Left Unasked, Part 3: The Gospel Satan Couldn’t See

Part 4 of “Left Unasked”

1 Corinthians 2:8
None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(ESV)

Satan has seen more of God than any of us. He stood in the throne room. He heard the songs of heaven. He walked among the stones of fire. And yet, with all his intelligence, all his power, all his access to the holy—he never understood grace.

He couldn’t. Because grace isn’t something you observe. It’s something you receive. And Satan is forever outside the reach of that gift.

Why Satan Hates Grace

Satan’s fall wasn’t just about rebellion. It was about pride, hierarchy, justice. He sinned. He was judged. No second chance. No offer of mercy. He fell under the raw law of holiness—without grace as a covering.

So to him, the system is simple:

You sin, you die.
You fail, you’re condemned.
You lose, and it’s final.

That’s the only framework he has. So when grace entered the picture—when God chose to forgive, cover, and redeem fallen humans—it wasn’t just shocking. It was infuriating.

Satan Cannot Comprehend the Cross

The Cross wasn’t a secret because God hid the plan. It was a secret because the logic of grace is incomprehensible to those who live by pride and accusation.

Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.(ESV)

Satan is the accuser. He deals in guilt, debt, and shame. He thrives on reminding you of what you owe and what you’ve done. He didn’t expect the Cross because he couldn’t imagine a holy God would die for unholy people.

Romans 5:6–8
(6)For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (7)For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—(8)but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(ESV)

That’s not just mercy. That’s a divine insult to everything Satan believes.

The Enemy’s Strategy Is Built on What He Doesn’t Understand

Satan’s entire strategy against you is based on performance, failure, and condemnation. Because he doesn’t understand grace, he assumes you don’t either.

He keeps you:

Hiding instead of asking.
Earning instead of receiving.
Guessing instead of trusting.

His greatest fear isn’t your sin. It’s that you’ll stop running and finally ask for the thing he could never have.

Grace Isn’t Logical—It’s Glorious

If grace made sense, it wouldn’t be grace. It would be wages. But…

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(ESV)

It’s a gift—the very thing Satan can’t stand, can’t access, and can’t stop. Because once you receive it, you stop listening to him.

Reflection Questions

Have you been trying to live under a system Satan designed—one of shame and repayment?
What if the enemy’s accusations only have power because you’re still trying to earn what Jesus already gave?
Are you willing to let grace offend your sense of justice… so it can save your soul?

Next Post: When Grace Offends Justice

Grace doesn’t balance the scales. It breaks them—and that’s why even the faithful often resist it.

Walking With Christ