How does Satan work his evil? According to Scripture, his primary weapon is deception. Jesus called him “the father of lies” (John 8:44), and Revelation portrays him as “the deceiver of the whole world.” If you’re wondering why this matters, consider that his lies cause more conflict, division, and spiritual failure than any other force in the Christian life. And not just in the Church, but universally.

How do you get someone to believe a lie? False facts? Twisted arguments? Logical fallacies? They all work to some degree. But there’s one time-tested method that works reliably well: tell people something they really want to be true. Look at the original temptation in Genesis 3. The serpent didn’t threaten Eve or try to coerce her. He simply suggested something that appealed to her natural desires: wisdom, autonomy, status. “Your eyes will be opened,” he promised, “and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

He was lying, of course, but she bought it. We’ve been buying it ever since.

I propose for your reflection four specific lies that Satan has been recycling since the Garden. They still work remarkably well, even among Christians – who should know better. Each one appeals to a different aspect of our pride, and each finds an antidote in humility.

Lie #1: “You are smarter than them.”

The serpent’s first pitch was essentially this: “Your eyes will be opened.” Translation: you’ll gain special knowledge, superior insight, and wisdom that others lack. This lie works especially well in areas where we know just enough to be dangerous.

In medicine, I encountered the opposite phenomenon—what psychologists now call “imposter syndrome.” The more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn’t know. That’s a healthy response to genuine expertise. But notice where we’re most confident: politics, economics, history, theological controversies—often, areas where we’ve done minimal serious study. The less we actually know, the more certain we become.

“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

Scripture is blunt about this tendency:

“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:7

“Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” Romans 12:16

“And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” I Corinthians 8:2

The antidote is intellectual humility—a willingness to acknowledge the limits of our knowledge and expertise. Can you think of examples where Christians held strong, divisive opinions about matters they knew little about? I can. Too many. Some of those opinions created unnecessary divisions within the body of Christ.

Here’s a diagnostic question: On which topics are you most certain? Are those the areas where you’ve invested the most careful study, or merely where your opinions align with your friends, family, or favorite politician/entertainers (is there really a difference)?

Lie #2: “You are better than them.”

The serpent promised Eve she would know good from evil. Sounds spiritual, doesn’t it? Knowledge of right and wrong—isn’t that what we need? But notice the trap: once you believe you have special moral insight, you inevitably conclude that you’re morally superior to those who don’t share it.

Andrew Murray observed, “There is no pride so dangerous, so subtle and insidious, as the pride of holiness.” Jesus focused on this explicitly in his parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee wasn’t lying when he cataloged his good works. He really did fast twice a week, give tithes faithfully, and avoid adultery and extortion. The problem wasn’t his behavior but his heart:

“The Pharisee… prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men…’ But the tax collector… beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ …I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.” Luke 18:11–14

The tax collector had it right. He understood something the Pharisee missed:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Here’s an uncomfortable question: How often do you really, deep down, believe you’re a sinner? Sure, we all have “bad moments”—but when they happen, do you make excuses or hurry to apologize and repent? The Pharisee saw his sins as occasional aberrations from his essential goodness. The tax collector saw his goodness as occasional departures from his essential sinfulness.

One went home justified. The other did not.

Lie #3: “You should be the one in charge.”

“You will be like God,” the serpent whispered. Not just wise, not just moral—but sovereign. In charge. Making the calls.

Augustine captured this perfectly in City of God: “The earthly city is formed by love of self and contempt of God; the heavenly city by love of God and contempt of self.” He noted that in the earthly city, men are ruled by “love of ruling,” while in the heavenly city, they’re motivated by love of serving. But, “In the end, the proud become slaves of their desire—the lust to dominate becomes the lust that dominates.” (quotes from Superbia)

Isaiah records Satan’s original rebellion in similar terms:

“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven… I will sit on the throne… I will ascend above the heights… I will make myself like the Most High.'” Isaiah 14:13–14

Jesus addressed this directly when James and John jockeyed for the most important seats in the kingdom:

“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42–45

Do you often think how much better things would be if you were in charge? If you were running your church, your workplace, your family, the country? That’s not strategic thinking, superior wisdom, or righteous ambition—that’s the third lie doing its work.

Lie #4: “Go ahead—you deserve it.”

Psychologists call this “moral licensing”—the tendency to reward ourselves for good behavior by permitting ourselves something we’d otherwise recognize as wrong. It explains why so many high-profile Christian leaders stumble. They’ve worked hard, sacrificed much, served faithfully. Surely they’ve earned a little latitude?

King David fell into this trap. Fresh from military victories and spiritual leadership, he saw Bathsheba bathing and decided, “I deserve this.”

“David… saw a woman bathing… sent and inquired about the woman… So David sent messengers and took her…” 2 Samuel 11:2–4

Or consider Ananias and Sapphira. They’d just sold property to support the church—a genuinely good deed. But then pride crept in. They wanted the recognition for total sacrifice without making the actual sacrifice. Surely they deserved to keep a little back?

“Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?” Acts 5:3

There was probably an element of moral grandstanding here—wanting to be seen as Pharisees were seen. The warnings are clear:

“For you were called to freedom… Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

The Antidote

Jonathan Edwards declared, “Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.” Pride is just a handle for Satan to grasp. Humility leaves him nothing to grab onto. It deflates every one of his lies.

Against “You are smarter than them,” humility responds: I could be wrong.

Against “You are better than them,” humility answers: I am no better than others.

Against “You should be in charge,” humility replies: God is in charge, not me.

Against “You deserve it,” humility insists: There are no free sins.

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:3

The same lies that worked in Eden still work today because they appeal to the same pride. But the antidote hasn’t changed either. Humility—genuine, Biblical humility—remains our surest defense. Not self-abasement or false modesty, but an accurate assessment of ourselves before God.

The humble person can afford to be wrong because their identity doesn’t depend on being right. They can afford to acknowledge sin because their standing doesn’t depend on moral superiority. They can afford to follow rather than lead because their significance doesn’t depend on position. They can afford to deny themselves because their satisfaction comes from God, not indulgence.

Satan’s act hasn’t changed. And why not? It’s the easiest game in town. Perhaps it’s time we stopped being played.

Questions for discussion:

  • On which topics are you most certain? Are those areas where you’ve carefully studied, or do your opinions simply align with your friends, family, or favorite politician/entertainers?
  • How often do you really, deep down, believe you’re a sinner? When you have bad moments, do you make excuses or hurry to apologize and repent?
  • Do you often think how much better things would be if you were in charge? If you were running your church, your workplace, your family, the country?
  • When is the last time you felt like you “earned a break” to do something selfish?