So if someone makes a sincere attempt to find god to the best of his abilities but is unknowingly deceived by an invisible, undetectable force, then god still condemns him to eternal torment?.
So many churches turn people away from Christ, because they don't preach the gospel, so the people don't get their souls saved, and they don't receive Jesus or the Holy Spirit, so they can't ever understand the truth. That's why I said the criteria is the Word of God. It's not necessarily something taught at church. (The gospel SHOULD be preached at EVERY church, but it isn't. As I said in my OP, the devil has many false churches, and false versions of Christianity.) Some churches have some true doctrines, and others have other true doctrines. Some do have more truth than others, and some have basically no truth. The Word of God is what you have to go by, and Jesus said they testify of Him.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
So what I'm saying is, it's Jesus. Salvation is in Jesus Christ. It's all Jesus, and only Jesus.
If you have sought God, keep seeking Him.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The Word of God says that no one seeks after God.
Romans 3:10-12
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
So if you are seeking God, then there is a reason for that.
John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
If you're seeking God, seek Jesus. If you receive Jesus, you receive the Father. If you deny or reject or refuse Jesus, then you are doing so to God.
John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. (Jesus)
1 John 2:23
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Luke 10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Matthew 10:40
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
And if you seek Jesus, who is Christ, you need the right Christ. The real Christ.
Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
You said that you know that the passage I quotes was the core of the gospel. If you know this, then receive it, and the Christ about whom it is, and the Holy Spirit of Christ who died, and was raised again from the dead.
Yes, the devil can and does deceive people. Many people. When Revelation talks about the devil being cast into the lake of fire, it calls him "the devil that deceived them".
Revelation 20:10
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
But Jesus said to take heed that ye be not deceived. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And no one comes to the Father but by Him. He is the only way to God, and to eternal life. Don't be deceived by counterfeits, or other ways, all of which lead to destruction.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.