David, post #2 - Devil/demon(edited to shorten)
DEVIL, SATAN, EVIL, DEMONIC The personal dimension of that which opposes God's
purposes in His world. .................. a careful consideration of the biblical teaching
concerning Satan is especially needed.
A fully defined doctrine of Satan is not fund in the Bible until New Testament times.
Old Testament .....emphasis is placed on the supremacy of and the power of God.
Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, is mentioned in a number of places .
Disguised as a serpent, he was the agent of temptation ....(Gen. 3:10; Rev. 12:9; 20:2).
Satan does appear in the OT... ..the adversary of God's people. ...to lead God's people into
presumption (1 Chron. 21:1), slanders them to God's face (Zech. 3:1).
..most extensive OT discussion of Satan is in Job...he is seen as God's agent and minister,
tested human fidelity. .. makes a wager with God using Job as the stake. He acts, ..with
the express permission of God and keeps within the limits which God has fixed for him
(Job 1:12; 2:6).
New Testament .., God had led their authors to a clear-cut doctrine of Satan. This
doctrine located an origin of evil in Satan. This recognizes the reality of evil outside and
beyond the scope of human will.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke clearly accept and teach a doctrine of a personal Satan and his
agents called fallen angels or demons (Mark 3:22). Matthew 4:1 tells of Jesus being
tempted .... In Matthew 25:41 even hell is described as being prepared for the devil and his
angels. Satan and demons ....able to inflict disease (Matt. 17:5-18; Luke 13:16).
..possessed Judas (Luke 22:3). John saw Satan as the prince of this world (John 12:31;
14:30; 16:11) with the whole world in his power (1 John 5:19).
The apostle Paul's ....that Satan is the god of this age. ......under Satan's power. Satan is
now the "commander of the spiritual powers of the air" (Eph. 2:2 REB) and leads "the
superhuman forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12 REB).
NT Epistles describe Satan's activities ... 2 Peter 2:4 speaks of "angels that sinned" and
Jude 6 of "angels which kept not their first estate." . constant use of violence and deceit
by Satan requires that believers manifest courage and extreme vigilance (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet.
5:8-9).
Revelation sees Satan's activities as involving .. individuals .. communities. Political forces
can become servants of the devil (Rev. 12; 13). Revelation 2:13.. a throne of Satan.
NT teaches ..Satan and his demonic allies are not coequal with God. He is a created being
who has rebelled and can tempt--but not force. The main concern of the Bible is not
with the devil but with God and the gospel of His grace. Satan and the demonic
forces have been overcome by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ..... In
the end Satan and his angels will be completely overcome. In fact, Jesus came into the
world to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). The cross was a decisive victory
over Satan and Satan's host (Col. 2:15). This victory insured that countless numbers
would be delivered from the dominion of darkness and transferred to the kingdom
of Christ (Col. 1:13).
Today, people ....want a scapegoat to deliver them from responsibility. .....his powerful
existence does not exclude a person from responsibility. Satan and the demonic forces
cannot dominate or possess us except by our own consent. Believers will not be tempted
beyond our power of resistance (1 Cor. 10:13). ...Satan is limited. ...the believer has God's
armor--the biblical gospel, integrity, peace through Christ, faith in Christ, prayer--as
spiritual security (Eph. 6:11-18).
Christians should beware of excessive gullibility as well as extreme oversimplification.
Knowledge about Satan and evil angels alerts Christians to the danger and subtlety of
satanic temptation. ...... Satan and demonic forces are active, but they are limited. We
must remember that the main thrust of Christianity is on the availability of God's
power and love in Jesus Christ and the Spirit.
John P. Newport
No doubt about existence. I have never tried casting out a demon by touching an individual. On this thread, Steve says he has cast out demons. I have prayed for one to be cast out. Also, I have prayed for God to Take away satan.
Jesus loves us,
R. |
