Through heathenism, Satan had for ages turned men away from God; but he won his great triumph in perverting the faith of Israel. By contemplating and worshiping their own conceptions, the heathen had lost a knowledge of God, and had become more and more corrupt. So it was with Israel. The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now 36 become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin.

Gennem lange tider havde Satan gennem hedenskabet vendt mennesker bort fra Gud, men sin største sejr vandt han ved at forvanske Israels tro. Ved at beskue og dyrke, hvad de selv havde opfundet, havde hedningerne mistet kendskabet til Gud og var blevet mere og mere fordærvede. På samme måde var det gået med Israel. Princippet om, at ethvert menneske kan frelse sig selv ved sine egne gerninger, var grundlaget for enhver hedensk religion. Nu var det også blevet grundlaget for den jødiske religion. Satan havde indpodet dette grundprincip. Hvor som helst det gælder, har mennesker intet værn mod synden.