When Forgiveness Becomes a Work: Exposing the Error of The Bait of Satan
How The Bait of Satan Negatively Impacted Me and How the Gospel Set Me Free
When I first read John Bevere’s The Bait of Satan, it was required reading in ministry school. I thought it would be a key to victorious Christian living. The book has sold millions of copies, and its message about overcoming offense and walking in forgiveness sounds urgent and spiritual. But the deeper I went into its teaching, the more anxious, burdened, and fearful I became.
At the time, I didn’t yet understand the reality of faith-righteousness. I didn’t know how to rest in Christ’s finished work. So when I encountered teaching that tied forgiveness and freedom to my performance, I became terrified, discouraged and introspective.
Looking back, I see that the book doesn’t point people to rest in Christ. Instead, it makes forgiveness and victory dependent on what we do — not on what Jesus has already done. I write this article to help countless others who have been silenced, fearful and confused by the teachings of this book that are often promoted by loved and trusted ministries. This is not a personal attack on John Bevere, I do not know him nor am I attacking his character, but doctrine is something we must seek to understand rightly and if something is undermining the work of the cross and the gospel then it is fair game.
The Negative Impact of The Bait of Satan
1. It made forgiveness a condition for salvation
Bevere suggests that if you hold on to unforgiveness, you can forfeit eternal life. Suddenly, my assurance of salvation was shaken. I lived with the haunting fear of What if I haven’t forgiven enough? What if I missed someone?
Instead of freeing me, the book placed me under constant self-examination and fear of losing salvation.
Gospel Truth: “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Forgiving others is the fruit of salvation, not the requirement to keep it (Colossians 3:13).
2. It distorted the meaning of Scripture
One of Bevere’s key verses is Matthew 24:10: “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” But in context, Jesus is speaking of persecution and falling away in the last days — not about everyday offenses in church relationships. Jesus is addressing His Jewish disciples who will face persecution, betrayal and hatred during times of tribulation. The Greek word skandalizo used here means to stumble or fall away. It’s not talking about being irritated with a fellow church member — it is describing people abandoning the faith under pressure or persecution. By lifting this verse out of its setting, the book built an entire teaching on a shaky foundation.
Another verse that Bevere uses is Matthew 6:14-15, “ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses,” to emphasize that unforgiveness can hinder God’s forgiveness towards us. Jesus is addressing a Jewish audience under the Old Covenant in the Sermon on the Mount. He is presenting a conditional form of forgiveness to highlight the hypocrisy and hard-heartedness of those who were self-righteous and judgmental. This isn’t a requirement for us to receive salvation and so to elude to it being so in the book is detrimental to the security believers actually have and can experience because of Christ.
Gospel Truth: For those of us under the New Covenant which was established through Jesus' death and resurrection, forgiveness is not conditional. Believers are fully forgiven once and for all because of the finished work of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:10, 14). Sound doctrine respects context. Paul told Timothy to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). A gospel message should exalt Christ and His work, not stretch verses to instill fear or control.
3. It fueled fear, striving and tolerance of toxic behavior in others
Rather than fixing my eyes on Jesus, I became obsessed with myself, Am I offended? Am I bitter? Am I closing doors to the enemy? That inward focus was paralyzing. And I was in so much torment. Instead of joy and confidence in Christ, the teaching left me fearful, exhausted, and constantly striving to “do enough.”
Forgiving others became something I constantly worried about and I actually allowed things to happen to me that I normally wouldn’t have because I was so afraid of being in offense or unforgiveness. There were times when I needed to set boundaries, end relationships and leave spiritual leadership that was toxic but I remained because I was afraid of doing the wrong thing and being in offense. Forgiving someone does not mean tolerating abuse or remaining under toxic leadership. It’s about releasing bitterness, not excusing sin or refusing to set boundaries.
Sadly, this book can also be used in toxic churches to silence and control people. If you bring up concerns, you’re told you are offended. If you need to set boundaries, you are accused of being in unforgiveness. As a result, people who are experiencing real issues and have legitimate concerns are silenced and labeled as partnering with the spirit of offense or accusation.
Gospel Truth: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).Our assurance is not based on the perfection of our surrender, but on the perfection of Christ’s sacrifice.
The Truth of the Gospel
The gospel tells a different story than The Bait of Satan.
• Jesus paid it all. My forgiveness of others does not earn me salvation; it flows from the forgiveness I have already received (Colossians 3:13).
• The Spirit produces fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, and forgiveness are not things I must strive to create. They are the fruit the Holy Spirit grows as I abide in Christ (Galatians 5:22–23).
• Assurance comes from Christ, not me. My security doesn’t rest on whether I’ve forgiven perfectly. It rests on Christ’s perfect work (Romans 8:1; Hebrews 10:14).
The true gospel never motivates with fear of hell. It declares that in Christ we can be made secure, accepted, and free. From that assurance, we can forgive others — not to stay saved, but because we are saved. The gospel doesn’t free us to sin — it frees us from sins power.
A Better Word
Reading The Bait of Satan left me burdened and fearful. But when my eyes were opened to the gospel of grace and I finally understood faith righteousness, I realized I didn’t need to live under the weight expressed in the book. Jesus had already carried it. Jesus gifting me His righteousness doesn’t give me a free pass to not forgive or become bitter, that is not what I am saying at all. But we do not have to be introspective and in a constant state of worry about losing our salvation. The Gospel declares this — our righteousness and all blessings are secured for us in Christ, not in the perfection of our emotional responses. Offense may hinder our maturity, impact our relationships, limit our peace and steal our joy but it cannot shut off the cross. Understanding this reality frees you to truly love and forgive others. It’s quite amazing.
Paul warned the Galatians about “another gospel” — not one that outright denied Christ, but one that subtly distorted truth by adding requirements and conditions (Galatians 1:6–7). That’s what I experienced — MIXTURE. A gospel of grace blended with fear and performance.
Final Thought
Millions have read The Bait of Satan, and many, like me, have come away fearful and uncertain. We cannot just accept and believe books written by men because scripture is used. Sadly and often, scripture is taken out of context and when that happens people are confused, afraid and harmed. We must seek to rightly divide scripture and understand it through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant that has now been established through Him. The gospel is better news than any book of warnings could ever offer:
• Jesus is enough.
• His sacrifice is complete.
• In Him we are free indeed.
If you have been burdened by teachings that have left you fearful, you don’t need to wonder if you’ve forgiven enough to be saved. Look to Jesus. He is enough, and His finished work is your security and you can rest in that. Not to remain in unforgiveness, but to be so changed by His love and forgiveness extended towards you — that you just can’t help but give that away to others. The gospel is powerful and as new creations with new hearts, we desire to love and forgive others as we have been loved and forgiven.
