“So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” 2 Corinthians 2:11
June 9, 2025
One of Satan’s devices is painting sin with virtue’s colors. Credit goes to Thomas Brooks for this line of thought in his book, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. The apostle Paul urges the Corinthian church to restore a forgiven brother to fellowship in the congregation. Failure to do this gives Satan the opportunity to lead a believer into confusion about his soul’s condition. Satan likes to see good turn into evil. Undue severity can do that when a brother in Christ is inflicted with a harsh and unforgiving spirit by others in the name of “justice.” Sin is no less filthy because it is painted over with pretty colors. Punishment is not to be the reward for one seeking forgiveness. What do you love? hate? Such assertions can reveal deeper, ugly issues within us. Beware of the use of psychological terms that can be used to cover or redefine sinful patterns, like setting boundaries as a cover for vengeance. Or painting over a defiance of authority with the color of free-spiritedness. Or painting over a lack of moral standards with the color of tolerance.
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“Remedy – seriously to consider, that even those very sins that Satan paints, and puts new names and colors upon, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood of the Lord Jesus.” Thomas Brooks