Satan: Can he blind people to the truth of the gospel?
What do the Scriptures say about this?
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [Emphasis added]
Who is the “god of this world” he’s talking about? It is Satan! And please notice what he causes them to do—to “believe not.” Satan knows well that it is rejection of the gospel message provided for us through the revelation given to the apostle Paul that keeps people unsaved, and hell bound. Even though most people don’t realize it, “religious” works or works of any kind do not provide salvation for anyone.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
It is faith in “the gospel” message alone that speaks of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection that saves people, putting them on a permanent course to Heaven. It is a serious mistake when people go to other writers of Scripture to convince us otherwise. This one here is probably the favorite of them all—
James 2:17-20
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [Emphasis added]
Usually when someone references this passage, they look at me as if I must not be familiar with it. What they don’t realize is that Peter’s books are addressed to another people of another time, not us today.
James 1:1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. [Emphasis added]
The book of James was written to Israel, “the twelve tribes” for another time before the provision and revelation of what we now have as Paul’s gospel which is our gospel, the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I [Paul] have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. [Emphasis added]
And what are the details of this gospel that is now ours? The apostle Paul tells us clearly—
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I [Paul] declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
Then we have verses like this that tell us exactly what happened when Christ was on that cross.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
19 To wit [That is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Then we have that which is our commission as His ambassadors, personal representatives of Christ.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It is this message that Satan blinds unbelievers to more than anything else. From what we see in Scripture, this is his primary work. And who is the human agency God used to provide us with this gospel message? Satan even hides this. It is Paul, not Peter, Moses or anyone else. Peter comes close to presenting it but even with him it is vague because he doesn’t tell us that believing in or relying on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is the basis for our salvation.
1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Furthermore, Peter’s gospel demanded works such as water baptism.
Acts 2:37-39
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children [other Israelites], and to all that are afar off [those in other nations], even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [Emphasis added]
What confusion Satan has created in so many circles! It is the apostle Paul who tells us what we need to know about this.
2 Timothy 2:7-8
7 Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: [Emphasis added]
For more information about these TWO different gospels, please see my other articles about it—
Gospels: Did Peter & Paul preach the same gospel?
Gospel: Where did Paul get the one he preached?
Yes, it was this gospel that was first given to the apostle Paul by special revelation that shows us the means of salvation today for anyone who will accept it. It is imperative that people know that it is accepting by faith THIS gospel that is the only means for their salvation today. Peter’s gospel that was Israel’s will not provide it.
Romans 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [Emphasis added]
Please see my articles about the place of works in our time—
Works: How important are they?
Works: What about verses that seem to demand them for salvation?
Here in this Romans 2:16 verse he tells us this THREE times in one sentence. How much clearer could he possibly make it! But so many people refuse to accept this as the sole means to their salvation or for anyone’s. It is this which is spoken of as Paul’s gospel that provides it.
Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel [a reference to Paul], and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets [literally the prophetic Scriptures—“prophets” is an adjective in the Greek text, not a noun], according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: [Emphasis added]
Please note that it is faith and faith alone that is the means to appropriating this gospel message. It is only when a person places their faith in Christ’s work that they are credited with the righteousness of God that’s needed for what is called justification and the resultant salvation. Contrary to the opinion of many, man’s own works of righteousness cannot provide that and have nothing to do with it.
Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [Emphasis added]
Did anyone prior to the revelation given by Paul know his gospel message? Again, Scripture gives us the answer to that. As per the above passage [Galatians 2:16] and others, Paul’s gospel message had been kept secret, a “mystery” never made known before until the apostle Paul was provided with it and commissioned to make it known. But what is the chief instrument Satan uses to keep people blind to this truth? What will be to some people is a surprising answer—religion. By that I mean people who they themselves think they have a solution to offer. There are people and churches that will tell you that obedience to their prescribed system of works will provide the solution for them. The “agencies” promoting this message tend to change from generation to generation but the heart of what they promote is much the same. In the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry, it was a group called the scribes and Pharisees. Our Lord was faithful to reveal their foolish teaching in His earthly ministry just as we should be in ours.
Matthew 23:15
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. [Emphasis added]
These “religious” people were blind to the truth that could have saved them all. Much could be said about our Lord’s blunt comments about this.
Matthew 23:16
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! [Emphasis added]
How very successful Satan and his “religious” followers have been to blind so many people to the truth!
Matthew 23:24
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [Emphasis added]
Our Lord had only rebuke for these people. If we’re to be Christlike, we will share His feelings about such people who operate in our time. Our Lord was constantly warning people about the thinking and resultant teaching of these people. He was frequently telling them to avoid them.
Matthew 15:14
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. [Emphasis added]
Even though certain people of Israel were given an important mission of being God’s custodians of His gospel message, they failed miserably. Like so many people today, they were determined to believe they could achieve salvation and God’s approval by their own works of one kind or another.
Romans 11:6-8
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. [Emphasis added]
Only by faith in Christ is this blindness ended for any one of them.
2 Corinthians 3:14
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. [Emphasis added]
It has for many years been amazing to me to see how blind so many people are to the truth of the gospel and so much more. There are even so many believers who are blind to the mystery truths revealed by Paul. What blindness exists in so many areas! It surely is sad to see so many “blind” people who don’t even know they’re blind.
Ephesians 4:18
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: [Emphasis added]
People in our time are certainly not an exception to this, even with all the history and technology that makes the truth so readily available to so many. Certainly, Satan is alive and well!
Revelation 3:17
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [Emphasis added]
Such people are just as spiritually blind now as they were then. Please be sure you’re not one of them. My hope and prayer for you is that the articles and videos on this website will be a great help to you with that.