The god of This World and the Power of Grace

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist" is a quote from the movie The Usual Suspects (1995). The purest aspect of deception is that the minds of its victims are veiled by and utterly unaware of its effects. The one deceived has no idea that he or she is being deceived. Deception's victims think that they are right when they are wrong; they believe they are rallying for Justice.

Thus we read from the apostle Paul to the believers in Corinth: "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing [are lost, KJV].¹ In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Cor. 4:3-4 NRSV). We need to note two obvious but significant truths in these two verses: 1) the truth of the gospel is veiled to those who are unwilling to believe in Christ, resulting in blindness (explained below); and 2) the source of this veiling is "the god of this world," and not the living and true God. 

In chapter three of 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul writes about the ministry of the New Covenant, which is a more glorious ministry (2 Cor. 3:8, 9, 10), a confession with which the author of Hebrews agrees (cf. Heb. 7:22; 8:6). This better Covenant is proclaimed by believers, by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:8), and is permanent (2 Cor. 3:11). The Old Covenant of Law did, however, have glory (2 Cor. 3:7). Having received the Law of God on Mt. Sinai, Moses returned to the Israelites, who "could not gaze at Moses' face because of the glory of his face" (2 Cor. 3:7 NRSV; cf. Exodus 34:29-35).

Nevertheless, the people did witness Moses' shining face -- evidence of being in the presence of the God of Israel -- and saw the stones on which contained God's Law, written by the finger of God Himself (Ex. 31:18; Deut. 9:10); and yet the minds of some of the Jewish people were still hardened (2 Cor. 3:14).

As a result of the hardening of their own hearts against the Lord -- for God is not admitted to having hardened their hearts (cf. Luke 9:25: 2 Thess. 2:10-12; see footnote 1) -- even to this day "when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside . . . a veil lies over their minds" (2 Cor. 3:14, 15 NRSV). Just as Moses kept a veil over his face, so that the people could not see the glory of the God of Israel, so also those who willingly refuse to believe in Christ have a veil over their minds so that they cannot see the glory of Christ.

Paul informs us that, "even if" the gospel of Christ is veiled to some people, it is veiled to those who are perishing -- those who are presently lost. The phrase "those who are perishing" is a present passive participle, indicating that such unbelievers, due to their own stubborn refusal to trust in Christ, are perishing in their sin (2 Thess. 2:10-12; again, see footnote 1). They are "dead," in the sense of being cut off and separated from God due to sin and unbelief (cf. Isa. 59:2; Eph. 2:1, 12); they are "dying," and, continuing in this state, "will die" -- just as believers have been "saved," are "being saved," and "will be saved" (cf.1 Cor. 1:18;  Rom. 5:9; Acts 16:31). In the case of the former group, Paul explains, the god of this world has blinded their minds (2 Cor. 4:4). Presently, this "god" is keeping such people from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4).

The "god" of this world is Satan, that fallen angelic being who is the original sinner, the accuser of God's people (Rev. 12:10), and the original liar (or father of lies, cf. John 8:44). Satan has a kingdom (Matt. 12:25-26; Luke 11:14-19), which is one of spiritual darkness (Col. 1:13-14; Rev. 16:10), and it always directly opposes God's kingdom. Satan is a mastermind of deception, spiritual darkness, blinding others and veiling the truth of God. He influences this world (or current age/culture), which refers to an attitudinal world system, or the manner in which sinful people operate on earth (cf. Matt. 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-6; Eph. 2:2; 3:10; 6:12; Rev. 11:15; 12:3, 7-12). Satan's kingdom consists of spiritual darkness, sin and unrighteousness, sickness and disease, deception, sorrow and death; whereas God's kingdom consists of light, holiness and righteousness, healing and health, truth, joy and life.²

Whereas Satan's ministry is one of deception, darkness and veiling, Jesus Christ's ministry is one of truth, light and unveiling: "in him was life, and the life was the light of all people" (John 1:3-4 NRSV). Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me [note the condition] will not walk in [spiritual] darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12 NRSV, emphasis added; cf. John 3:19-21). Those who continue to reject Christ Jesus, however, walk in spiritual darkness, having the god of this world blinding their eyes to the truth of the gospel and the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4), and abide under the wrath of God (cf. John 3:36).

But note what the apostle Paul teaches: though there remains a veil over the mind of a sinner, "when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed" (2 Cor. 3:16 NRSV, emphasis added). Note what Paul does not teach: he does not teach that the veil must first be taken away and then one turns to the Lord as a result. This is yet another exegetical example of the Calvinistic error of regeneration preceding faith.

When an individual, by the enabling, prevenient grace and aid of the Holy Spirit, willingly turns to the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil over his or her mind is removed. Paul continues, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Cor. 3:17 NRSV). The fact that the result of the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11), coupled with the proclamation of the powerful gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16-17), does not always produce conversions should alert believers to question (and thus reject) the Calvinistic theory of Irresistible Grace.

For example, when the gospel is presented to unregenerate sinners, only some by enabling grace willingly respond. Since God's desire is that everyone be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4), because Christ gave himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:6) -- and because God is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe (1 Tim. 4:10) -- then when the gospel is preached, and the Holy Spirit is performing His ministerial work, He is not irresistibly changing the mind of the sinner. His ministry is one of convicting³ the sinner, not of irresistibly changing the mind of the sinner.

God's desire is that people willingly love and follow Him through His Son Jesus Christ by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. How easy for God to play the Almighty mind-controller over His creatures. But our God is not so small-minded; our God is much, much more grand and glorious than that. God is capable of working in such a manner. Biblically, however, He has demonstrated throughout the tenor of Scripture that what He longs for is an obedience which comes from our heart (cf. Rom. 6:17).

Christ Jesus, the Light of the world, has condescended to our sin-filled world, granting to sinners the gracious-working ministry of the New Covenant through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8; 16:8-11; Rom. 1:16-17; 2:4; 2 Cor. 3:5-8; Phil. 1:29). Christ Jesus, we should always remember, has come to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8), which includes the devil's blinding activity.    

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¹ The Greek word for "perishing" (or "lost," KJV) is apollymi, and refers to being destroyed fully or to lose, literally or figuratively. In Paul's use here, the word is a present passive participle, indicating that the ones thus blinded are presently, continuously, receiving the action of perishing or being lost. These individuals will continue perishing, or continue to be lost (KJV), as long as they refuse to turn to Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 3:16). At Luke 9:25, the same word refers to the individual who would willingly risk eternal life in order to gain the offerings of those operating in the world system (culture). Such people willingly subject themselves to eternal judgment (cf. Luke 7:30), not as a result of God's alleged eternal decree that they do so.    

² Taken from Kevin J. Conner, The Foundations of Christian Doctrine: A Practical Guide to Christian Beliefs (Portland: City Christian Publishing, 1980), 103.

³ The Greek word for "convict," elegchō, refers to proving one to be in the wrong; to convince one of error. See James Strong, Strong's Complete Word Study Concordance: Expanded Edition, ed. Warren Baker (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, Inc., 2004), 2067. If the Holy Spirit's ministry with regard to sinners is merely to irresistibly regenerate God's unconditionally elect in God's sovereign time, then the Spirit's work of convicting one to be in the wrong about their sin, lack of righteousness and the coming judgment is gratuitous at best and useless at worst. His ministry, in truth, is to convince the sinner of his or her need of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If such a one willingly concurs, then he or she will be gloriously saved. To suggest that God merely saves or regenerates His unconditionally elect and "gives" them faith to believe in Christ is utterly contrary to the entirety of the message of the gospel as found in Scripture.