SATAN IS NOT AN INITIATOR but an imitator.
God has an only begotten Son-the Lord Jesus, so
has Satan-"the son of Perdition" (2 Thes.2:3). There is a Holy Trinity,
and there is likewise a Trinity of Evil (Rev 20:10). Do we read of the
"children of God," so also we read of "the children of the wicked one"
(Matt 13:38). Does God work in the former both to will and to do of His
good pleasure, then we are told that Satan is "the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph 2:2). Is there a "mystery
of godliness" (1 Tim 3:16), so also is there a "mystery of iniquity" (2
Thess 2:7). Are we told that God by His angels "seals" His servants in
their foreheads (Rev 7:3), so also we learn that Satan by his agents
sets a mark in the foreheads of his devotees (Rev 13:16). Are we told
that "the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1
Cor 2:10), then Satan also provides his "deep things" (Greek\Rev 2:24).
Did Christ perform miracles, so also can Satan (2 Thess 2:9). Is Christ
seated upon a throne, so is Satan (Greek\Rev 2:13). Has Christ a Church,
then Satan has his "synagogue" (Rev 2:9). Is Christ the Light of the
world, then so is Satan himself "transformed into an angel of light" (2
Cor 11:14). Did Christ appoint "apostles," then Satan has his apostles,
too (2 Cor 11:13). And this leads us to consider: "The Gospel of Satan."
Satan is the arch-counterfeiter. The Devil is now
busy at work in the same field in which the Lord sowed the good seed. He
is seeking to prevent the growth of the wheat by another plant, the
tares, which closely resembles the wheat in appearance. In a word, by a
process of imitation he is aiming to neutralize the Work of Christ.
Therefore, as Christ has a Gospel, Satan has a gospel too; the latter
being a clever counterfeit of the former. So closely does the gospel of
Satan resemble that which it parodies, multitudes of the unsaved are
deceived by it.
It is to this gospel of Satan the apostle refers
when he says to the Galatians, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed
from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
which is not another, but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the Gospel of Christ" (Gal 1:6,7). This false gospel was being
heralded even in the days of the apostle, and a most awful curse was
called down upon those who preached it. The apostle continues, "But
though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than
that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." By the help
of God we shall now endeavor to expound, or rather, expose this false
gospel.
The gospel of Satan is not a system of
revolutionary principles, nor yet a program of anarchy. It does not
promote strife and war, but aims at peace and unity. It seeks not to set
the mother against her daughter nor the father against his son, but
fosters the fraternal spirit whereby the human race is regarded as one
great "brotherhood." It does not seek to drag down the natural man, but
to improve and uplift him. It advocates education and cultivation and
appeals to "the best that is within - It aims to make this world such a
comfortable and congenial habitat that Christ's absence from it will not
be felt and God will not be needed. It endeavors to occupy man so much
with this world that he has no time or inclination to think of the world
to come. It propagates the principles of self-sacrifice, charity and
benevolence, and teaches us to live for the good of others, and to be
kind to all. It appeals strongly to the carnal mind and is popular with
the masses, because it ignores the solemn facts that by nature man is a
fallen creature, alienated from the life of God, and dead in trespasses
and sins, and that his only hope lies in being born again.
In contradistinction to the Gospel of Christ, the
gospel of Satan teaches salvation by works. It inculcates justification
before God on the ground of human merits. Its sacramental phrase is "Be
good and do good"; but it fails to recognize that in the flesh there
dwelleth no good thing. It announces salvation by character, which
reverses the order of God's Word—character by, as the fruit of,
salvation. Its various ramifications and organizations are manifold.
Temperance, Reform Movements, "Christian Socialist Leagues," Ethical
Culture Societies, "Peace Congresses" are all employed (perhaps
unconsciously) in proclaiming this gospel of Satan—salvation by works.
The pledge card is substituted for Christ; social purity for individual
regeneration, and politics and philosophy, for doctrine and godliness.
The cultivation of the old man is considered more practical than the
creation of a new man in Christ Jesus; whilst universal peace is looked
for apart from the interposition and return of the Prince of Peace.
The apostles of Satan are not saloon-keepers and
white-slave traffickers, but are for the most part ordained ministers.
Thousands of those who occupy our modern pulpits are no longer engaged
in presenting the fundamentals of the Christian Faith, but have turned
aside from the Truth and have given heed unto fables. Instead of
magnifying the enormity of sin and setting forth its eternal
consequences, they minimize it by declaring that sin is merely ignorance
or the absence of good. Instead of warning their hearers to "flee from
the wrath to come" they make God a liar by declaring that He is too
loving and merciful to send any of His own creatures to eternal torment.
Instead of declaring that "without shedding of blood is no remission,"
they merely hold up Christ as the great Exemplar and exhort their
hearers to "follow in His steps." Of them it must be said, "For they
being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their
own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness
of God" (Rom. 10:3). Their message may sound very plausible and their
aim appear very praiseworthy, yet we read of them—"for such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves (imitating) into
the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing [not to be
wondered at] if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Cor
11:13-15).
In addition to the fact that today hundreds of
churches are without a leader who faithfully declares the whole counsel
of God and presents His way of salvation, we also have to face the
additional fact that the majority of people in these churches are very
unlikely to learn the Truth themselves. The family altar, where a
portion of God's Word was wont to be read daily is now, even in the
homes of nominal Christians, largely a thing of the past. The Bible is
not expounded in the pulpit and it is not read in the pew. The demands
of this rushing age are so numerous, that multitudes have little time
and still less inclination to make preparation for the meeting with God.
Hence the majority who are too indolent to search for themselves, are
left at the mercy of those whom they pay to search for them; many of
whom betray their trust by studying and expounding economic and social
problems rather than the Oracles of God.
In Proverbs 14:12 we read, "There is a way which
seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death."
This "way" which ends in" death" is the Devil's Delusion—the gospel of
Satan—a way of salvation by human attainment. It is a way which "seemeth
right," that is to say, it is presented in such a plausible way that it
appeals to the natural man: it is set forth in such a subtle and
attractive manner, that it commends itself to the intelligence of its
hearers. By virtue of the fact that it appropriates to itself religious
terminology, sometimes appeals to the Bible for its support (whenever
this suits its purpose), holds up before men lofty ideals, and is
proclaimed by those who have graduated from our theological
institutions, countless multitudes are decoyed and deceived by it.
The success of an illegitimate coiner depends
largely upon how closely the counterfeit resembles the genuine article.
Heresy is not so much the total denial of the truth as a perversion of
it. That is why half a lie is always more dangerous than a complete
repudiation. Hence when the Father of Lies enters the pulpit it is not
his custom to flatly deny the fundamental truths of Christianity, rather
does he tacitly acknowledge them, and then proceed to give an erroneous
interpretation and a false application. For example: he would not be so
foolish as to boldly announce his disbelief in a personal God; he takes
His existence for granted and then gives a false description of His
character. He announces that God is the spiritual Father of all men,
when the Scriptures plainly tell us that we are "the children of God by
faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:26), and that "as many as received him, to
them gave He power to become the sons of God" (John 1:12). Further, he
declares that God is far too merciful to ever send any member of the
human race to Hell, when God Himself has said, "Whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire" (Rev 20:15).
Again; Satan would not be so foolish as to ignore the central figure of
human history—the Lord Jesus Christ; on the contrary, his gospel
acknowledges Him to be the best man that ever lived. Attention is drawn
to His deeds of compassion and works of mercy, the beauty of His
character and the sublimity of His teaching. His life is eulogized, but
His vicarious Death is ignored, the all-important atoning work of the
cross is never mentioned, whilst His triumphant and bodily resurrection
from the grave is regarded as one of the credulities of a superstitious
age. It is a bloodless gospel, and presents a crossless Christ, who is
received not as God manifest in the flesh, but merely as the Ideal Man.
In 2 Corinthians 4:3 we have a scripture which
sheds much light upon our present theme. There we are told, "if our
Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this
world [Satan] 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." He blinds the minds of unbelievers through hiding the
light of the Gospel of Christ, and he does this by substituting his own
gospel. Appropriately is he designated "The Devil and Satan which
deceiveth the whole world" (Rev 12:9). In merely appealing to "the best
that is within man," and in simply exhorting him to "lead a nobler life"
there is afforded a general platform upon which those of every shade of
opinion can unite and proclaim this common message.
Again we quote Proverbs 14:12—"There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death." It has been said with considerable truth that the way to Hell is
paved with good intentions. There will be many in the Lake of Fire who
commended life with good intentions, honest resolutions and exalted
ideals—those who were just in their dealings, fair in their transactions
and charitable in all their ways; men who prided themselves in their
integrity but who sought to justify themselves before God by their own
righteousness; men who were moral, merciful and magnanimous, but who
never saw themselves as guilty, lost, hell-deserving sinners needing a
Saviour. Such is the way which "seemeth right." Such is the way that
commends itself to the carnal mind and recommends itself to multitudes
of deluded ones today. The Devil's Delusion is that we can be saved by
our own works, and justified by our own deeds; whereas, God tells us in
His Word : "By grace are ye saved through faith. ..not of works lest any
man should boast." And again, "Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to His mercy He saved us."
A few years ago the writer became acquainted with
one who was a lay preacher and an enthusiastic "Christian worker." For
over seven years this friend had been engaged in public preaching and
religious activities, but from certain expressions and phrases he used,
the writer doubted whether this friend was a "born again" man. When we
began to question him, it was found that he was very imperfectly
acquainted with the Scriptures and had only the vaguest conception of
Christ's Work for sinners. For a time we sought to present the way of
salvation in a simple and impersonal manner and to encourage our friend
to study the Word for himself, in the hope that if he were still unsaved
God would be pleased to reveal the Saviour he needed.
One night to our joy, the one who had been
preaching the Gospel (?) for several years, confessed that he had found
Christ only the previous night. He acknowledged (to use his own words)
that he had been presenting "the Christ ideal" but not the Christ of the
Cross. The writer believes there are thousands like this preacher who,
perhaps, have been brought up in Sunday School, taught about the birth,
life, and teachings of Jesus Christ, who believe in the historicity of
His person, who spasmodically endeavor to practice His precepts, and who
think that that is all that is necessary for their salvation.
Frequently, this class when they reach manhood go out into the world,
encounter the attacks of atheists and infidels and are told that such a
person as Jesus of Nazareth never lived. But the impressions of early
days cannot be easily erased, and they remain steadfast in their
declaration that they "believe in Jesus Christ." Yet, when their faith
is examined, only too often it is found that though they believe many
things about Jesus Christ they do not really believe in him. They
believe with the head that such a person lived (and, because they
believe this imagine that therefore they are saved), but they have never
thrown down the weapons of their warfare against Him, yielded themselves
to Him, nor truly believed with their heart in Him.
The bare acceptance of an orthodox doctrine about
the person of Christ without the heart being won by Him and the life
devoted to Him, is another phase of that way "which seemeth right unto a
man" but the end thereof are "the ways of death." A mere intellectual
assent to the reality of Christ's person, and which goes no further, is
another phase of the way which "seemeth right unto a man" but of which
the end thereof "are the ways of death," or, in other words, is another
aspect of the gospel of Satan.
And now, where do you stand? Are you in the way
which "seemeth right," but which ends in death; or, are you in the
Narrow Way which leadeth unto life? Have you truly forsaken the Broad
Road which leadeth to death? Has the love of Christ created in your
heart a hatred and horror of all that is displeasing to Him? Are you
desirous that he should "reign over" you? (Luke 19:14). Are you relying
wholly on His righteousness and blood for your acceptance with God?
Those who are trusting to an outward form of
godliness, such as baptism or "confirmation!" those who are religious
because it is considered a mark of respectability; those who attend some
Church or Chapel because it is the fashion to do so; and, those who
unite with some Denomination because they suppose that such a step will
enable them to become Christians, are in the way which "ends in
death"—death spiritual and eternal. However pure our motives, however
noble our intentions, however well-meaning our purposes, however sincere
our endeavors, God will not acknowledge us as His sons, until we accept
His Son.
A yet more specious form of Satan's gospel is to
move preachers to present the atoning sacrifice of Christ and then tell
their hearers that all God requires from them is to "believe" in His
Son. Thereby thousands of impenitent souls are deluded into thinking
they have been saved. But Christ said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). To "repent" is to hate sin, to sorrow over
it, to turn from it. It is the result of the Spirits making the heart
contrite before God. None except a broken heart can savingly believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, thousands are deceived into supposing that
they have "accepted Christ" as their "personal Saviour," who have not
first received Him as their LORD. The Son of God did not come here to
save His people in their sin, but "from their sins" (Matt 1:21). To be
saved from sins, is to be saved from ignoring and despising the
authority of God, it is to abandon the course of self-will and
self-pleasing, it is to "forsake our way" (Isa 55:7). It is to surrender
to God's authority, to yield to His dominion, to give ourselves over to
be ruled by Him. The one who has never taken Christ's "yoke" upon him,
who is not truly and diligently seeking to please Him in all the details
of life, and yet supposes that he is "resting on the Finished Work of
Christ" is deluded by the Devil. In the seventh chapter of Matthew there
are two scriptures which give us approximate results of Christ's Gospel
and Satan s counterfeit. First, in verses 13-14, "Enter ye in at the
strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it." Second; in verses 22-23, "Many will say to Me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [preached] in Thy name? and in
Thy name cast out demons, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that
work iniquity." Yes, my reader, it is possible to work in the name of
Christ, and even to preach in his name, and though the world knows us,
the Church knows us, yet to be unknown to the Lord! How necessary is it
then to find out where we really are; to examine ourselves and see
whether we be in the faith; to measure ourselves by the Word of God and
see if we are being deceived by our subtle Enemy; to find out whether we
are building our house upon the sand, or whether it is erected on the
Rock which is Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit search our hearts, break
our wills, slay our enmity against God, work in us a deep and true
repentance, and direct our gaze to the Lamb of God which taketh away the
sin of the world.
