Proverbs 13:7 English Standard Version (ESV) One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

The definition of pretentious is attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. Ref.Dictionary.com

The root word for pretentious is pretend. The insinuation is that the pretentious understands in their hearts that they do not actually possess this importance.

Why would we pretend to be something we are not? Perhaps it is a protective mechanism. What illusions do we suffer in not knowing who we are in truth? What deep seated insecurities do we harbor and try to hide because we feel vulnerable? How unlovely do we feel?

 Philippians 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

It is when we look to Him who is true that we can stop pretending.

The reason is that we cannot see Jesus in truth without having surrendered self to His Lordship. We will know that our past lives no longer matters. We do not need to pretend any longer.

Yet the desire to be more still exists within our nature. We were empty vessels for so long it is hard to imagine what it feels like to be filled. The Holy Spirit is gentle, kind and fully aware of how we feel and will protect our souls from harm, even from ourselves.

Psalm 4:2 English Standard Version (ESV) O men,^{[men of rank]} how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

How long indeed shall we pretend to know who and what we are and deny our new creation in Christ?

We will discover who we are in Christ by looking to Him and not ourselves.

2 Corinthians 11:4 English Standard Version

⁴ For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

Why would anyone accept another Jesus? In truth they have accepted a lie. Satan is the father of lies. He opposes every good thing in Christ. So what does that lie sound like? A comfortable lie is an acceptable lie.

John 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

A comfortable lie tells us that we are acceptable the way we are and that we do not have to change.

The truth is that accepting Christ changes us like nothing else will. In order to accept Christ we have to repent of the life we lived in order to have a new life. The lie tells us we do not have to repent and only believe.

2 Peter 3:16 English Standard Version (ESV) as he does in all his ^[Paul’s] letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

The lie is that we cannot understand the scriptures and we need someone to explain them to us.

The truth is the Holy Spirit instructs us in all things that Christ has said and reveals the understanding by faith. False teachers will tell us that we cannot find truth without accepting their instruction.

Are these the only lies? No, of course not. These are two common lies that have been seen often among those that are deceived.