Do you believe in evil?
Do you believe in demons and evil spirits?
Do you believe in the devil?
If you believe in God, then you also believe in the devil.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and satan also came among them. Job 1:6 NAS
If you believe Jesus speaks Truth, then you also believe in the devil.
31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. John 12:31 NAS
The same book, the Holy Bible, that reveals YeHoVaH to the people of His creation, also tells us of the reality of evil, the reality of demons and evil spirits, and the reality of the devil, satan: the adversary, the evil one, the destroyer, murderer, the father of lies.
44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NAS
See NOTE
Yes, the devil is Real
The First Deception
his first deception is convincing the world, including Christians, that he does not really exist, here, on earth, and now, at this time in history.
The deceiver has blinded the world to the reality of his existence and activities in the world.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NAS
The liar and father of lies, roamed the earth of old:
7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.“ Job 1:7 NAS
The destroyer, roamed the earth in the time of the Apostles:
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NAS
Why should we assume that our times today are any different?
Humanity is in a life and death battle: A battle of cosmic proportions, spanning time (and space?).
- A battle for eternal life or eternal death
- A spiritual battle, waged in the spiritual realms
- A spiritual battle fought (mostly) unseen by those on the earth, but affecting the whole earth and all life upon it
The Second Deception
his second deception is convincing Christians to believe that they are immune to satanic attack.
Of those Christians who believe the accuser exists, some believe that being a Christian keeps them from spiritual attack.
“Taking the position that believers cannot be attacked by the devil leaves Christians ignorant of their enemy’s tactics and give them a false sense of security.”
A Divine Revelation of Spiritual Warfare, by Mary K. Baxter and Dr. T. L. Lowery, Whitaker House: New Kensington, PA, 2006, p 19
But, consider
What if no sign of spiritual attack is actually a sign of a Christian’s ineffectiveness and an indication of powerless, or even absent, belief?
To be an effective, powerful, influential disciple of Yeshua, we are to be alert, be aware, and be ready.
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NAS
Let me ask you this:
If there’s no devil, where did sin and evil come from?
Did God create sin?
The short answer:
NO
A longer answer:
The exercise of freewill and then the choice of disobedience is what produced sin and evil. Both by satan and his fallen angels, i.e., demons, as well as by humanity.
satan’s sin is PRIDE – He wants to be like God.
12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15 NAS
Each and every one of us is sinful.
As Paul wrote to the church in Rome:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 NAS
- We all choose to sin.
- We all choose to disobey God.
- We all are like satan. We, too, are full of PRIDE.
- We, too, set our own will, our self-will, against God’s will.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God “; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:13-16 NAS
What can we do?
Nothing.
That is, nothing on our own.
… but there’s someone Who can.
More next time.
Blessings,
TLThomas
It’s ok to doubt, if you check it out!
Be a Berean!
10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10, 11 ESV
Please join me in this journey of discovery.
- Leave a comment, or ask me a question.
- Share this blog with others, whether they are doubting, or not.
- Take what I say and CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!
NOTE:
I do not capitalize the names of the evil one. Capitalization of proper names is a sign of respect.
© 2017 by the author