5 Lies the Enemy Tells Christians

The enemy is a liar and has been from the beginning (John 8:44), beginning in the Garden. What lies does Satan tell Christians today?

You must believe God and His Word, the Bible, and not rely on what you think or feel because human feelings are so untrustworthy and Satan is a liar, but God’s Word is always true. When the enemy tries to whisper lies that we tend to believe, here are five common lies he tries to use against us so you’ll be equipped to stop him in his tracks.

Your Past Is Unforgivable

This one still haunts me at times, but the problem is that I know God has forgiven me, so now I must learn to forgive myself for what God has already forgiven. God casts our sins into the depths of the oceans (Micah 7:19) and puts up a “no fishing” sign. Remember what God says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). So when the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future, which Revelation 20:10 says: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

You’re Still a Sinner

Okay, I can live with that, but I am also forgiven! There is no one without sin (Rom. 3:10), and whoever says they’re not is a liar (1 John 1:8, 10). Now, don’t get mad at me. That’s what God’s Word says. Paul admitted, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24), but he knew he was also forgiven (Rom. 7:25) and that he was not under condemnation anymore (Rom. 8:1).

How Dare You Witness to Others

This one may fall under the “you’re still a sinner” because the enemy will accuse you of sins, but we can also ask for forgiveness. The enemy might whisper this lie to you: “You are a hypocrite. You’re a sinner. What nerve you have to try and tell others about Christ.” If only perfect people could share the Gospel, then no one would ever be qualified. Sorry, Satan, you’re dead wrong on this one, too!

You’re Suffering Because of Your Sins

Sometimes we do suffer as a consequence of our own sins, but certainly not all suffering is a result of our sins. Suffering is making us more like Christ. Christ suffered, but who could accuse Him of sin? No one! When life gets hard, trials pile up, and tribulations overwhelm us, the enemy wants us to think that God’s paying us back. But look at Christ’s life, look at Job’s experience, and look at the ministry of Paul. The truth is that we now have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). The enemy wants us to think that if the Christian life is not easy and things are hard, we’ve done something wrong, but Jesus said in advance that the way will be hard and the road narrow. We all have our own cross to bear, and none of us should be surprised by suffering (1 Pet. 4:12-19). I would say that we grow more close to God and grow more spiritually when we suffer than we ever do when things are going well.

You’ll Never Change

This one also hounds me. I know just how far short I fall from the glory of God, but then I stop and think, “Wait a minute.” Have I grown in holiness in the last year or the last few years? Have I stopped certain habitual sins that used to encumber me? Have I grown closer to God in prayer and Bible study? What did I look like 5, 10 or even 20 years ago compared to today? Sanctification or growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord is a lifetime experience; it isn’t a microwave moment. We’re in a race, not a 100-yard dash. Change takes time. Don’t believe the enemy when he tells you “you’ll never change!” Wrong! We have changed if we have been born again (John 3:3) because we are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), even though we are still morphing or changing day by day by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2).