CAN WE BLAME SATAN FOR OUR SINS?

Since Satan is the god of this world, it would seem that we could reasonably blame him for our sins:

• …whose minds the god of this age [Satan] has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Cor. 4:4)

• We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (1 John 5:19; 2 Timothy 2:26)

Nevertheless, blaming Satan would be mistaken. Why? Because we are his willing dupes! How does he take control? When we sin and do not repent, we open ourselves up to Satan’s influence:

·       Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 )

Sin creates a vulnerability, and Satan is sure to capitalize. How? Sin without repentance says “no” to God. Therefore, God says “no” to us and leaves us vulnerable. God is not to blame for this. We are! Why? Our captivity to Satan starts when we reject God:

·       The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Once we reject that light of God and choose the darkness of the lie (John 3:19-20), we, in effect, choose Satan, the master of the darkness. Similarly, when believers sin and do not repent, they cut themselves off from the grace of God and make themselves vulnerable to Satan:

·       Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

When we reject the ways of God, we accept the deviations of darkness. It is our choice. We cannot blame Satan and certainly not God:

·       When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting [or “enticing”] me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt [entice] anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. (James 1:13-14)

God does not tempt us by giving us evil desires. Instead, James informs us that these evil desires come from our own heart (Matthew 15:19). Consequently, Christian maturity is a matter of judging ourselves (Matthew 7:1-5) and taking full responsibility for our sins.