The heavenly Teacher inquired: “What stronger delusion can beguile the mind than the pretense that you are building on the right foundation and that God accepts your works, when in reality you are working out many things according to worldly policy and are sinning against Jehovah? Oh, it is a great deception, a fascinating delusion, that takes possession of minds when men who have once known the truth, mistake the form of godliness for the spirit and power thereof; when they suppose that they are rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, while in reality they are in need of everything.” {8T 249.3}

Den himmelske lærer spørger: Kan nogen stærkere vildfarelse bedrage sindet end den påstand, at I bygger på den rette grundvold og at Gud godkender jeres handlinger, når I i virkeligheden udfører mange ting i overensstemmelse med verdens fremgangsmåde og synder imod Jehova? Oh, det er et stort bedrag, en listig forførelse, der tager sindet i besiddelse, når mennesker, der engang har kendt sandheden, forveksler gudfrygtighedens ydre form med dens ånd og kraft; når (250) de mener at være rige og have vundet rigdom og ikke trænger til noget, medens de i virkeligheden mangler alt.”