Note 5 at 2 Cor. 4:4: In the New Testament, Satan is depicted as being the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), the prince of this world (Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), the prince of the demons (Mt. 12:24), the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), that old serpent (Rev. 20:2), called the Devil (Rev. 12:9).

His activities include blinding the minds of them which believe not (2 Cor. 4:4), deception and craftiness (Gen. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:3), disguising himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), tempting mankind (Mt. 4:3; 6:13), condemnation (1 Tim. 3:6), bringing men into reproach and a snare (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:26), lying and all untruth (Jn. 8:44; Acts 5:3), and snatching away God's Word from men's hearts (Mt. 13:19; Mk. 4:15; Lk. 8:12).

He binds humans with physical infirmities (Lk. 13:11,16), hinders the work of God (1 Th. 2:18), buffets God's messengers (2 Cor. 12:7), displays wrath (Rev. 12:12), accuses the brethren (Rev. 12:10), possesses those who yield to him (Lk. 22:3; Jn. 13:27), controls the world's system in wickedness (1 Jn. 5:19), controls the false religious system (Rev. 2:9; 3:9), promotes the false worship of demons (Dt. 32:17; Mt. 4:8-9), and wrestles against the people of God (Eph. 6:12).

The believers' commission is to: resist the devil and see him flee (Jas. 4:7), yield not their members as servants to unrighteousness (Rom. 6:13), take authority over all power of the enemy (Mt. 10:1; Lk. 10:19), bring demons under their subjection (Lk. 10:17), cast demons out (Mt. 10:8; Mk. 16:17), overcome the evil one (1 Jn. 2:13-14), overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21), not give the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:27), stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:11), and the God of peace shall bruise Satan under their feet (Rom. 16:20).

Note 6 at 2 Cor. 4:4: We now see that the source of blindness over the minds of mankind (see note 4 at v. 3) is the god of this world (see note 5 at this verse). There is a fierce spiritual battle going on behind the physical scenes to stop the light of the gospel from shining in men's hearts (Eph. 6:12). This is why it is so hard to penetrate some people with the gospel.

This might lead someone to think that we can't reach those who have their minds blinded, but in the context of Paul's statement, it is clear that God commands light to shine out of darkness into men's hearts (v. 6). The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ can penetrate the worst darkness the devil can produce.

This is the reason Satan tries to hinder the preaching of the gospel (Acts 13:8; Rom. 1:13; 2 Tim. 3:8; 4:14-15). If he can't stop it, he will try to it (Acts 15:1; Gal. 1:6-9). He does this mainly through the false teaching of religious deception.

Therefore, it is imperative that we continue to preach the true gospel, for it is the power of God that breaks through this spiritual darkness and brings salvation (Rom. 1:16). It's the Word of God that produces salvation, not programs and socials. Any religion or religious activity that does not have Christ as the focal center of man's redemption is a dead work that must be repented of (Heb. 6:1) in order to receive the full benefit of God's redeeming grace (Rom. 11:6; Gal. 3:21). For a further understanding of the gospel of grace see the first three notes listed in reference e at verse3, p. 995.

Note 7 at 2 Cor. 4:4: There are spiritual powers at work in unbelievers to blind them to the truth of God's Word (see notes 5 & 6 at this verse). This is certainly one area that we need to take authority over when we pray for the lost to be saved. We also need to pray that God would send laborers across their path with the Word of God (see note 1 at Mt. 9:38, p. 218). We also have the power to remit people's sins (see note 7 at Jn. 20:23, p. 555).

Note 8 at 2 Cor. 4:4: "The light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God" is another way of saying that the saving presence of God is now made known in Christ. In the Old Testament, light and God's glory were associated with God's saving presence (Ex. 16:10; 24:17; Ps. 104:2). It is now through Christ that God's presence and saving power is revealed.

The term "image of God" means identical in substance and nature (Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3). This reveals the fact that it is God in Christ who is saving the world through the gospel (2 Cor. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16).