Why has Satan been given the title “god of this world?”
First, we realise that God alone is in full control of everything. From the vastness of the universe, to the minuteness of the smallest particle we can see. God is in ultimate control, and Satan can only do as much as God allows him to do.
If you have any doubts about this, then may I suggest you read the “Book of Job”. Here you can witness God permitting Satan to bring certain troubles to Job. But Satan could do only what God allowed.
The term “god of this world” is only once used in the entire bible. Let us read and examine this passage of scripture to see why this title was given to him.
2Co 4:1-6
2Co 4:1 So because of God’s mercy, we have work to do. He has given it to and we don’t give up.
2Co 4:2 Instead, we have given up doing secret and shameful things. We don’t twist God’s word. In fact, we do just the opposite. We present the truth
plainly. In the sight of God, we make our appeal to everyone’s sense of what is right and wrong.
2Co 4:3 Suppose our good news is covered with a veil. Then it is veiled to those who are dying.
2Co 4:4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They can’t see the light of the good news of Christ’s glory. He is the likeness of God.
2Co 4:5 We do not preach about ourselves. We preach about Jesus Christ. We say that he is Lord. And we serve you because of him.
2Co 4:6 God said, “Let light shine out of darkness.” (Genesis 1:3) He made his light shine in our hearts. It shows us the light of God’s glory in the face of
Christ.
Who are those who are perishing in verse three above? They are certainly not innocent victims. Satan’s blinding of them has was possible only because of the refusal of these people to believe in Jesus Christ. This is clear from the following verse:
Joh 3:19-20
1Joh 3:19 “Here is the judgment. Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light. They loved darkness because what they did was evil.”
Joh 3:20 “Everyone who does evil things hates the light. They will not come into the light. They are afraid that what they do will be seen.”
These men loved the darkness, where they thought they could hide their evil ways. They hated the light because this allowed others to see the works they carried out.
In 2Cor 4:4 above, we see it is the minds of unbelievers that Satan has veiled from the truth. But he is also actively influencing the heart and thoughts of people. This is another reason he is called “The prince of the power of the air”. Satan is powerful, and therefore he is called “The god of this world”. But notice the word god has been spelt with a lowercase “g”. He can only blind those who will not believe.
Satan is the god of this world, just the same as Baal was the god of whoever worshipped him. Not a God at all. Satan’s attempt to defeat God is ongoing, but his plans will amount to nothing.
Therefore, put your trust in the only true God of the Universe (not just the world) and worship Him only.
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