Satan in the New Testament

So far during this study, we have discovered that Satan is a created angel. We believe that God’s Word teaches that Satan was brought into existence along with “all other angels” in the beginning during God’s literal six days of creative work.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Colossians 1:16 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

That Satan was among the “Sons of God” that witnessed the laying of Earth’s Foundation,” an event that couldn’t have taken place later than Day 3 :

Nehemiah 9:6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host….

Job 38:4, 7 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? …….when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

That the casting out of Satan to the Earth potentially took place on Days 8-10 due to it being highly unlikely that God would’ve declared his creation as “very good” on Day 6 or rested on Day 7 if Satan’s rebellion had already taken place.

We learned in both this study and in our Study of Revelation that Satan is a great mimicker, accuser , and tempter. Who is NOT omnipresent but possessing of an extraordinary ability to travel, and whose primary objective is to oppose God’s people and plan with the ferocity of a roaring lion .

Zechariah 3:1 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”

1 Chronicles 21:1 “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”

Job 1:7 “The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

We witnessed some of his work in the Old Testament last week which brings us to our discussion tonight:

Satan’s modus operandi [method, technique] has been to deceive the world throughout the entirety of history. The NT uses three words to describe how he functions:

1. Noēma [Gk.] meaning design or strategies

2 Corinthians 2:11 “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs .”

Satan’s strategizes and designs his battle plan against God and his people are comparable to a skilled military commander

2. Pagis [Gk.] meaning a snare or trap

1 Timothy 3:7 “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” [Ref: 2 Tim. 2:26]

As a hunter would snare and kill an animal so Satan moves to entrap the world inside his anti-God agenda.

3. Methodeia [Gk.] meaning schemes or specific tactics

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Satan executes his battle plan, as a soldier executes his orders

These are the functions by which Satan attempts to cause people to:

Distort and Deny the Truth of God’s Word

Sensualism - The attractiveness of the rebellion replaces the authority of God’s Word for determining what’s best for my life [Gen 3:1-6: Eve Chooses Rebellion]

Rationalism - Childlike faith anchored in the Word is substituted for human reasoning [Matt 16:21-23: Peter Rebukes Christ]

Sensationalism- Immediate success is more desirable than finding success in God’s timing [Matt 4:1-11: Satan Tempts Jesus]

Universalism - Because we live together in the same imperfect world, we will live together in eternity [Matt 13:24-30: Parable of the Weeds]

Existentialism - I am the master of my own fate and captain of my own soul [2 Cor. 4:4: Paul Clings to the Gospel]

Illusionism - Everything that claims to be of God, I blindly accept as being from God [2 Cor. 11:13-15: Paul rebukes False Teachers]

Discredit the testimony of God’s people

The world takes note when a believer bends the truth of God’s Word to justify their position [Acts 5:1-11]…. the world notices when a believer elevates their own needs over the needs of others, particularly the needs of their spouse . [1 Cor 7:1-5]

In addition to this…We [as professing believers] do ourselves no favors when we act as if our actions and reputation effects no one but ourselves. [1 Tim 3:7]…When we pursue things that are not profitable to us, aka. the things of the world that are pleasurable to us. [1 Tim.5:14-15]

Depress or Destroy the believer’s enthusiasm for God’s Work

Satan wants the believer to forget God’s Goodness. He is absolutely hard at work instilling into your life that the pursuit of material/physical blessings, is far better and more productive than the pursuit of your spiritual relationship with Christ. [Job 1;2]…

He wants you to believe that because you failed in some way, that you are no longer useful in the King’s Service [Luke 22:31-34]…He wants you to believe that your weakness prevents you from being effective for the Lord [2 Cor 12:7-10]….He is passionate about causing you to feel like you will never accomplish anything significant for Jesus, because of the difficult circumstances in your life. [1 Thess. 2:17-3:2]

Dilute the effectiveness of God’s people

It is a lie straight from Hell when a person is convinced that because they are “saved” and that their sins are forgiven that their present lifestyle is unimportant . [Zech 3:1-5] …or that who they are and what they will become is a product of their own efforts, rather than God’s working in their lives. [1 Chron 21:1]

Many believe that because they are a good person and do good things, that it means that they are saved . They believe it. They teach it. [Luke 22:3-6]…

Satan also implores those who would follow Christ to forsake others…to not forgive and not forget when others wrong us, rather than directing our hearts toward what God would want us to do [2 Cor 2:5-11]….we often choose to “vent ” our anger, frequently and continuously . [Eph 4:26-27]

Satan has been at work in this way since the beginning and it is imperative that we are mindful of his work in our world today…