SATAN meaning the great opposer, or adversary, of God and man; is the personal name of the devil.
The Hebrew word from which Satan comes sometimes refers to human enemies (1 Sam 29:4; Ps 109:6).). But whenever this word is used as a proper name in the Old Testament, it refers to the great superhuman enemy of God, man, and good (1 Chron 21:1; Job 1:1-2:13). This use of the word also occurs frequently in the New Testament.
Another common name for Satan in the New Testament is “ the devil,” meaning “slanderer” or “false accuser.” Other titles by which Satan is identified in the New Testament include “the tempter” (1 Thess 3:5); “Beelzebub” (Matt 12:24); “the wicked one” (Matt 13:19,38); “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31); “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4); “Belial” (2 Cor 6:15), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2); and “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev 12:10).
History OF Satan
-Isa 14:12-15 and Ezek 28:11-19-furnish a picture of Satan’s original condition and the reasons for his loss of that position. These passages were addressed originally to the kings of Babylon and Tyre. But in their long-range implications, they refer to Satan himself.
He is an exalted angelic being, one of God’s creatures, who became proud and ambitious. He determined to take over the throne of God for himself. But God removed him from his position of great dignity and honor.
. In his fall from God’s favor, Satan persuaded one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion (Rev 12:3-4).
Throughout the Old Testament period he sought to destroy the messianic line. When the Messiah became a man, Satan tried to eliminate Him (Rev 12:4-5). Rev 20 notes the final phases of Satan’s work. He will be bound for a thousand years and then finally cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:2,10).
Characteristics of satan.
· As a result of his original status and authority, Satan has great power and dignity. So great is his strength that Michael the archangel viewed him as a foe too powerful to oppose (Jude 9).
· Satan’s influence in worldly affairs is also clearly revealed (John 12:31). His various titles reflect his control of the world system: “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). The Bible declares, “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).
· Satan exercises his evil power through demons (Matt 12:24; 25:41; Rev 12:7,9).
· Satan also has high intelligence. Through it he deceived Adam and Eve and took over their rule of the world for himself (Gen 1:26; 3:1-7; 2 Cor 11:3). His cleverness enables him to carry out his deceptive work almost at will.
Yet satan’s attributes, impressive as they are, are not limitless. His power is subject to God’s restrictions (Job 1:12; Luke 4:6; 2 Thess 2:7-8).
The reins of God on his activities are illustrated by Satan’s request to God for permission to afflict Job (Job 1:7-12).
· Satan’s nature is malicious. His efforts in opposing God, His people, and His truth are tireless (Job 1:7; 2:2; Matt 13:28). He is always opposed to man’s best interests (1 Chron 21:1; Zech 3:1-2). Through his role in introducing sin into the human family (Gen 3), Satan has gained the power of death-a power which Christ has broken through His crucifixion and resurrection (Heb 2:14-15).
Methods of satan
Of the various methods used by Satan in carrying out his evil work, none is more characteristic than
· TEMPTATION (Matt 4:3; 1 Thess 3:5). Satan leads people into sin by various means. Sometimes he does it by direct suggestion, as in the case of Judas Iscariot (John 13:2,27); sometimes through his agents who disguise themselves as messengers of God (2 Thess 2:9; 1 John 4:1); and sometimes through a person’s own weaknesses (1 Cor 7:5). He tempted Christ directly, trying to lead Him into compromise by promising Him worldly authority and power (Luke 4:5-8).
Along with his work of tempting mankind, Satan also delights in
· DECEPTION (1 Tim 3:6-7; 2 Tim 2:26; John 8:32,44). The great falsehood which he uses so frequently is that good can be attained by doing wrong. This lie is apparent in practically all his temptations (Gen 3:4-5). As the great deceiver, Satan is an expert at falsifying truth (2 Cor 11:13-15).
Satan’s methods are designed ultimately to silence the gospel. He seeks to stop the spread of God’s Word (Matt 13:19; 1 Thess 2:17-18). When the gospel is preached, Satan tries to blind people’s understanding so they cannot grasp the meaning of the message (2 Cor 4:3-4; 2 Thess 2:9-10). At times he opposes the work of God by violent means (John 13:2,27; 1 Peter 5:8; Rev 12:13-17).
He brings disorder into the physical world by afflicting human beings (Job 1-2; 2 Cor 12:7;
Heb 2:14). Sometimes God allows him to afflict His people for purposes of correction (1 Tim 1:20).
Satan's Defeat.
· Satan is destined to fail in his continuing rebellion against God. His final defeat is predicted in the New Testament (Luke 10:18; John 12:31; Rev 12:9; 20:10).
· The death of Christ on the cross is the basis for Satan’s final defeat (Heb 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:18,22).
· Strength for a Christian’s victory over sin and demons has also been provided through the death of Christ. We have assurance that “the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet” (Rom 16:20). But such personal victory depends on our will to offer resistance to Satan’s temptations (Eph 4:25-27; 1 Peter 5:8-9). To help Christians win this battle against Satan, God has provided the power of Christ’s blood (Rev 12:11), the continuing prayer of Christ in heaven for believers (Heb 7:25), the leading of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16), and various weapons for spiritual warfare (Eph 6:13-18).
The Hebrew word from which Satan comes sometimes refers to human enemies (1 Sam 29:4; Ps 109:6).). But whenever this word is used as a proper name in the Old Testament, it refers to the great superhuman enemy of God, man, and good (1 Chron 21:1; Job 1:1-2:13). This use of the word also occurs frequently in the New Testament.
Another common name for Satan in the New Testament is “ the devil,” meaning “slanderer” or “false accuser.” Other titles by which Satan is identified in the New Testament include “the tempter” (1 Thess 3:5); “Beelzebub” (Matt 12:24); “the wicked one” (Matt 13:19,38); “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31); “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4); “Belial” (2 Cor 6:15), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2); and “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev 12:10).
History OF Satan
-Isa 14:12-15 and Ezek 28:11-19-furnish a picture of Satan’s original condition and the reasons for his loss of that position. These passages were addressed originally to the kings of Babylon and Tyre. But in their long-range implications, they refer to Satan himself.
He is an exalted angelic being, one of God’s creatures, who became proud and ambitious. He determined to take over the throne of God for himself. But God removed him from his position of great dignity and honor.
. In his fall from God’s favor, Satan persuaded one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion (Rev 12:3-4).
Throughout the Old Testament period he sought to destroy the messianic line. When the Messiah became a man, Satan tried to eliminate Him (Rev 12:4-5). Rev 20 notes the final phases of Satan’s work. He will be bound for a thousand years and then finally cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:2,10).
Characteristics of satan.
· As a result of his original status and authority, Satan has great power and dignity. So great is his strength that Michael the archangel viewed him as a foe too powerful to oppose (Jude 9).
· Satan’s influence in worldly affairs is also clearly revealed (John 12:31). His various titles reflect his control of the world system: “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). The Bible declares, “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).
· Satan exercises his evil power through demons (Matt 12:24; 25:41; Rev 12:7,9).
· Satan also has high intelligence. Through it he deceived Adam and Eve and took over their rule of the world for himself (Gen 1:26; 3:1-7; 2 Cor 11:3). His cleverness enables him to carry out his deceptive work almost at will.
Yet satan’s attributes, impressive as they are, are not limitless. His power is subject to God’s restrictions (Job 1:12; Luke 4:6; 2 Thess 2:7-8).
The reins of God on his activities are illustrated by Satan’s request to God for permission to afflict Job (Job 1:7-12).
· Satan’s nature is malicious. His efforts in opposing God, His people, and His truth are tireless (Job 1:7; 2:2; Matt 13:28). He is always opposed to man’s best interests (1 Chron 21:1; Zech 3:1-2). Through his role in introducing sin into the human family (Gen 3), Satan has gained the power of death-a power which Christ has broken through His crucifixion and resurrection (Heb 2:14-15).
Methods of satan
Of the various methods used by Satan in carrying out his evil work, none is more characteristic than
· TEMPTATION (Matt 4:3; 1 Thess 3:5). Satan leads people into sin by various means. Sometimes he does it by direct suggestion, as in the case of Judas Iscariot (John 13:2,27); sometimes through his agents who disguise themselves as messengers of God (2 Thess 2:9; 1 John 4:1); and sometimes through a person’s own weaknesses (1 Cor 7:5). He tempted Christ directly, trying to lead Him into compromise by promising Him worldly authority and power (Luke 4:5-8).
Along with his work of tempting mankind, Satan also delights in
· DECEPTION (1 Tim 3:6-7; 2 Tim 2:26; John 8:32,44). The great falsehood which he uses so frequently is that good can be attained by doing wrong. This lie is apparent in practically all his temptations (Gen 3:4-5). As the great deceiver, Satan is an expert at falsifying truth (2 Cor 11:13-15).
Satan’s methods are designed ultimately to silence the gospel. He seeks to stop the spread of God’s Word (Matt 13:19; 1 Thess 2:17-18). When the gospel is preached, Satan tries to blind people’s understanding so they cannot grasp the meaning of the message (2 Cor 4:3-4; 2 Thess 2:9-10). At times he opposes the work of God by violent means (John 13:2,27; 1 Peter 5:8; Rev 12:13-17).
He brings disorder into the physical world by afflicting human beings (Job 1-2; 2 Cor 12:7;
Heb 2:14). Sometimes God allows him to afflict His people for purposes of correction (1 Tim 1:20).
Satan's Defeat.
· Satan is destined to fail in his continuing rebellion against God. His final defeat is predicted in the New Testament (Luke 10:18; John 12:31; Rev 12:9; 20:10).
· The death of Christ on the cross is the basis for Satan’s final defeat (Heb 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:18,22).
· Strength for a Christian’s victory over sin and demons has also been provided through the death of Christ. We have assurance that “the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet” (Rom 16:20). But such personal victory depends on our will to offer resistance to Satan’s temptations (Eph 4:25-27; 1 Peter 5:8-9). To help Christians win this battle against Satan, God has provided the power of Christ’s blood (Rev 12:11), the continuing prayer of Christ in heaven for believers (Heb 7:25), the leading of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16), and various weapons for spiritual warfare (Eph 6:13-18).
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