called to assume everybody is wrong. We’re being called to know the Word well enough to recognize when something is wrong.

And there’s another beautiful piece in this passage that shouldn’t be overlooked. Paul closes with:
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” — Romans 16:20

That’s powerful because the passage doesn’t end with fear of deception. It ends with confidence in GOD.

Our protection isn’t merely our ability to argue theology. Our protection is being anchored in GOD’s truth and dependent upon GOD’s wisdom.

A Simple Challenge

Before I believe it, I will examine it.
Before I repeat it, I will verify it.
Before I teach it, I will measure it against Scripture.
And before I trust my own understanding, I will ask GOD for wisdom.

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Father GOD,
Thank You for bringing us together tonight and for reminding us that everything we hear must be measured against Your Word.

Give us discerning hearts. Help us not to be deceived by smooth words, flattering speech, or things that simply sound good. Give us the wisdom to recognize truth, the courage to stand on truth, and the humility to receive correction when we are wrong.

Holy Spirit, reveal truth to us and guard our hearts and minds from deception. May Your Word be the standard by which we measure what we read, what we hear, what we believe, and what we teach others.

Make us men who are grounded in Your Word, guided by Your Spirit, and committed to Your truth.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.