“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Being deceived means believing things are so when they’re not; believing things will be when they won’t; or believing things can’t be when they can. We can be deceived about a situation, about another, or about ourselves. Peter believed he would not fall: “… Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Matt. 26:33).
The believer does not have to sin, but he can. Sin is not inevitable, but it is still possible. By His grace, God can keep us from falling; but we can fall short of the grace of God.
We do right to boldly declare what God can do. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24,25) But we also do right to acknowledge our responsibility to abide in Him, if we are to be kept from sin. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not …” (1 John 3:6).
The faith of Christ has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). But, “giving all diligence,” we are to add to our faith – virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (2 Pet. 1:5-7) Only IF we do these things will we make our “calling and election sure” and “never fall” (2 Pet. 1:10).
Walk in the faith that declares what God has done and can do. But don’t be deceived, thinking more highly of yourself than you should. Walk soberly and humbly, knowing that apart from abiding in Christ, you can and will fall. Peter learned this lesson the hard way.