Spiritual Blindness

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Physical blindness (the inability to see the material world) has several origins: disease, injury, malformity, age, etc. Spiritual blindness (the inability to understand spiritual truth) has only one cause: Satan, “the god of this world” who “has blinded the minds of the unbelieving...” (2 Cor. 4:3).

Although, the devil is involved in accusing and harassing followers of Christ, he also is intensely active in obscuring the truth of salvation. Those who have received Christ have triumphed over the devil through the blood of Christ. But those who continue to be deceived through his lies are victims of his cruel and deadly tyranny. Satan’s objective is to bring along with him as many people as possible in his rebellion against God.

How does he blind? Primarily by undermining the inerrancy and integrity of the whole of Scripture. In this way he removes the convicting tool of the Holy Spirit for repentance and faith. He also blinds by exalting self and diminishing the effect of sin. “I'm okay, you’re okay,” his script reads. “Why do I need a Savior? I’m not lost. Sure, I’m not perfect, but who is?” Satan blinds the minds of the unbelieving by making “the word of the cross...foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:18).

“...the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
1 John 5:19