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Origin Of Satan

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags:

In John 8:44, Christ said to his unbelieving Jewish audience: “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.”

Peloubet’s Bible Dictionary, (Chicago, IL: The John C. Winston Publishing Co., 1944), p. 592-593 states the following: The Hebrew word Satan simply means an “adversary,” and is so used in 1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 5:4; 1 Kings 11:14,23; 1 Kings 11:25; Numbers 22:22,32; Psalm 109:6.

Satan is also called “ho diabolos” — “the devil.” The derivation of the word in itself implies an endeavor to break the bonds between others and “set them at variance.” The common usage adds to this general sense the special idea of setting at variance “by slander” (cf. 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3).

Satan’s general object is to break the bonds of communion between God and man, and the bonds of truth and love which bind men to each other. The slander of God to man is best seen in the words of Genesis 3:4-5. They attribute selfishness and jealousy to the Giver of all good. The slander of man to God is illustrated in the book of Job (Job 1:9-11; Job 2:4-5). With these thoughts in mind, let us look at some thoughts presented in God’s Word concerning the origin of Satan:

God Created Satan

1) God is the only eternal self-existent being represented in the Bible (Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6,8; Isaiah 45:6,21; Revelation 1:8). Satan is not self-existent. Satan must have, therefore, had a point of origin (Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2).
2) God is the Father of all spirits including Satan’s (Job 12:10; Ephesians 2:2; Hebrews 12:9).

Was Satan Created Good Or Evil?

1) All God created was good (Genesis 1:31), therefore, God must have created Satan “good.”
2) God is “good” (Matthew 19:17) therefore He must have created Satan “good.” Satan, like every man (who possesses free moral agency), can “choose” to do good or evil (Joshua 24:15; Isaiah 7:15-16).

Indications Of Satan’s Fall

1) Satan did not abide in truth (John 8:44).
2) Satan “fell” into condemnation (1 Timothy 3:6).
3) Angels (demons) were cast into Hades when they sinned (2 Peter 2:4).
4) Angels didn’t keep their own domain. They abandoned their proper abode and were cast down (Jude 6-7).
5) War in heaven against Satan’s army vs. Michael & angels…Satan was cast “out” of heaven (Revelation 12:7-9).

The Devil Is Not “Lucifer”!

1) Isaiah 14:12-15 refers to the king of Babylon – not the Devil.
2) In Isaiah 14:12, “Lucifer” is translated “day star” (marginal reading – KJV). The literal translation means, “shining one.”
3) Ezekiel 28:13-19 refers to the king of Tyre – not the Devil (this is a very common false teaching).

Satan Has Already Lost His War Against God (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:12-15; Revelation 1:18).

Historical Victories Of Satan:

1) Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3).
2) Enticing God’s people to worship idols (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:15-17; Psalm 106:36-37; Revelation 9:20).
3) Murder of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:3).

Note: Every time a Christian gives up on “the faith” (Romans 1:5) or “the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4), and falls away (1 Timothy 1:18-20), it is because of the corruption of doctrine; i.e. “doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1-4).

Think about it! According to The Encyclopedia Of American Religions (1989), “There are on the order of 1,200 Christian organizations in North America.” The apostle Paul by inspiration declares that “There is one body” (Ephesians 4:4) or “church” (Ephesians 1:22-23). Who will we believe – man or the inspired word of God? (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Major Defeats Of Satan In The Bible

1) War in heaven – cast to earth (Revelation 12:7-9).
2) God “tests” Job with the Devil – “you think Job is good, take away blessings…he will curse you” (Job 1:11-12; Job 2:4-6).
3) Temptation in wilderness with Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11).
4) Cast out demons during Jesus’ ministry (Luke 10:17-20).
5) Sinless death & resurrection of Christ (Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 2:14-16; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 1:18).
6) Every time a “sinner” becomes a Christian (Acts 26:18: Colossians 1:13), “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God…..” (Luke 15:10).

Satan Was “Bound” By Christ (Psalm 72:9; Matthew 12:29; Isaiah 53:10; Luke 10:17; Acts 2:34-36; 1 Corinthians 15:25-28; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 4:8; Revelation 20:1-6).

1) Satan has power (1 Peter 5:8), but it is limited (Ephesians 6:11; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9).
2) Satan is “bound” like a Pit Bull is chained to a pole (Revelation 20:1-2). He is “powerless” unless we enter his “circle” (1 Peter 5:8).
3) Satan cannot “force” us against our will or possess us (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9).

The Devil & His Demons Know That God Has Won & They Are Damned (Matthew 25:41; John 16:11; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

Note The Following:

1) Matthew 8:29 — “Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
2) James 2:19 — “demons believe God is united and tremble” (Grk: “tremble” literally: “to bristle up the hair”).
3) Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28 — “do not torment me”.
4) Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34 — “have You come to destroy us”?

The Devil Will Attack You Today In One Of Five Ways:

1) Keep you out of the church (Hebrews 10:25).
2) Get Christians back into the world (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-22).
3) Render Christians useless (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 1 Timothy 5:14-15; 2 Timothy 2:17).
4) Disrupt or corrupt worship and doctrine (2 Corinthians 2:17; Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Peter 2:3).
5) Cause trouble and division among brethren (Proverbs 6:14, 19; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13).

Conclusion:

We as faithful and obedient children of God are instructed by the inspired apostle Paul, to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).  In order to properly execute this instruction, we are to “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The elements of that armor are found in Ephesians 6:14-17. Without the “whole armor of God,” we fall prey to the devil’s “wiles” (“schemes” – Ephesians 6:11 NIV).

On the other hand, unfaithful and disobedient men (and women) will suffer the same fate as the Devil (Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:10, Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 21:8,27).

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