If you were to ask those you know who profess to serve the Living God how many different types of people in the Spiritual sense there are on this planet, they would more than likely say to you that there are two, the saved and the lost. And then you would need to correct them.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
And our Savior will find every single one of those that are lost.
There are the saved, the lost, and the wicked, the wicked being those who will die in their sins, if you are to consider that truth further, they would be those that the Lord has given over to a reprobate mind.
In these days of the beginnings of sorrows that we find ourselves in there are also three, and only three types of people, some have yet to reach, as it were, the first category mentioned above, they are still lost, but will be found, but nearly all fit into the last category, and therefore the first two of this group.
There are the deceived, those that are being deceived, and the elect.
If you are hid in Christ, you are the elect, but even though we have been blessed with Spiritual discernment, we are still human, and therefore in some ways impressionable. In other words, we may for a short time also be deceived. We are still, and until we are glorified, fulfilling 2nd Peter 3:18a.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
That growth means that in our application of what the Scriptures reveal, we may come to conclusions at times that are not in accordance with the truths of the Word of God. In other words, we may at times make mistakes in our interpretations of the truths found in His Word.
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” (Col. 1:9)
The elect my friends will not be deceived for very long, for if you are honestly seeking the face of God solely for His glory, then it is His truths that you are seeking for.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
For those who are deceived there is very little that we can do for them, but those who are being deceived we are to attempt to reach with His truths, no differently than as we are to search for the lost amongst the wicked.
“Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.” (Gal. 4:10)
Use great caution here, for when someone is deceived about Spiritual matters, most generally they will be quite adamant about what they believe. If you have ever spent any time attempting to reach someone trapped in the cult of Romanism or the Charismatic ideologies, you know what I mean. The foundation of the truths you reveal to them must rest entirely within the Scriptures, no differently then when our Savior answered the statements of Satan in the wilderness.
As for being able to discern whether they are lost or one of the wicked, one of the deceived or those being deceived, only prayer can answer that for you, and if you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ for the glory of the Father, the Holy Spirit will give you your answer.
The elect are the saved, those who are deceived are the wicked, the ones who are being deceived may be either one of the lost or become one of the wicked.
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you who they are.
Listen to Him.