WHY I BELIEVE IN SATAN
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INTRODUCTION
Is Satan an actual living, personal being?
Is Satan an actual living, personal being?
Atheists and their near kinsmen, infidel theologians, say “No.”
Some have said Satan is nothing more than the personification of one’s self-accusing conscience.
But to those who have confidence in the integrity and inspiration of the Scriptures - there is no doubt that the devil is a personal being.
But to those who have confidence in the integrity and inspiration of the Scriptures - there is no doubt that the devil is a personal being.
He is constantly represented in the Bible as a personal entity.
Personal names and personal pronouns as well as personal acts are so frequently attributed to him that it is impossible to view Satan as the mere personification of evil.
Any one who denies the existence of Satan is either ignorant or dishonest
This great enemy of God, and mankind, is most commonly referred to in the Bible as “the devil” or “Satan.”
This great enemy of God, and mankind, is most commonly referred to in the Bible as “the devil” or “Satan.”
He is termed the “devil” 33 times in the New Testament and called “Satan” 36 times.
He is termed the “devil” 33 times in the New Testament and called “Satan” 36 times.
But he is also designated by many other titles. He is:
But he is also designated by many other titles. He is:
A-bad-don, A-pol-ly-on, the great dragon, the old serpent, the deceiver of the whole world
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The adversary
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The accuser of our brethren
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Beelzebub
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Belial
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
An enemy (Mt. 13:28)
The wicked one
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The father of lies, a liar, a murderer
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The god of this world
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The prince of this world
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
The prince of the power of the air
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
The tempter (Mt. 4:3)
One definition of Satan is as follows:
One definition of Satan is as follows:
“A created but superhuman, personal, evil, world-power, represented in Scripture as the adversary both of God and man.”
DISCUSSION
SATAN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
SATAN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Hebrew term “Satan” etymologically denoted “adversary,” being related to a verb suggesting the idea of “lying in wait.”
The Hebrew term “Satan” etymologically denoted “adversary,” being related to a verb suggesting the idea of “lying in wait.”
The word was frequently used in a very general sense of adversary.
In Numbers 22:22 it is even applied to the messenger of Lord who opposed Balaam.
The general usage is usually indicated by the absence of the definite article.
When the article is used, e.g., “the adversary,” it becomes a proper name and thus denotes the personal devil.
Satan in the Garden
Satan in the Garden
Our first knowledge of Satan is derived from the temptation account in Genesis 3.
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Numerous attempts to refute the historicity of this narrative have been attempted.
That there was a real serpent, a real devil, in this biblical account cannot be doubted any more than we can doubt the real history throughout Genesis. Here are the facts…
The real serpent is contrasted with the other animals (v. 1).
In the New Testament allusion is made to a real serpent in referring to the Genesis account... ....
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
That Satan himself made use of the serpent is plain from his being referred to as “the Old Serpent, called the Devil and Satan” (Rev. 12:9) and “a murderer from the beginning” (Jn. 8:44).
In the Old Testament we also see that...
Satan Tempts David
Satan Tempts David
The divine record of Chronicles declares: “And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chr. 21:1).
Here again Satan is seen in his role as a tempter and enemy of God’s people.
Some have claimed a contradiction between this passage and 2 Samuel 24:1 where it is stated that Jehovah moved David to number Israel.
There is no discrepancy, however, for a combining of the verses simply shows how God used Satan as the agent to punish His people for their sins.
Furthermore, in the Old Testament we see that...
Satan Afflicts Job
Satan Afflicts Job
Satan is given more prominence in the book of Job than in any other Old Testament book. No less than 14 times he is mentioned in the first two chapters...
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
Again, modernism has attempted to explain away these historical incidents.
Such a view totally ignores the facts and reads prejudicial opinion into the sacred text.
For Satan was behind all of Job’s misfortunes
Again, in the Old Testament Satan is seen as the...
Adversary of Joshua
Adversary of Joshua
Satan appears as an adversary of Joshua the high priest...
1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; Even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Joshua clothed with filthy garments symbolized the sins of the whole nation (of which he was the representative) - and Joshua stood before the messenger of Jehovah.
Satan was at his right hand to be his adversary.
6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand.
The accuser was not allowed to speak though, rather, “the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan...”
The central message of this vision (1-10) was to show that Jehovah’s people, conditioned upon a true reformation, could again enjoy prosperity. But…
Satan was ready to challenge the Lord’s forgiveness of sin, to deny the right of God to pardon the sinful Israel is they would repent.
Satan is always seeking to overthrow the Throne of Grace and to turn it into a seat of condemnation.
Certainly the complete story of the devil’s horrible character is not presented in the Old Testament.
Certainly the complete story of the devil’s horrible character is not presented in the Old Testament.
Enough is given though to warrant the conviction that he is truly a malicious being.
The New Testament brings into full focus his anti-godly designs.
SATAN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
SATAN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Satan Tempted Christ
Satan Tempted Christ
As the serpent seduced Eve (Gen. 3:6) through the manifold channels of lust...
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
So in like manner he sought to tempt Jesus to sin
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Notice the word “tempter” (v. 3), it comes from the Greek term is peirazon, and is a present tense participle and can literally be expanded as, “the always tempting me,” which suggests his characteristic activity.
Had the devil succeeded in causing Christ to sin, the Lord could not have served as the spotless sin offering the entire human race would have been forever lost!
But...
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Satan’s Affliction on Mankind
Satan’s Affliction on Mankind
Disease, infirmity and death are ultimately the responsibility of Satan. How?
By his introduction of sin into the world, he brought about such woes and hence, he is really the murderer of the human family
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
This is why it is said that a certain Jewish woman, who had been afflicted with an infirmity for eighteen years, was bound of Satan (Lk. 13:16), and Peter declared that Jesus went about doing good “healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38).
Satan: Enemy of the Apostles
Satan: Enemy of the Apostles
The New Testament represents the devil as a deadly foe of the apostles of Christ, who through their saving message, opposed the devil’s work.
The Lord informed Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat” (Lk. 22:31).
Many have over-looked the fact that the pronoun “you” (humas) is plural, revealing that Jesus was issuing a warning regarding all the apostles.
Yet, recognizing the special weakness of Peter, the Master adds: “but I made supplication for thee (sou, singular) that thy faith fail not”
Moreover, Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a “messenger of Satan”
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
And when the apostle would have visited the Thessalonian brethren, Satan hindered him
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
It must ever be remembered, though, that the devil can only do what he is permitted to do by God. We will speak of this more in a moment.
Satanic Influences Christ’s Disciples
Satanic Influences Christ’s Disciples
Consider Judas and the darkest deed in of all history...
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
So captivated by the Deceiver was Judas, that Jesus once plainly called the wayward apostle a “devil” (Jn. 6:70).
Judas, however, did not consider himself a mere passive pawn at the disposal of Satan, for he unmistakably acknowledged: “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood” (Mt. 27:4).
Also, when Ananias lied and misrepresented the amount of his gift to the early church, Peter inquired:
“Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3).
And yet the apostle further asks: “How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart?” (vs. 4).
But remember, Satan cannot overpower us...
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
But Satan will gladly cooperate in the destruction of our souls!
SATAN’S MISSION
SATAN’S MISSION
The devil’s self-appointed mission is to destroy the human race in hell.
The devil’s self-appointed mission is to destroy the human race in hell.
It is little wonder he has been described by inspiration as the “Destroyer” (Rev. 9:11).
He attempted the ruin of humanity by the temptation of Christ (Mt. 4:1-11), and the seduction of His holy apostles...
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Though that plan failed (with the exception of Judas - Jn. 17:12), he now nevertheless “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (2 Pet. 5:8).
Though that plan failed (with the exception of Judas - Jn. 17:12), he now nevertheless “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (2 Pet. 5:8).
HOW IS HE WORKING TODAY?
HOW IS HE WORKING TODAY?
But how does this Enemy work today?
But how does this Enemy work today?
Satan was permitted to operate in a very limited way supernaturally during former ages of history - as in the case of demon possessions of the first century...
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Concerning the working of Satan, notice these three verses...
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said.
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
This was for the purpose of enabling the Lord, Moses, and the Lord’s disciples to demonstrate the superiority of divine power over Satanic power.
Today, however, he cannot operate in a miraculous fashion.
Today, however, he cannot operate in a miraculous fashion.
If the devil could miraculously dominate men today, there would be a great “imbalance” of spiritual power among men with the scales tipped to Satan’s advantage.
There is no evidence that Satan is able - to any extent - to introduce disorder into the physical universe or directly operate in the lives of men.
On the contrary, it is perfectly evident that Satan’s power consists principally in his ability to deceive.
It is interesting to note that according to the Bible Satan is fundamentally a liar and his kingdom is a kingdom founded upon lies and deceit.
The Deceiver delights in blinding the minds of the unbelieving...
The Deceiver delights in blinding the minds of the unbelieving...
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
To accomplish this he does not hesitate to transform himself
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
When people are inclined not to believe the truth, the devil takes the gospel from their hearts
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Satan is full of trickery...
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
As a result, Christians must constantly be on guard “that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11).
As a result, Christians must constantly be on guard “that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11).
Though we must never underestimate the power of Satan, it is equally certain that we must likewise never overestimate him.
By employing the same weapon as used by Christ - “It is written” (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10) - we can become “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
Jehovah can grant us victories over the Destroyer and his kingdom
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
And by His might, we take courage and press on!
SATAN’S DESTINY
SATAN’S DESTINY
The Lord Jesus Christ will be completely victorious over Satan.
The Lord Jesus Christ will be completely victorious over Satan.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The promise of Genesis 3:15 will then be totally fulfilled:
The promise of Genesis 3:15 will then be totally fulfilled:
“He [the woman’s seed, i.e., Christ] shall bruise thy [the serpent’s] head.”
What great rejoicing will then occur!
CONCLUSION
Satan is real and active today through his lies and deceit
Satan is real and active today through his lies and deceit
And be behooves every Christian, then, to be on alert and defeat Satan at all cost.
And be behooves every Christian, then, to be on alert and defeat Satan at all cost.