Satan: His Unholy Nature

1 John 3:8 KJV 1900

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.

There is so much truth to unpack from this simple verse. This verse tells us that one way to know for sure someone is saved is by their actions. If they are a child of God, the will act like it! If they are a child of the devil, they will act like that too. Why? Why is this so? Because it is in their nature.

This verse also tells us a bit more about Satan. This verse explains that Satan’s character of sin has been with him ever since his career as the devil began. Notice very clearly that I did not say, ever since his creation, but since his career began. Satan wasn’t always the Devil, he started his career as an angel, look in Isaiah 14:12-14

Isaiah 14:12–14 KJV 1900

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Have you ever considered the fact that the first sin ever committed took place, not on earth, but in heaven, not by man, but by an angel. It was of his own free will that he decided to turn his back on God and lead a rebellion against Him in heaven, and the war has been raging ever since!

My friends today we are in the middle of this war, so we had best know our enemy!

How can we know our enemy?

The Bible teaches us all we need to know about Satan’s unholy nature. We see this in his various...

Names

There are many names associated with Satan, we will start right here in Isaiah

Lucifer - Isaiah 14:12 “12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

The Hebrew word has the idea of “shining one” or “light bearer”

In our KJV it reads, “Son of the morning”

Other translations relate it as “day star”, or “morning star”

Interesting that name “Morning Star”

It is used in Revelation 22:16 as a reference to Jesus!“16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

Here in Isaiah it used by God referring to Lucifer’s “fall” from heaven

The word “fall” is also translated as “failure”

See, Lucifer, in his pride, tried to set himself above God and failed

Lucifer is one name, but there are other, more sinister names the enemy goes by such as...

Satan - by far the most common name, used 52 times in the Bible, and gives us a deeper look into his unholy nature

Satan - Hebrew, meaning adversary or opponent

Consider Zechariah 3:1 “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.”

It is interesting to note the word Satan and resist are the exact same word in the Hebrew

Part of Satan’s nature is to oppose the work of God, the people of God, and the plan of God

Listen, if a church is seeking after God, if a Christian is trying to draw closer to God, then you can rest assured Satan is going to oppose them!

He stood in the way of Jesus every chance he had!

He tried to kill Him as a child Matthew 2:16 “16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Beth-lehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.”

He tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness Matthew 4:10 “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.”

Don’t think for one second he won’t try to oppose this church!

Another name he is known by is, simply, the...

Devil - This word comes from the Greek word “Diabolos” and means, “slanderer”.

this particular name is used 35 times in Scripture and it is clear from the context how unholy his nature is. He

He slanders God to man, as we see in Genesis 3:1 “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?”

He slanders man to God, as we clearly read in Job 1:9 “9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?”

Later in Matthew we read of Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sewer, Matthew 13:39 “39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.”

We see in this passage that Jesus himself declares the devil to be the enemy

In this passage he is seen sewing tares among the wheat....how? Through slander!

My friends, the enemy is real, he is jealous of God and jealous of God’s people. He hates God and he hates God’s people. He is working tirelessly to stop us!

We learn of his unholy nature through his various names and we learn even more from his various...

Titles

The Evil one - John 17:15 “15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

Ruler of this world - John 12:31 “31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” “Prince” means ruler in this case

The god of this world - 2 Cor.4:4 “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.”

Men may deny his existence, but they are playing into his hand

From where did the idea that “you do not need God to tell you how to live your life” come from?

Prince of the power of the air - Ephesians 2:2 “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:”

Clearly Satan is a spirit, meaning he does not have a physical body

He is the prince of the power of the air

Power = authority

The air referring to his realm of influence...

Airwaves

Demonic presence in the world

“Children of disobedience” literally means “unbelievers”, lastly...

Beelzebub - Luke 11:15 “15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.”

This title here goes back to an ancient Philistine god who was considered chief of the demons

Clearly this tells us that Satan is the one behind every false religion and every false idol in the world

We are only scraping the surface of the evil that is Satan. If his names and titles are not enough to convince of his evil nature, consider lastly his...

Character

The serpent - Genesis 3:1, here we see again his frist mention, the seprent represents craftiness and cunning. It was through the serpent he tricked Eve and caught Adam off guard. This character of guile and craftiness has stuck with him throughout Scripture. (Rev. 12:9; 2 Cor. 11:3)

The great red dragon Revelation 12:9 “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.”

This picture of Satan represents his fierce nature

He is not to be trifled with.

Accuser of the brethren Rev. 12:10 “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.”

What is he accusing us of? Sin of course

Thank God we have an advocate, the greatest defense attorney in history, and He has never lost a case! 1 John 2:1 “1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

Tempter - 1 Thess. 3:5 “5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.”

Always remember, there is no sin in the temptation

Sin comes when we give into the temptation

Belial - 2 Cor. 6:15 “15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

The word in the Greek is Beliar, and means worthlessness or wickedness

The word in the OT was used in relation to the unholy, filthy worship of Ashteroth, another false god set up by Satan.

Father of lies - John 8:44 “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.”

Father = originator

Lies were invented by the devil.

Murderer - see above.

The above characteristics of Satan serve to demonstrate to us his unholy nature! Church, we are at war with an unholy enemy. His time is running out and he knows it, Revelation 12:7-12

Revelation 12:7–12 KJV 1900

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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. 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. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Conclusion:

Right not you’re saying to yourself, “How can we ever hope to win this war against Satan?” Well let me answer you, we cannot, but God can. I direct your attention back to our first verse, 1 John 3:8

1 John 3:8 KJV 1900

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.

Jesus Christ once and for all destroyed the works of the devil when His work of redemption was done! When He was dying on the cross, it was not simply to give you forgiveness of sin, it was to destroy Satan’s hold over you! When He rose from the dead it was not simply to prove that God had accepted His sacrifice for you sin, it was to prove that He had won the victory over Satan for you!

You say, “What can I do to be saved?” The answer is the same today as it was 2000 years ago, just believe on Jesus!”

Every head bowed, and every eye closed. I wonder today if I asked you about where you would spend eternity, what would you say? Would you say without any doubt in your mind you’d be in heaven? Can you say that today? Would you raise your hand in praise to God for the confidence that you are saved and have a place in heaven?

Today, some of you could not raise your hand with that certainty. I wonder today, would you be honest with yourself, and honest with God, would you say, Pastor, I don’t know that I’m saved, but I would like to be. My friend if you will right where you are admit to God you are a sinner, if you truly believe in your heart that Jesus died for everyone’s sin, including yours, then ask Him to forgive you and He will.

If that is you today, then I invite you to come forward as we sing.