The Gospel of Satan

Recently a good meaning blogger accused me of preaching the gospel of Satan in relation to a note I wrote. This is the note: https://hischarisisenough.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/god-renovated-heaven-to-keep-you-in/ and this was his reply: http://smashingidols7.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/refuting-simon-yaps-heretical-blog/

Truthfully I had a good chuckle when I read the article. I am thankful for the brother’s zeal but like Paul says zeal without knowledge is a misdirected sad music note. But the phrase “Satan’s gospel” got me thinking. Does Satan actually have a Gospel? 

The answer unfortunately is yes! 

2 Corinthians 11:14-15

14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

It is pertinent to note that Satan has a form of righteousness. 

Paul speaks about it in Galatians 1. Galatians 1:8

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let that person be under God’s curse!

Hebrews 2 gives us a clue what this Gospel is. Hebrews 2:2-3

2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

What is this message which is from the angels? Acts 7:53

53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it. ‘

It is righteousness through the law! 

See how he does it. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Paul explains what is this veil that Satan uses.

2 Corinthians 3:15

15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

This veil of Moses is the ministry that is written on stones. Only the 10 commandments were written on stones. 

See also Satan is disarmed. Colossians 2:14-15

14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

In another translation it says this. Colossians 2:14-15

14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

If you read Ephesians 6 you would note that the powers and authorities are the demonic angels. 

What is written code? What is legal charge? It is the law. 

As such it is clear why Paul speaks so vehemly against the righteousness of the law. See Philippians 3:9

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Dear friends the Gospel of Satan is this. You can be righteous by observing the law. And when you can’t he condemns you. Why do you think he is called the accuser of the brethren? 

How does he do it?

Well by telling you that you an lose your righteousness when you failed to uphold the law or failed to confess your sins.

Let’s reason together: 

Are we sinners by birth or we become sinners by sinning? Well we are born sinners. Now. If we confess we have sinned and did restitution, are we saved? The answer is no! You are still a sinner until you believe Jesus saved you. So, now that you are saved by the blood of the Lord, and you sinned and you did not confess your sin, can you be unsaved? Can you lose your righteousness?

You are a sinner by birth. You are a saint by rebirth. Repentance and confession do not affect either. It’s who gave birth to you. Adam or the spirit of Christ. So repent from dead works. Not sin. When you are in Christ you are a new creation. You already died to sin. Romans 6 says we are to reckon ourselves dead to sin. I totally agree. But the question is this reading Romans not only chapter 6 but also chapters 3-6, how does one reckon himself dead to sin? By way of law? By way of confession? No, by faith!

Then there is this issue of the commandments in the book of Revelation. Dear friends, having established that Satan’s gospel is base on the law, it cannot be we overcome him by trying to obey the 10 commandments.

Let’s be frank. Can you obey all 10? You never coveted? You never worried? By worrying you already broke the 1st 4. By worrying you declare God is not God enough, you are the one that solve the problem, you become your own God. Thus you broke the 2nd. By believing in yourself, you are believing in your own strength, you believe in your own name rather than God’s. Of course by worrying, you are not resting, you are not observing the rest. How is this going to help you overcome Satan?

I think there is a huge confusion when people assume that the commandments which John speaks about in the book of revelation are the 10 commandments. They also assume that overcoming the world is a human effort obedience. It is not. Read 1 john 5:5. You overcome the world by believing Jesus. Also look at 1 john 3:23. The commandments which John is refering to is believe in Jesus and love one another. This is how you overcome the devil. By believing in Jesus you overcome the devil and the world. You cannot overcome the devil by obeying the 10 commandments. The power of sin is the law. It is the very thing that gives power to sin. See 1 Corinthians 15:56  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Also there is this issue that God forgives all sin. He doesn’t there is a sin, he cannot forgive. He needs your agreement to do it. This is because He respects your free will. This sin is the sin that leads to death. 

1 John 5:16

16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.

There is only one sin which leads to death. Reading in context it refers to the sin of rejecting Jesus. This is the only sin that God cannot forgive. It is the sin of refusing to accept God’s forgiveness.

Is the Gospel therefore law based? 

Believe the real righteousness. Romans 3:20-22

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

This is very clear. One last issue: There is a distinction between John’s baptism and the baptism into the name of Jesus. See Acts 19:

19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[a] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into[b] the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[c] and prophesied.

Notice this in the Amplified version:

3 And he asked, Into what [baptism] then were you baptized? They said, Into John’s baptism.

4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, continually telling the people that they should believe in the One Who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus [having a conviction full of joyful trust that He is Christ, the Messiah, and being obedient to Him].

5 On hearing this they were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And as Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in [foreign, unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesied.

Notice that while people can be baptized in John’s baptism, they knew not there should believe in Jesus. They thought it being just repentance from sins. Also note, in John’s baptism there is no Holy Spirit. Let us now look at how the first Gentile was saved. 

See Acts 10

15 When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He did on us at the beginning.

16 Then I recalled the declaration of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with ([b]be placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.

17 If then God gave to them the same Gift [equally] as He gave to us when we believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I and what power or authority had I to interfere or hinder or forbid or withstand God?

The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household without one prayer of repentance from sins, but upon  his belief!

See Acts 10

43 To Him all the prophets testify (bear witness) that everyone who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him, giving himself up to Him] receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.

45 And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised andamazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.

46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Then Peter asked,

47 Can anyone forbid or refuse water for baptizing these people, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?

48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Then they begged him to stay on there for some days.

Note although this was the baptism of water, this was the 1st time baptism in the name of Jesus Christ was mentioned. It was mentioned here as a distinction from John’s baptism because Cornelius merely believed he was saved! Did he confess? Did he repent?

Dear friends, repentance and confession are acts which in itself bears no meaning. Judas is the classic example. He repented, he was remorseful, he eve gave the money back, he even killed himself by cursing himself by hanging himself on a tree. Wouldn’t you say that is pretty remorseful? BUT… if he is hell or heaven? 

The question is not whether he repented or confessed. You see if you are in Christ you are a new creation. You are really seated in the heavenly realms. I didn’t say it. Paul did. Ephesians 1:20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…

Let’s now look at Revelations. How is the dead judge? 

Revelation 22

13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

It does not say hey are thrown into the fire because of what they have done. It says they are thrown into the lake of fire because their names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Also note if you did not receive the forgiveness of Christ, you remain in Adam. You remain a murderer, an idolater,  dogs and whore-mongers. Note these people were thrown into the lake of fire because of who they are, not because of what they did. They remained as they are because of their unbelief. When you believe in Christ, you are a new creation. You life is hidden in Christ. God cannot see you. Colossians 3:3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. This also means while it is your job to die, you do it by faith, when that is done. You died with him. It is God who did it. Not me. 

Satan pushes a humanistic formed of righteousness. It has a form but it has no power. The righteousness of Christ does not even impute sin on you when you sin. See Romans 4:4. It is inalienable from you. 

Stop believing in works righteousness believe in faith righteousness. 

Simon Yap