is Satan Able To Blind Sinners To the Gospel?

[JesusFan]

has God permitted him to keep blind those who refuse to come to Christ?

IF they are not the Elect of God, does God just allowing them to keep blinded by satan than?

 

[savedbymercy]

Those who do not believe the gospel are in a lost state, and satan has blinded their minds to believe not. 2 Cor 4:

3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In 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.

So unbelief of the Gospel is a work of satan, the god of this world, the only hope is if Christ has died for one, because Christ destroyed the works of the devil for all those He died for. 1 Jn 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

So if Christ died for one, sooner or later the devil's power over them will be rendered ineffective and they will believe the Gospel, if they never believe, then Christ did not die for them..Because Christ death saves from all the works of the devil of which unbelief is one of them...

 

[Iconoclast]

Those who do not believe the gospel are in a lost state, and satan has blinded their minds to believe not. 2 Cor 4:

3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In 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.

So unbelief of the Gospel is a work of satan, the god of this world, the only hope is if Christ has died for one, because Christ destroyed the works of the devil for all those He died for. 1 Jn 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

So if Christ died for one, sooner or later the devil's power over them will be rendered ineffective and they will believe the Gospel, if they never believe, then Christ did not die for them..Because Christ death saves from all the works of the devil of which unbelief is one of them...

Well said, the fact that men do not seek God to begin with, coupled with this satanic blindness can only be cured by God's effectual working.

 

[kyredneck]

Those who do not believe the gospel are in a lost state, and satan has blinded their minds to believe not. 2 Cor 4:

3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In 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.

So unbelief of the Gospel is a work of satan, the god of this world...

From the same passage:

Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 4:6

Would you say then that belief of the gospel is a work of God? If not, why not?

 

[savedbymercy]

krn

Would you say then that belief of the gospel is a work of God?

Of course..

 

[Allan]

has God permitted him to keep blind those who refuse to come to Christ?

IF they are not the Elect of God, does God just allowing them to keep blinded by satan than?

An easy answer is from 2 Thes 2:10-12 regarding those who NEVER will come believe in Christ yet the passage specifically states they could have been saved IF they but believed. In this we find the 'reason' Satan blinds them, due to them 'already' having chosen to not receive the love of the truth that could save them.

2Th 2:10 and in all deceit of unrighteousness in those being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved.
2Th 2:11 And because of this, God will send to them a working of error, for them to believe the lie,
2Th 2:12 that all may be judged, those not believing the truth, but who have delighted in unrighteousness.

Rom 1:18-32; Prov 1:23-33, and many others express this same thing.

Regarding the passage of 2 Thes - for those who wish to state - ah, but God did not 'give' them a love for the truth. Please note that the scripture specifically states of these people who ARE condemned - they could have been saved IF they would have believed.

If Christ did not, in the atonement, make a provision for them, we have firmly established the first lie in scripture as it is dealing with those for whom God is saying ARE condemned

 

[percho]

Those who do not believe the gospel are in a lost state, and satan has blinded their minds to believe not. 2 Cor 4:

3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In 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.

So unbelief of the Gospel is a work of satan, the god of this world, the only hope is if Christ has died for one, because Christ destroyed the works of the devil for all those He died for. 1 Jn 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

So if Christ died for one, sooner or later the devil's power over them will be rendered ineffective and they will believe the Gospel, if they never believe, then Christ did not die for them..Because Christ death saves from all the works of the devil of which unbelief is one of them...

(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.


Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long?

Therefore speak I to them in parables:

Who is doing the blinding in the above?

 

[convicted1]

has God permitted him to keep blind those who refuse to come to Christ?

IF they are not the Elect of God, does God just allowing them to keep blinded by satan than?

Here is the problem with this analogy. My DoG Brethern have stated EMPHATICALLY, that we are born spiritually dead. If we are in this "dead" state, then Satan would have no need to blind us. God blinded us from birth, if this is correct. And until God enlightens us, we are still blind, and satan has no blame in our lost state.

Now, if we are born spiritually alive, then we die after God imputes sin unto us, then we are blinded by Satan, because we chose to follow after all the lies he told us, concerning the fun we'd have living in sin for him. Now, then here comes God, who shows us our lost(dead) state, that we were blinded by satan, and that if we choose to serve Him, we will be made alive, and we will see the light. Its scenarios like this that fortify my stance that we are born "alive" unto God.


i am I AM's!!

Willis

 

[stilllearning]

Those who do not believe the gospel are in a lost state, and satan has blinded their minds to believe not. 2 Cor 4:

3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In 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.

So unbelief of the Gospel is a work of satan, the god of this world, the only hope is if Christ has died for one, because Christ destroyed the works of the devil for all those He died for. 1 Jn 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

So if Christ died for one, sooner or later the devil's power over them will be rendered ineffective and they will believe the Gospel, if they never believe, then Christ did not die for them..Because Christ death saves from all the works of the devil of which unbelief is one of them...

Great answer.

Therefore since Jesus died for everyone(1Peter 2:1), than everyone will be drawn at one time or another.
And what they do with that “drawing”, determines if they will get saved or not.

 

[stilllearning]

(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.


Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long?

Therefore speak I to them in parables:

Who is doing the blinding in the above?

The Scriptures you referred to, are talking about God’s people(the Jews), when God responded to their rebellion by blinding them.

I see the same thing happening to rebellious Christians today!

 

[Greektim]

Here is the problem with this analogy. My DoG Brethern have stated EMPHATICALLY, that we are born spiritually dead. If we are in this "dead" state, then Satan would have no need to blind us. God blinded us from birth, if this is correct. And until God enlightens us, we are still blind, and satan has no blame in our lost state.

Now, if we are born spiritually alive, then we die after God imputes sin unto us, then we are blinded by Satan, because we chose to follow after all the lies he told us, concerning the fun we'd have living in sin for him. Now, then here comes God, who shows us our lost(dead) state, that we were blinded by satan, and that if we choose to serve Him, we will be made alive, and we will see the light. Its scenarios like this that fortify my stance that we are born "alive" unto God.


i am I AM's!!

Willis

Wow... so instead of allowing Scripture to fortify your view (a strange one at that), you'll allow your philosophical theologizing be the determining factor? How's that working out for you?

 

[convicted1]

Wow... so instead of allowing Scripture to fortify your view (a strange one at that), you'll allow your philosophical theologizing be the determining factor? How's that working out for you?

It's working out quite fine, thanks!! Satan blinds, correct? How can a baby be blind, not doing good or evil?

 

[JesusFan]

It's working out quite fine, thanks!! Satan blinds, correct? How can a baby be blind, not doing good or evil?

mankind is tied into our "head of the human family" Adam...

When he sinned, became one with a sinful nature, and since than, ALL born have been counted by god as being "in Adam" so ALL experienced results of the fall, having sinful natures in them, part of the "Human condition"...

So babies ARE born as sinners, inheriting sinful nature from "father Adam:, but the death of Christ allows God to forbade judging them until after they become personally responsible/accountible for their own sins before God, at that point, WOULD have to receive jesus as saviour in order to have God give them a new nature in Christ...

 

[savedbymercy]

Well said, the fact that men do not seek God to begin with, coupled with this satanic blindness can only be cured by God's effectual working.

Yes, Which is the Work of Christ for elect sinners 1 Pet 2:

24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes [Cross work] ye were healed.

 

[savedbymercy]

perch:

Who is doing the blinding in the above?

God is the First Cause, however He uses satan. Satan is used by God for His blinding purposes..

 

[savedbymercy]

Great answer.

Therefore since Jesus died for everyone(1Peter 2:1), than everyone will be drawn at one time or another.
And what they do with that “drawing”, determines if they will get saved or not.

1 Pet 2:1 does not say Christ died for everyone. Christ or God may have bought something but only in a providential way and not redemptive as by the blood of Christ. It says nothing about the blood of Christ here.

God bought national israel in a providential and corporate sense from egypt as here Deut 32:6

Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

But many in that nation who came out of egypt were unbelievers. Where they bought ? Yes, were they believers ? Nope.

In the same sense, Christ because of His finished work of redemption has bought the rights of all men but in order to give Eternal Life to as many as the Father gave him Jn 17:

2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

All flesh here means both the elect and non elect, the sheep and goats, the wheat and the tares ! But the design and purpose of this was not to give eternal life to all flesh without exception, but to as many as the Father gave Him.

Then if we read on down in 2 Pet 2, to verse 12 we find that these false teachers were born into this world to be taken and to be destroyed as if they were nothing but beast vs 12

12 But these [of vs 1], as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

There fate was as the beast. The word made here is the greek word gennaō:


of men who fathered children

a) to be born

b) to be begotten

1) of women giving birth to children

They were born of women in order to be taken and destroyed, as beast, their salvation was never intended by God, but their destruction was.

They were brought into this world to identify with God's Church and then introduce destructive heresies into it. Paul says these things must be 1 Cor 11:19

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

So you have given no evidence by that scripture that Christ shed His Blood for those in 2 Pet 2:1, none whatsover..

 

[JesusFan]

1 Pet 2:1 does not say Christ died for everyone. Christ or God may have bought something but only in a providential way and not redemptive as by the blood of Christ. It says nothing about the blood of Christ here.

God bought national israel in a providential and corporate sense from egypt as here Deut 32:6

Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

But many in that nation who came out of egypt were unbelievers. Where they bought ? Yes, were they believers ? Nope.

In the same sense, Christ because of His finished work of redemption has bought the rights of all men but in order to give Eternal Life to as many as the Father gave him Jn 17:

2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

All flesh here means both the elect and non elect, the sheep and goats, the wheat and the tares ! But the design and purpose of this was not to give eternal life to all flesh without exception, but to as many as the Father gave Him.

Then if we read on down in 2 Pet 2, to verse 12 we find that these false teachers were born into this world to be taken and to be destroyed as if they were nothing but beast vs 12

12 But these [of vs 1], as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

There fate was as the beast. The word made here is the greek word gennaō:


of men who fathered children

a) to be born

b) to be begotten

1) of women giving birth to children

They were born of women in order to be taken and destroyed, as beast, their salvation was never intended by God, but their destruction was.

They were brought into this world to identify with God's Church and then introduce destructive heresies into it. Paul says these things must be 1 Cor 11:19

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

So you have given no evidence by that scripture that Christ shed His Blood for those in 2 Pet 2:1, none whatsover..

Doesn't the book of Hebrews state that Jesus, our High Priest, is able to save to the uttermost the MANY that His blood saved/atoned for?
Not the ALL?

 

[savedbymercy]

Doesn't the book of Hebrews state that Jesus, our High Priest, is able to save to the uttermost the MANY that His blood saved/atoned for?
Not the ALL?

Hebrews states that He bore the sins of many Heb 9:

28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Thats the same group as in Heb 2:

9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

The Many in Heb 9 : 28 clarifies the every in Heb 2:9

The same is spoken of in the OT Isa 53:

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

has God permitted him to keep blind those who refuse to come to Christ?

IF they are not the Elect of God, does God just allowing them to keep blinded by satan than?

I don't believe Satan has that power. To be honest, other than being the titular representation of evil, I don't believe Satan really has all that much power at all.

As for sinners being blinded, they don't need Satan's help for that. Their own sinfulness and pride is plenty enough to blind them.

 

[savedbymercy]

When its God's Purpose to save a sinner, He will open their eyes to the Truth, satan cannot stop it, for Gods Power trumps his Acts 26:

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.