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Will God's Elect Be Deceived?
B.B. Caldwell

Brownlow B. Caldwell (1899–1976). Born in 1899, likely in South Carolina, B.B. Caldwell was an American Baptist evangelist and conference speaker known for his distinctive preaching style and commitment to the doctrines of grace. Based in Greenville, South Carolina, he ministered primarily in the mid-20th century, a contemporary of evangelists like Rolfe Barnard. Caldwell’s sermons, marked by simplicity, logical outlines, and conviction, focused on themes like God’s sovereignty, human depravity, and salvation through Christ alone. Often considered a “prophet born out of time,” he faced misunderstanding due to his peculiar mannerisms and unwavering Calvinism, which was unpopular among many evangelical Baptists of his era. He preached across the U.S., delivering messages such as “The Deadly Danger of Humanism,” “The Good Shepherd & His Sheep,” and “Will God’s Elect Be Deceived?” preserved on platforms like SermonAudio. Little is documented about his personal life, including family or education, but his ministry left a lasting impact on Reformed Baptist circles. Caldwell died in 1976, saying, “The sovereignty of God is the foundation of all true religion.”
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Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the preacher asks four important questions: whether the audience has been born again, whether they know Christ, whether they have the inward witness, and whether they have a call from God. The preacher shares his own experience of being called by God and emphasizes the importance of knowing if one is among those who are chosen. He then references 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 4-10, which provides seven ways to know if one is among the chosen. The sermon also highlights the prevalence of deception in the world and the need to be cautious and discerning.
Sermon Transcription
Our dear Lord, we come to look up into your face tonight, that you would be pleased to move upon these lips of clay. Make them your lips, and anoint the word of the Lord as it goes forth. Then move upon our cold, dead hearts, that they may be quickened and made alive, that we may hear the voice of King Jesus tonight, or we pray in Christ's lovely name. Amen and amen. I want you to turn quickly to the book of Matthew, chapter 24. I want to ask a question tonight, and answer that question if I may. The question is, will God's elect be deceived? This age is to end in a gigantic deception. I believe deception is moving at a rapidity over this earth, that would make a New York lawyer tremble as it's moving. My text is in verse 24, Matthew 24. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. I'm so glad that that's not possible. I'm coming now tonight to bring you a message on will God's elect be deceived. I trust that if you're here tonight and have made a profession of faith, and you have certain conceptions about certain things, that you will hear me tonight with all of your mind, body, soul, and spirit. Brother Rawlins was telling me, I'll preach on Sunday morning or Sunday night, on the question that's similar, will the church survive? Amen. And God pointed out that there's church going up and one going down. That's right. One's going to be taken out and the other's going to be spewed out. And we are facing a desperate hour, more desperate than anybody in this world knows about. So tonight I want to point out in Matthew 24, there's five things in that chapter that the Lord said would happen at the end of this age. Jesus said that this age will end in deception. That's in verse four. Take heed that no man deceive you. Now if this age has to end in deception, and it is, then it's strange that everybody's got the truth. Every denomination on the face of the earth thinks they're right. Every preacher thinks he's right. Every church member thinks he's right. Yea, we are so confirmed in what we believe, that we even go to the point of where, that we take the position that we are immune from deception. But I trust by God's grace tonight to scare the very daylights out of you. Scare you so badly that you won't trust nobody but the Lord. And if I can get that done, I shall be happy. In the second place, the Lord said this age was to end in false christs. I have that in verse five. Many will come in my name, and say I am first, and shall deceive many. The word many, we are told by the dead Greek scholars, that the word many means the majority. Now that'll make you tremble. Many false christs shall arise, and say I am Christ, and shall deceive many. Jesus said to come in my name. Satan cannot operate in his own name. He must operate in the name of somebody else. In the third place, Jesus said that this age would end in false prophets. You have that in verse 11. And many false prophets shall arise, and deceive many. The saddest thing in the world is to find an individual going to hell from a church pew. Going to hell with a Bible in their hand. Going to hell with a prayer on their lips. Going to hell solid in doctrine, and rotten as hell on the inside. Straight as a gun barrel, and just as empty. Not only that, but Jesus said this age was to end in false signs, and false wonders. You have that in verse 24. Now, he says that they're coming, and will show great signs, and great wonders. The meaning of that is what the old divines used to call pragmatism. Pragmatism simply means that the end justifies the means. And that you prove that you're real by your success. But success doesn't prove anything, and failure doesn't prove anything. It must be based upon something else. There these fellows come in, showing great signs, and wonders. Got big Sunday schools, and by that they claim that we have the truth. Have these big buses, get all the people to ride the big buses, and make a big show. As if that we've got the truth, and great crowds are coming to hear the gospel. But that is not so. Ladies and gentlemen, that is false signs, and false wonders. That is the fifth thing that our Lord said would end. Jesus said this age was to end in judgment. Nothing but the judgment of God can ever settle up with this day and hour. We're told, and versed that in nine. And the flood came, and they knew not. Until the flood came and took them all away. So shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man. In the days of Noah, there were not days of great revivals. There were not days of great holy ghost conviction of sin. There were not days when men were coming to the Lord. But there were days of fearful declension and apostasy from God. Noah preaches a hundred and twenty years, the best we can see. He demonstrates his message and his faith by the building of the ark. And if he had any converts, they all got down in the flood. So in verse five, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ. And shall deceive many, the majority. Verse 11, and many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many. That means the majority of people today who claim to be saved are deceived. Now that's enough to make us tremble. And we're not sitting in judgment on no single soul. Verse 24, for they shall arise false Christs and false prophets. And shall show great signs and wonders. In so much that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very left. But thank God in the Lamb forever that that is not possible. If you're here tonight and belong to the elect family of God, I have good news for you. I have news that ought to make your ears tingle. I have news that ought to put a sparkle in your eye and a praise upon your lip. And a joy in your soul that you could shout glory to God in the Lamb forever. To know that God is those he took. That his elect people shall not be deceived. You say, now how can I know if I'm one of God's elect? We'll answer that at the last point. I'm asking four questions. Question number one, what is the meaning of deception? I know but little about Greek and but little about Hebrew. But I have analytical concordance. I'm a theorist Greek-Mexican. And I have never studied a word that so wrested me and tousled me and troubled me as this one word deceit. The word deception has ten outstanding meanings. Showing the tremendous power of that word deception. First it means to entice. You know that's what these preachers are doing today. Have all kinds of bubblegums, everything in the world to entice people to come to the church. Such practices cannot be found in the New Testament nor in the Old. In the New Testament God sent his men out to preach and to pray and to plead with lost souls as far as preaching is concerned. But all of this thing we have today is unscriptural. And we must live by it. When you start trying to entice people, you're moving in a dangerous direction. That sinner is dead. How are you going to entice a dead man to do anything? If you're going to entice him, then you are shut up to the rams of the mall and cannot operate anywhere else. In the second place, that word deception means to persuade. Persuade. How are you going to persuade a dead man to get up and walk off? Lazarus is dead. I mean he's from death. Not only dead, but he is stinking. How are you going to come to the tomb of Lazarus and persuade him to get up and walk out of that tomb? After all that God has done, John chapter 11, about 50 verses in it, and it has but one thing in that chapter to say to us. Showing you the condition of the sinner and the power of the Savior. And that salvation is not in the hands of the sinner, but in the hands of the Savior. In the third place, that word deception means to reason amiss. When you come to Christianity, if you start reasoning, you've had it. You're in the dark. Nothing reasonable about anything that God has ever done. Nothing reasonable about anything that Christ ever did. God never done anything in the Old Testament made any sense. Jesus Christ never did anything in the New Testament made any sense. And you start reasoning, you are moving in a direction that will lead you into the pit forever. There's reason, but there's revelation. Now, if your reasoning doesn't lead you to revelation, then what do you have? Now, you cannot, it's not a matter of reasoning, that's a deception. In the next place, deception means to deceive the mind. The mind of man is the battleground of the devil. If he can ever get your mind, he's got you forever and ever, as long as he can hold your mind. Now, word deception means a wrong opinion. Did you have your hand up? I'd say, well, you have your opinion and I have my opinion. But I have bad news for you tonight. God pays no attention to your opinion. Not a question of your opinion. You and I are shut up to a revelation in the hands of a sovereign God. He can grant you repentance or leave you in the dark. He can create faith in your heart or leave you a dead soul. God is sovereign in His grace. He's sovereign in His mercy. He's sovereign in everything that He does. And deception means a wrong opinion. Any opinion you have is wrong. The natural man could not have a right opinion of God. Not only that, but the word deception means to slow down. The devil has asked every child of God to slow them down. But I am so glad. By God and the Lamb forever, you may be knocked down, but you're never knocked out. Able to rise to your feet and start another battle, because God's gonna see to it. That is, elect people will be brought to. In the next place, that word deception means to be hoodwinked. And I see these young men riding on a bicycle with a hood over their face. I'm made to think of this word in the Greek. Now, I know they do that to keep the wind out of their face. And I'm not criticizing the boy's point. But the point is, it suggests to me in some individual, hoodwink. Hoodwink, a big old hood pulled down over your head. There you are in the dark and wandering on following the devil. Not only that, but the word deception means to play upon one. Did you ever see a cat catch him a mouse? And he keeps that mouse alive as long as he can. And he'll play with that mouse. That mouse starts running, pulls him back. Starts over your head, pulls him back. That cat has hypnotic power and is absolutely playing upon that rat. Oh my, how the devil will these false prophets and false teachers play upon the emotions of the souls of men. Not only that, but the word deception means to lead into error. Now, truth is God's property. And if you're God's child, then you have a right to all the truth that God has. And he'll give you all the truth that you will walk in. In the final place, that word deception means to lead aside from the right way. There is the old sinner, he's in the wrong way. He couldn't be anywhere else. And the devil is not trying to deceive him. God's already got him sucked and sealed up and hoodwinked. But the devil has asked the people of God to lead them astray from the right way. Isaiah chapter 66 and verse 4. I also will choose their delusions and will bring their curse upon them. Because when I call, none did answer. Now watch it. If God is pleased to call you, and if God is pleased to give you a ray of light, my Lord, you ought to yield to God quickly. Don't play with that. Go quickly. Because when I call, none did answer. When I speak, they did not hear. But they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Now, God will give that individual a strong delusion. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 9 to 14. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power. A double F. All power, and all signs, and all lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that fears because. Because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved. I put out in a minute that there's four great truths that they did not love and would not receive. First is the election of God. Second is sanctification of the Spirit. And third is the call of God. And fourth is the belief of the truth. This is the truth that they loved not and would not receive. It's a sight in the world today. How that even supposed preachers are fighting the doctrine of election. Fighting the sovereignty of God, making fun of it. They're already deceived. Already deceived a strong delusion. Now listen. And for this cause, because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved. God shall send them a strong delusion. That they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believe not the truth but a pleasure in unrighteousness. But notice there's good news. Verse 13 and 14 are these four truths that you must believe and embrace and accept. If you don't, God said I'll send you a strong delusion. What are they? Election of God. Sanctification of the Spirit. The call of God. And the belief of the truth. Notice this. But we are found to give thanks always to God for you. That's another group. That in beloved of the Lord. Because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation. How? Four things here now. Truth, sanctification of the Spirit. Belief of the truth and the call of God. Truth, sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. For unto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining. Not attaining. That's something you do. Obtaining means you just receive it as a free gift from God. To the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alright. Now question number two. What about God's elect? We're told in the text that if it were possible they'd receive the very elect. What about God's elect anyhow? Well I'm going to give you five things about them that'll make your ears to tingle. First, their security is in the hands of Christ. You like that? He died for them and is going to bring them in. And he's going to see to it that no devil or demon and false Christ and false prophet will ever ultimately deceive his people and damn them. Why would he die for them and let the devil get them? Oh listen to that. Their security is in the hands of Christ. Not only that, but their preservation is by the mighty power of God. God will protect and he will preserve and he'll give them the ability to persevere and he'll preserve them. And they're going to move on in spite of all that the devil may do. As in if this is not so, I've got no hope for myself and I've got none for you. The devil will get the life one of us in the hour that lies before. What we've got now is a Sunday school picnic of what's coming. They're going to come on the scene and perform all kind of miracles and all of them be from hell. They're going to come on the scene with all of this thing of proving that I'm right. I've got a big Sunday school. Well it might be the devil's Sunday school. I've got a big church. I didn't know you had a church. I knew the Lord had one since one of you got one. Oh listen, we're doing a big job, but wait a minute, for whom? In the next place, it's impossible that they ever should be finally and totally deceived. It's impossible to deceive God's elect because God is going to see to it that that will not be. They have a sure and firm perseverance to the end, notwithstanding the cunning and craft of men and devils. They have a firm perseverance to the very end. Glory to God and the Lamb forever. God said, this is my youngins and I'm going to bring them through to heaven, come what may. If that is not so, these false prophets and false teachers and these false priests coming on the scene would absolutely deceive the very elect if that were possible. But thank God and the Lamb forever. The Lord that died for his people is going to see to it that every one of them will be brought to Christ in conviction and regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. He's going to see to it that every one of them will be brought in savingly in God's own good time. I'm so glad about that. I was just an old mountain sinner. I never had a pair of shoes. I was 11 years old. Hasbro, Gainesville. Way back in the Smoky Mountain, nice little park where they used hoothouse for chickens and possums for house cats. Way back then. I knew nothing about the scriptures. I knew nothing about this bus ministry. I knew nothing about Sunday school. And I've been very grateful to God that I wasn't brainwashed by that outfit. When I came to God, I was fertile territory for God. I came to God, I knew nothing about the Bible. I knew there was a God. Knew the Bible was so. When I came to God and God saved me, He didn't have to get rid of all of that hogwash and stuff kept out of me. I was just as virgin as could be in that respect. But here's something else about God's elect. They may be and are deceived before their conversion. I want to watch this thing. This is one part of their character whilst unregenerate. They may be and are deceived before their conversion. Yea, every one of God's young'uns are deceived before their conversion unless they've been regenerate in their mother's womb and come here all fixed up. Old Jeremiah was regenerate in his mother's womb or sanctified as a prophet to the nations while he's in his mother's womb. I will tell you that John the Baptist was regenerate, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, ordained as a prophet of God and came here that way. But the rest of us poor devils, we didn't come here that way, at least I didn't. I had to be converted and I was deceived from top to bottom in many respects. Titus chapter 3, verse 1 to 3. Paul was the greatest deceived man that ever walked the face of God's green earth and yet he was one of God's elect. So put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey majesty, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men, for we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived. All right, now God's people are deceived before they're converted. But listen, it's God's responsibility to find all of the Father's sheep, gonna find the last one of them and He's gonna bring them in, bring them out of their deception, bring them out of the death house and bring them into the light house as sure as God is on the throne. Luke chapter 8, verse 2, said Mary called Magdalene out of whom were seven devils. Here is one of God's elect, young and demon possessed. You see it? Certainly she was deceived, she had no telling how many devils inside of that woman. But thank God in the land forever when Christ crossed her path. He crossed her path, said, all right sister, I'm calling to you. And she came and was glad to come. And if He doesn't call you, He doesn't deliver you, then you never will come. Luke chapter 13, verse 16, and ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, you like that? Then she was one of the elect. And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound low these eighteen years, be loose from this bond on the Sabbath day. See it? Now why didn't Christ loose her before? He didn't want to. He saves His people when He gets ready. You need to believe that and need to know it. And He's in no hurry, He's not excited, because He knows what He's going to do. And He started out today and He will do it in spite of all that the devil and demons can do. Question number three ought to be of great interest. Why God's elect cannot be fatally, finally, and totally deceived? Why is it? Why God's elect cannot be finally, and totally deceived? I'm going to give you several reasons why they cannot be finally, and totally deceived. First reason is that God the Holy Ghost will open their eyes. All of them blind, like a blind dog in a meat house. Striking everything, hitting nothing. But God the Holy Ghost will open their eyes. And shall never forget when God opened my eyes. I was blind until that time, God opened my eyes, and I saw myself, and I saw hell, and I saw the awfulness of sin, the curse of sin, and the sinfulness of sin as I'd never seen it before. There's no argument now when God opened my eyes. Second reason why that God's elect cannot be deceived is that God the Holy Ghost will open their ears. See, you've got to have your eyes open so you can see the glory of God, and see yourself. Then you've got to have your ears open so when God calls you, He hears, and comes. You can't come without this call. I came without, and you're still without too, brother. Don't fool yourself. The only way you know you're under the elect is by the call. And when God calls His sheep, you come in. Lazarus, that made him alive, come out of that. And the Holy Ghost floated him out, and didn't he come? He didn't walk out, he was floated out by the Holy Ghost. There is the third reason why that God's elect cannot be fatally, finally, and totally deceived is because God the Holy Ghost will regenerate them and bring them saviourly to Christ. Thank God and the Lamb forever, He will regenerate them when He gets ready. Now when we come back and put salvation in the hands of the Saviour instead of the sinner, we will be moving and God will honour such preachers and nothing else will He honour as sure as I'm standing before you tonight. If the sinner is dead in the ears, then he is shut up to the sovereignty of God. John chapter 5 verse 21, said the Son quickeneth whom He wills. Like that? Well, whom's He going to quicken? His elect people? He's going to quicken them and bring them savingly to the Lord Jesus Christ. A fellow said to me out in Texas, Mr. Carlewell, that's so, but it's dangerous. I said, since when is truth dangerous? You mean it's dangerous for you? You might get one off in your chest, I see what you're saying. But ladies and gentlemen, said well it confuses the sinner. I said he's an old alien dead sinner, blind as a bat, dead and staken, separate from God. How are you going to confuse him about anything? If you stand around the rims of the mall, you would confuse him. There is the fourth reason why that God's elect cannot be finally and totally deceived and that is that the Holy Ghost will enthrall them and be their teacher and their guide. Glory to God in the Lamb forever. When God saves a man, He puts the schoolhouse and the textbook and the teacher all on the inside of him. Isn't that wonderful? If I'm saving souls, I do that. I'd fix them so that the devil couldn't get them. And God has done that. John 14, 26, He shall teach you all things. You like that? John 16, 13, He will guide you into all truth. Now if He's going to teach you all things, going to guide you into all truth, then please tell me how you're going to save that fellow. Or you may tangle him up. You may save him for a few days, for a little time. That's all right. The gut shepherd will say, all right boy, you don't belong, get over here. And you come in. You're glad to come, and you is coming. Wouldn't it be stupid for God to make a proposition to Lazarus in the name of that man? That's exactly what these fellows are doing. They're winning everybody all over the country and damning souls, and God's going to put them in hell for doing it. I preached in that line there, and I told them, I said, God's going to make you preachers, put all your converts in hell, and get them chopped to and burst for it. And of course that stirred up a hornet's nest. Now there's another reason why that God's elect cannot be finally and totally deceived. That's because God the Holy Ghost will call them and keep on calling them. He calls and He keeps on calling. He calls and He keeps on calling. And He never will stop till He lands you in heaven glorified. John chapter 10 verse 3, He calls His own sheep by name and leadeth them out. He doesn't make them a proposition. That's the devil's gospel, ladies and gentlemen. You're not saved by making the decision. You're not saved by a proposition. You're not saved by persuasion. You're not saved by water baptism, church membership. That being the case, the devil will join the church and get baptized, and then I'm going to send him to hell. Oh, wait a minute, ladies and gentlemen. God knows exactly what He's doing. He calls His own sheep by name and leadeth them out. He doesn't make them a proposition. They're dead. They're lost. And He quickens them and finds them and brings them to the shepherd. There's another reason why that God's elect cannot be deceived. That's because God the Holy Ghost will open their understanding. Luke chapter 24 and verse 45 is a verse that I like to read and then praise God, isn't it? Then openly their understanding that they might understand the Scripture. There is no way for you to understand this Bible if God don't open your understanding. You can go to all the seminaries you want to, all the colleges and universities, and the more you go, the less you've got a godly teacher, the dumber you will be. You don't read anything out. It's got to be faithed out, and it's got to be a revelation from heaven. There is the final reason why that God's elect cannot only and totally be deceived. That's because God the Holy Ghost will reveal to them the false prophets. In due time, you might be under the ministry of a false prophet, and he may be your person. I'm not questioning no man of God, and I'm not questioning anybody, but I'm just preaching. He may be evangelist, may be a teacher, may be this and that, but if he's false, the Holy Ghost is going to reveal to you that that man is false. Who said so? The Bible. 1 John chapter 4 verse 4 Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them. Why? Because greater is he that's in you than he that's in the world. Thus, God, O my soul, when God saves a man, he opens his eyes, opens his ears, and the Holy Ghost comes to dwell inside of that individual, and fully tell me how God's going to get that child. Never, ladies and gentlemen, God said that we're going to see to it that my children wind up in heaven at home with the Father. I like that, don't you? As I read magazines and study and look at television and everything in the world, I'm scared to death to look at sin, my Lord. If I didn't have the Lord, what would I do? What would I do? What would I do? Question number four that ought to be of great interest. There it is. He said if it were possible they'd deceive the very elect. That's not possible. All right. Now, question number four. How can I know that I am one of God's elect? I'd like to know that, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you like to know that? Well, I'm going to tell you exactly how you can know. I want you to stand quickly. 1 Thessalonians 1.4-10 Here he gives you seven things and seven ways you may know that you are one of God's elect. So here they are. Notice it. 1 Thessalonians 1.4-10 And I want you to read this with me tonight and look at it. This is about a serious matter. I'd like to know whether I'm one of God's elect or not. If I'm one of His elect, in due time God's going to save me and in due time He's going to bring me to Christ and I'm not going to be deceived ultimately. All right. Now, verse four tells you what? Knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God. Then he gives you, start with verse five, and gives you seven ways you can know that you are one of God's elect. Now I've got the Bible for you. Look at it with two good eyes. First, the gospel comes in power. The false prophets cannot preach the gospel in power. They have the power of personality. But wait a minute. It's the power of the Holy Ghost here. The gospel comes to you in power. Second is that the gospel comes in peace. Did you get peace? No. Well, you're either not saved. It might be you're not one of the elect. I don't know. But at least you haven't been brought in yet. Third, the gospel comes in faith. If you've got no faith, then it's either you're an alien death sinner, or your situation may be very serious. And the fourth place is that the gospel comes in much assurance. Much assurance. Do you like that? Oh, much assurance. Why would God save a man and not let him know it? Well, if God saved you and didn't let you know it, you could lose it and wouldn't know you'd lost it. Ah, but the gospel comes in much assurance. Fifth is that the gospel comes in much affliction. I'm afraid of these fellows. I'm having a hallelujah wonderful time. What do you mean by good time? I've fought a hell of a deal for 47 years, and I will see the way that God inflicts it. We're going to read in a minute. Sixth, that the gospel comes in the joy of the Holy Ghost. You've got no joy? Then tell me, where are you? You're not one of the elected. At least you haven't been brought in yet. In the seventh place, that the gospel comes in your turning to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven. Like that? What are you waiting for? Conversion to the world? No, no. Waiting for the world to get better? No, no. I'm waiting for God's Son from heaven. See it? Now, there are seven ways you can know. Watch him and let's read it. Knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God, for our gospel came not in word only, uh-oh, nobody ever gets saved that way, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance. As you know what men of men we were among you for your sake, and you became followers of us and of the Lord. Now, it's all right to follow a preacher if you're following the Lord. Moses, our old Pharaoh, followed Moses and got drowned in the sea. Now, not just follow a preacher. Our father ain't a preacher if he's following the Lord. See? I ain't going to follow no man. I said, now wait a minute. So I ain't going to follow no man. You go to hell too, brethren. God is ordained. How shall they hear without a preacher? He did say that. But that man is to follow the Lord. See? And ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost, so that ye were ensampled to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. Far from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia, Achaia, but also in every place your wonderful characters spoken of. In every place your faith, the God word, is spread abroad so that we need not to speak anything. There were missionaries. Our brothers said, let's get out this gospel. And if you're not able to tell somebody about the Lord, you better check up. Verse 9. Notice, turn to God from idols. You destroyed all of your idols. Isn't that wonderful? God don't save idolatry. He's going to save sinners that break up your idols. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we have unto you, and how ye turn to God from idols. To do what? To serve the living and the true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead. Even Jesus was delivered us from the wrath to come. Knowing, therefore, that in your election of God there are seven outstanding positive proofs in that chapter that you can know that you are one of God's elect. You're here tonight. You have assurance that you're one of God's elect. The devil may trick you. He may trap you. But he can never ultimately and finally and totally deceive you and jam you in hell. Because God's going to say to you that you are brought to the light of everlasting in the resurrection. I like that tonight, and I'm sure that you do too. Would you let me ask you four questions in closing? Question number one, have you been born again? Question number two, do you know Christ? Question number three, do you have the inward witness? And question number four, is the call of God upon yourself? Forty-seven years ago, God found me. He quickened me. He rousted me. He whispered me. And he saved me. And he called me. And I've been calling. He keeps on calling. I hear his voice every day. I feel his presence every day. As we march on and keep moving and moving in this wonderful, marvelous salvation of our God, ladies and gentlemen, it's impossible to deceive God.
Will God's Elect Be Deceived?
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Brownlow B. Caldwell (1899–1976). Born in 1899, likely in South Carolina, B.B. Caldwell was an American Baptist evangelist and conference speaker known for his distinctive preaching style and commitment to the doctrines of grace. Based in Greenville, South Carolina, he ministered primarily in the mid-20th century, a contemporary of evangelists like Rolfe Barnard. Caldwell’s sermons, marked by simplicity, logical outlines, and conviction, focused on themes like God’s sovereignty, human depravity, and salvation through Christ alone. Often considered a “prophet born out of time,” he faced misunderstanding due to his peculiar mannerisms and unwavering Calvinism, which was unpopular among many evangelical Baptists of his era. He preached across the U.S., delivering messages such as “The Deadly Danger of Humanism,” “The Good Shepherd & His Sheep,” and “Will God’s Elect Be Deceived?” preserved on platforms like SermonAudio. Little is documented about his personal life, including family or education, but his ministry left a lasting impact on Reformed Baptist circles. Caldwell died in 1976, saying, “The sovereignty of God is the foundation of all true religion.”