1

THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Part 2
A Paper Presented
To
The Eighth Annual Grace Bible Conference
July 15 , 2012

by
Kevin Jeffrey, pastor, Grace Bible Church, Titusville, Fl.


INTRODUCTION
Spiritual blindness is a reality that permeates throughout Christendom. Natural, carnal, judicial and
satanic blindness will be seen or experienced by the believer as he lives this life. It is important for the
believers walk to recognize spiritual blindness in order that he might be able to navigate around the
pitfalls of it. Recognition can aid in wisdom of how to relate to those who are blind as well as help him to
avoid such blindness in his own life. Yesterday, we looked at the different causes of spiritual blindness,
today, well consider some of the effects of spiritual blindness.

I. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS HAS A SPECIFIC EFFECT UPON
SOME CRUCIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE MIND WITH REGARD TO SPIRITUAL THINGS.
A. The dianoia of the mind is affected by blindness.
1. Dianoia is the area that affects the flow of thoughts through the mind
dianoia. Eph. 4:18
2. Dianoia is a compound Greek word that emphasize
a. Dia through
b. Noeo mind
3. The word is translated imaginations in Lk. 1:51
4. The imaginations of the unsaved man are darkened due to being alienated
from the life of God.
a. The life of God is better understood, the life from God. cf. 1
st
John
5:11; 1
st
Tim. 6:12,19
b. The reason for the separation from the life of God is their hardness of
heart.

B. The unsaved man uses his reflective thinking upon earthly things. cf. Rom. 3:19; Rom.
8:5-6

C. The conclusions of the mind of believer and unbeliever can be blinded through Satanic
manipulation. cf. 2 Co. 3:14; 2:11, 11:3; Phil. 4:7


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II. THERE ARE NUMEROUS RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS RECORDED IN
SCRIPTURE.
A. Spiritual blindness affects ones ability to see spiritual things.
1. Spiritual blindness affects the eyes of men. cf. John 12:40
a. The mind is seen in Scripture as being the place for spiritual vision.
Eph. 1:18
b. Spiritual blindness prevents men from putting together facts of
Scripture that should be obvious to see. Acts 28:27

2. The word for see is idosin, from orao which means to view something
with mental perception of thought; metaphorically, it means to view
something spiritual with spiritual perception. Cf. John 12:40
a. Idosin (aor. Act. Subj) is used often in the Gospels of spiritual
perception. Cf. Matt. 13:15
b. The Lord spoke in parables to prevent some from seeing truth. Mk.
4:12

B. Spiritual blindness affects ones ability to understand.
1. There are several Greek words translated understand in the New Testament.
a. Noeo is a word used to emphasize to perceive or gain insight into
something. cf. 1
st
Tim. 1:7; Eph. 3:4
b. Suniemi is a term that emphasizes to comprehend thoroughly. Cf.
Rom. 3:11; Eph. 5:17
2. A hardened heart affects ones ability to understand truth. John 12:40; Mk
8:17; Matt. 13:15


C. Spiritual blindness can affect how one is able to walk. 1
st
John 2:11
1. The believer can walk in darkness (Darkness is the absence of the
manifestation of the life of God. cf. John 3:19; Rom. 13:12). 1 John 2:11;
Eph. 5:8
2. The unsaved man walks in the vanity of their minds. vs. Eph. 4:17
a. Mind is the term nous which denotes the
b. Nous is a term that describes the whole mind of which the spirit is a
part of. Eph. 4:23

D. Spiritual blindness leads to rejection of spiritual truth.
1. The natural man rejects spiritual things. 1
st
Co. 2:14
2. The carnal believer cannot receive things from the Spirit. 1
st
Co. 3:1
3. The ones affected by Satan are blinded in two different ways.
a. The unsaved man is blinded to the truth of the gospel for salvation. 2
Co. 4:4; 1
st
Co. 1:18-21
b. The believer blinded by Satan accepts an alternative provision to live
by other than those provided by Grace. 2 Co. 11:3
4. The Jews blindness to causes them to reject Gods provisions.
a. They rejected the kingdom offered them. Matt. 13:13
b.They rejects anything concerning grace truth. 2 Co. 3:14

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E. Spiritual blindness leads to an inability to turn from ones current state. cf. Matt. 13:15;
Acts 28:27



III. THERE ARE BIBLICAL REMEDIES FOR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.
A. God has to open the eyes of those who are blind for them to see.
1. The Lord opened the eyes of the disciples that they might understand the
things written about Him. Lk. 24:32,45
2. Lydias eyes were opened to understand. Acts16:14 cf. 17:3

B. Illumination is the mechanism God uses to illumine those who are blind.
1. Illumination is that process whereby the Holy Spirit shines light on a portion
of Scripture causing the believer to understand the truths contained in the
passage.
2. Illumination illumines the heart of a believer to put together the truth of Gods
Word. cf. 2 Tim. 2:7



CONCLUSION