Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5943 self-deception

The state of individuals or nations who do not face up to their sin, their spiritual state or their future with any realism. It also describes those who presume upon their relationship with God or their own ability, or who have a misplaced trust in idols.

Those who are deceived over their sin

1 John 1:8 See also Psalm 36:1-4; Jeremiah 2:34-35; Jeremiah 17:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 John 1:10

Those who are deceived over their spiritual state

Revelation 3:17 See also Matthew 23:13-15,23-33 pp Luke 11:42-52; John 8:33-34,39-47; James 1:22-26

Those who are deceived concerning the future

James 4:13-16 See also Jeremiah 5:31; Jeremiah 6:13-14 pp Jeremiah 8:10-11; Jeremiah 14:14-16; Jeremiah 23:16-18; Ezekiel 13:7-9; Micah 3:5; Luke 12:16-20

Those who presume on their relationship with God

Jeremiah 7:9-11 See also Deuteronomy 29:14-21; Jeremiah 37:9-10; Matthew 3:8-9 pp Luke 3:8; Matthew 7:21-23 pp Luke 13:25-27; Matthew 25:41-46; John 8:39-47

The value of circumcision

Romans 2:17-29; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Philippians 3:2-7

Those who presume on their own ability

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 See also Proverbs 12:15; Jeremiah 49:16 pp Ob 3-4; Matthew 26:33-35 pp Mark 14:27-31 pp Luke 22:33-34 pp John 13:37-38; 2 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 6:3

Those who deceive themselves about the acceptability of their worship

Isaiah 1:11-17 See also Isaiah 58:2-7; Jeremiah 7:2-8,21-29; Amos 5:21-24; Malachi 1:6-14; Matthew 6:5,7

Those who have a misplaced trust in their own righteousness

Luke 16:15 See also Proverbs 30:12; Isaiah 65:2-5; Luke 18:9-14

Those who have a misplaced trust in idols

Romans 1:20-23 See also Isaiah 44:17-20

See also

5813  conceit
5920  pretence
6145  deceit
7334  circumcision
7774  prophets, false
8714  dishonesty
8776  lies
8801  presumption
8822  self-justification
8823  self-righteousness