Who is Satan? - This kind of Ignorance is eternally destructive
Widespread Satan-Denial Among Evangelicals
In recent years, reliable surveys have shown that 52% of American Evangelicals do not believe that Satan is a real person. Among Baptists, the figure is 66%.1 Mention of Satan has disappeared from most Evangelical churches' doctrinal statements, and specific discussion of the doctrine of Satan in those statements has become even more rare. Today, the majority of Evangelicals believe that Satan is not a living being, but merely, at most, a symbol of evil or an impersonal force.
Woeful Ignorance of Scripture
These developments bespeak a woeful, widespread ignorance of what the Bible says about Satan, the active enemy of every believer. From beginning to end, the Bible makes plain the facts of Satan's personal existence as a created being, and his immense power and influence in the present world. Scripture also makes it clear that, as Reformer and hymn writer Martin Luther put it, "his doom is sure." TeachingTheWord's doctrinal statement includes this summary of the Biblical doctrine of Satan:
Satan was created by God and given the most exalted position among God's created beings. Through pride Satan fell into sin, seeking to exalt himself above God. He was cast down from his exalted position, and led with him a host of angels who likewise fell. In his fallen state Satan is still subject to God, but he is the chief enemy of God, manifesting unremitting hatred toward God, His Word, and the person and work of Christ. Satan is also the chief adversary of mankind, and continually seeks to afflict mankind and seduce men toward every kind of evil. He especially wages war against believers in Christ. Satan's ultimate defeat was pronounced by God after he deceived our first parents into sin; it was secured at the cross by Christ, and will be consummated when Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
Satan
Scripture uses the name Satan fifty-five times to describe the one who is the very embodiment of evil. Both the Hebrew name Satan and the Greek equivalent Satanus mean "adversary". The name speaks of the fact that he is a person, and not a mere evil influence. The personal name Satan describes the essential nature of the one who stands in opposition to God, His holy angels, and His redeemed saints.
It was Satan, the adversary, who moved David to number Israel, against the will of God (1 Chronicles 21:1). It was Satan who came before God as the adversary of Job (chapters 1-2). It was Satan who stood in opposition to Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1-2). It was Satan who came as the adversary of Christ during His forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4).
It was Satan who had caused a woman whom Jesus healed, to have been under bondage as a cripple for eighteen years (Luke 13:10-17). It was Satan who entered Judas and moved him to betray Christ (John 13:27).
It was Satan, the adversary, who desired to be given power over the disciples as a group, and Peter specifically, that he might "sift you as wheat" - the significance of that phrase being to violently shake their faith to the point of overthrow, apart from the intercession of Christ (Luke 22:31-32).
It was Satan who caused Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). It was Satan who hindered Paul from coming to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:18). It is Satan, the adversary, who deceives by transforming himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
The Devil and The Liar
Satan is spoken of as "the devil" thirty-four times in the New Testament. The Greek word is diabolos, meaning the false accuser or slanderer. Again, it is a personal term indicating his essential nature. He is what he does.
In John 8:44, Jesus said that the devil "does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources [literally, he speaks his native language], for he is a liar and the father of it."
Christ sows the good seed in the world, those who are the children of the kingdom; but the devil sows the tares among them, who are his children (Matthew 13:37-43), who by their actions and conduct facilitate the slandering of the true saints.
It is the devil, the false accuser, who comes and takes the preached Word out of the hearts of some, lest they should believe and be saved (Luke 4:11-12).
The believer is to conduct himself in such a way that he does not "give place" - literally, yield any space or territory - to the devil. That is, we are to conduct ourselves in such a manner of holiness that we do not to give him any ground even for a slanderous accusation against us (Ephesians 4:27). Our justified standing in Christ preserves us from the devil's slanders. "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies" (Romans 8:33).
Christians are to put on the whole armor of God, in order that we may be able to stand against the "wiles" - the deceit and trickery - of the devil, the slanderer (Ephesians 6:11). Peter exhorts believers, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 5:8-11).
The Evil One
The New Testament also speaks of Satan as "the evil one" - tou ponerou, the morally malignant one. Once again, the noun preceded by the definite article indicates personality, not a mere force or influence. And once again, it speaks of his essential nature.
Jesus commanded that our speech should be in marked contrast to that of the one who is a liar and the father of lies: "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). In Jesus' model prayer, the phrase "deliver us from evil" is more accurately translated, "deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4).
Jesus prayed for believers thus: "I have given them Your Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth" (John 17:14-17).
And thus Paul says to believers, "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
The Serpent
Of course the very first mention of Satan is in Genesis chapter three, where he took the form of the serpent to tempt Eve. Revelation chapter twelve identifies the Serpent of the beginning of time and the Dragon of the end of time (see below) as one and the same: "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9). The serpent, as we shall see, is a destroyer.
The Murderer
In our last article we looked at John 8:44 from the standpoint of Satan's essential nature as a liar and the father of lies. In the same passage, Jesus declares that Satan "was a murderer from the beginning." Satan is the great slayer of humanity, and that murderous pursuit began in Eden with the words, "Has God indeed said...?" Man's rebellion against God makes him Satan's prey.
The Dragon
The identity of Satan as the Dragon is associated with the visions of the Book of Revelation. Revelation chapter twelve identifies Satan as the Dragon who attempted to destroy the male child (Christ), and as the persecutor of "the woman who gave birth to the Child," which is understood by most commentators to represent Israel. Satan indeed attempted to destroy the incarnate Christ through the temptation in the wilderness, and he is the destructive enemy of both the physical and the spiritual seed of Abraham.
In Revelation chapter thirteen, Satan is identified as the Dragon who gives the Beast "his power, his throne, and great authority" to rule the entire world (13:2). All the unsaved of the earth will "worship the Dragon who gave authority to the Beast" as well as the Beast himself. Empowered by the Dragon, the Beast will make war with the saints of God and put them to death.
The Triumph of Christ Over the Destroyer
The Christian can praise God that Christ came into this world to destroy the works of the Destroyer. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested [came to earth in human form], that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
The Cross of Calvary was the scene of Christ's triumph over the enemy of our souls, and our release from his bondage.
You are very blessed to know these truths.
Please use them to fight against your true enemy.
Thanks.
Please use them to fight against your true enemy.
Thanks.