10 Truths About Satan's Lies

The devil will try to deceive you. Here's how to stand against him.

Satan is a liar. The apostle John calls Satan the one “who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). The devil and his demons tell two main lies to unbelievers and two primary lies to believers.

Here’s the lie to unbelievers:

1. “God doesn’t care about sin. In fact, there might not even be a God. Live your life and do as you please.”

2. “You are too bad for God to ever love and forgive you. You are doomed. Just accept it.”

But to believers, the devil and his demons say:

1. “You’ve been saved, so it doesn’t matter how much you sin. You can do what you want. Don’t worry, because God will forgive you.”

2. “You just thought you were saved. Do you really think God can forgive all the bad things you’ve done?”

Do you see the similarities between these two sets of lies? The devil may be deceptive and sinister, but he’s not that creative. His essential motive is to get you to believe that God is not the answer to your problem with sin.

Satan’s First and Last Lie

Satan first accused God before he ever accused any humans (see Genesis 3:1). Satan’s first and last lie is always about God. He wants you to believe God cannot solve your problem. If you were an unbeliever, the devil would be trying to tell you God either doesn’t exist or doesn’t have the power or grace to fix your predicament. If you are a believer, then the enemy wants you to think that you can ignore God or that the power of your sin is greater than God’s grace.

In either situation, the devil is lying to you about God. Jesus Christ is our only solution, so the devil does his best to distract us from that solution.

The Apostle Paul acknowledges these two categories of lies in his warnings to both unbelievers and followers of Jesus.

For unbelievers: 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.—2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

For believers: But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.—2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV)

How to Approach Satan’s Lies

When Satan lied to Adam and Eve, they believed him. When Satan tried to lie to Jesus, our Lord used the Word of God to counteract the enemy’s deceptions. We can use His approach as an example. That’s why reading and even memorizing Scripture is such an important part of the Christian life.

I want to share with you some important truths from the Bible that tell us how to approach Satan’s lies:

1. Our battle is spiritual.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.—Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

2. The devil is a liar, and he wants to destroy us.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.—1 Peter 5:8–9

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.—Revelation 2:10

3. God cannot lie, and Jesus Christ is the basis of truth.

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.—Titus 1:1–2 (NLT)

“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
—Numbers 23:19

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.—John 14:6

4. Jesus is the only source for a rich and satisfying life.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”—John 10:10

5. Jesus is stronger than the devil’s lies.

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.—1 John 3:8

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.—Acts 10:38

6. Sin does not have to be our ongoing practice.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.—1 Corinthians 10:13

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.—Ephesians 4:25–27

7. We do not have to continue carrying shame and guilt for our sins.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.—1 John 1:9

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.—1 John 4:18

8. We should learn how the devil operates.

…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.—2 Corinthians 2:11

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.—1 John 2:21

9. The devil will use other people to spread his lies.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”—Matthew 7:15-17

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.—2 Timothy 3:13

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”—Matthew 24:24

10. God can equip us to stop the devil’s attempts to work in our lives.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil.—Ephesians 6:11

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Satan has been busy trying to deceive humans, but I have incredibly good news for you: Satan will ultimately lose! He will finally be thrown into the lake of fire (see Revelation 20:10). The apostle Paul reminds us that our God will eventually crush Satan.

When the Rapture happens, sin will cease for us. We will no longer feel guilt or shame and we will no longer be subject to Satan’s deceit. Instead we will be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness. We will be in God’s eternal presence and free to focus only on what delights Him.

What a day that will be!