Can the elect be deceived (Matthew 24:24)?

Response

In what is commonly known as the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, Jesus discusses events that will occur before His second coming. One of the warnings Christ provides is this: “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the chosen ones” (verse 24).

The Greek term translated as “chosen ones” is eklektós, which means “chosen ones.” It is a term used multiple times in the New Testament to describe genuine believers in Jesus (e.g., Luke 18:7; Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12). Will the false miracles performed by the false messiahs and prophets in the end times be so convincing that even born-again believers will be led astray?

There are two reasons why the answer to this question is “no.” First, nearly all Bible commentators agree that the grammatical structure of the verse and the inclusion of “if possible” indicate that such a scenario is impossible. The deception will be powerful, the miracles will appear genuine, and the goal will be to deceive everyone, including the chosen ones. However, God’s grace will prevail. His chosen ones will not be led astray.

Second, the Bible strongly asserts that the chosen ones are safeguarded by God from deceptions that could lead to eternal separation from Christ. Paul informs us that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” «according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: », (Ephesians 1:4); Peter states that the chosen “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5).

The last time” «who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. », (1 Peter 1:5); and Jude says that the chosen are “beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ” «Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: », (Jude 1:1). The elect will persevere in God’s strength.

With respect to following false Christs, Jesus says, “He who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:2-5). The sheep know their Shepherd.

Being deceived is a mark of the unregenerate: “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” «For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. », (Titus 3:3). After salvation, we may stray from the truth at times, but the Bible makes it clear that the elect of God cannot be deceived to the extent of being finally lost. If God’s chosen ones could be deceived in such a way, God’s choice of them would be defeated, and that is not possible. All who are in Christ have been predestined, called, justified, and will eventually be glorified «Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also calle

d: And whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified. «(Romans 8:30). They have been given to Christ; and of all those who have been given to Him, He will lose none. «And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.»(John 10:28).