At lunch today….

LIZ HUGHES

The Devil Made Me Do It!

Scriptural Identity of the Devil

Topics Meaning of devil (world’s perspective) Translation/Meaning of words devil, Satan as found in Bible Examples of devil, Satan in Bible Sin Manifestations of devil, Satan Arguments against Popular (incorrect) Beliefs

Topics (cont.) Christ putting away the devil Summary

Important? 1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. What are the works of the devil?

Wikipedia Definiton The Devil is the title given to the supernatural being, who, in mainstream Christianity, Islam, and some other religions, is believed to be a powerful, evil entity and the tempter of humankind. The Devil is commonly associated with heretics, infidels, and other unbelievers. supernatural ChristianityIslam evilhereticsinfidelssupernatural ChristianityIslam evilhereticsinfidels The name 'Devil' derives from the Greek word diabolos, which means 'slanderer' or 'accuser'.[1] In mainstream Christianity, God and the Devil are usually portrayed as fighting over the souls of humans, with the Devil seeking to lure people away from God and into Sheol. The Devil commands a force of evil angels, commonly known as demons. The Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) describes the Adversary (Ha-satan) as a servant of God whose job it is to test humankind. Greekslanderer[1]soulsGodSheoldemonsHebrew BiblesatanGreekslanderer[1]soulsGodSheoldemonsHebrew Biblesatan This entity is commonly referred to by a variety of names, including Abbadon, Angra Mainyu, Satan, Asmodai, Beelzebub, Lucifer, Belial, and Iblis. Many other religions have a trickster or tempter figure that is similar to the Devil. Modern conceptions of the Devil include the concept that it symbolizes humans' own lower nature or sinfulness. AbbadonAngra MainyuSatanAsmodaiBeelzebubLuciferBelial Iblissinfulness AbbadonAngra MainyuSatanAsmodaiBeelzebubLuciferBelial Iblissinfulness

Origin of fallen angel theory Scapegoat invented for man’s wickedness Appearance from mythology The devil would select their victims and take their immortal departed souls to hell to torment them (another false doctrine) Righteous people’s immortal souls would go to heaven (another false doctrine)

Origin of fallen angel theory (cont.) Often illustrated as a red being with horns and a trident (pitchfork)

Words Devil, Satan Devil (Greek) –Diabolos false accuser Slanderer –Diamonion (demon) Person with a Disease Satan (Hebrew) –33 times in OT 12 adversary 1 resist 1 withstand 19 Satan –Adversary, both good and evil –Belief in devil caused this to at times be implied to be a supernatural ‘devil’

Difference between devil and satan Devil – false accuser, deceiver, slanderer Satan – good or bad adversary

Diamonion Second word translated ‘devil’ Way to explain someone’s disease as something being alive inside them (possessed, healing would be casting it out) This was not a person, it was just a disease

Diamonion Mat 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Devil in Old Testament Not found! Devils (pl.) found four times referring to pagan false worship by heathen nations. Lev. 17:7, Deut. 32:17, 2 Chron. 11:15, Psa. 106:37

Devil in Old Testament (cont.) Lev 17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. Margin – satyrs (sheep)

Satan Examples Num 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: Good Adversary - obedient angel sent to rebuke wicked prophet Balaam

Satan Examples (cont.) 1Sa 29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men? David-Philistines the adversary

Satan Examples (cont.) Soldiers who caused trouble were adversaries to David (2 Sam 19:22-23) 2Sa 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. 1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. God was the adversary! How can Satan be a fallen angel and God, his enemy?

Satan Examples (cont.) Context will show: –Good or bad adversary –The form of the adversary (Person, government, flesh, etc.) Context will NOT show: –A fallen angel –Supernatural evil powers

Sin Devil sinneth from the beginning The devil was not blamed, nor is mentioned. So what was it? Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Sin (cont.) Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Sin (cont.) The serpent was blamed and punished, not a fallen angel Because of this sin, death came upon the human race Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: This is the law we ALL live under now

Sin (cont.) What causes us to sin? A supernatural, fallen angel? Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Comes from within,The heart of man, of his OWN lust We don’t have (or need) an external tempter!

Sin (cont.) Rom 7:15-25 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Sin (cont.) See also: James 1:14-15, Gal. 5:17-21, Mark 7:18-23, 2 Cor 5.15, Gen. 6:5, Eze. 18:4

Manifestation of Devil and Satan as Political 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: –Devil is diabolos “false accuser” –Adversary is antidikos “opponent at law” –Speaking of persecuting civil authorities (roaring lion) –See also Paul’s lion reference in 2 Tim. 4:17

Manifestation of Devil and Satan as Political 1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. Opposition to Paul in his preaching

Manifestation of Devil and Satan as Person Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? Joh 6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. Judas Iscariot as devil (diabolos, false accuser)

Manifestation of Devil and Satan as Person Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Peter as Satan False accusers (diabolos) in 2 Tim. 3:3

Manifestation of Devil and Satan as the World 1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Sent to Satan so they would NOT blaspheme (doesn’t fit popular belief) To teach a lesson, excommunicated so they would learn

Manifestation of Devil and Satan as the World (cont.) Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. Devil lived in Pergamos? Devil was the error being taught in the city (vv )

Proof of Existence of Fallen Angel? Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Jewish and pagan authorities were the actual adversary –2 cor 2:11 –Acts 8:3 (Paul was once one of them!)

Proof of Existence of Fallen Angel? Isa. 14:12-14 Satan, devil, fallen angel not mentioned Isa. 13 prophecy against Babylon Referring to king of Babylon (v.4) Lucifer – Day (morning) star (like Venus)– Rise of power (ascending to heaven) Becomes the evening star (like Venus), lost Isa. 14;15

Proof of Existence of Fallen Angel? Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. –Margin-adversary –In all cases where translated this has been an angel God or man who opposes someone else. –Job’s adversary was envious of his possessions (job 1:9-11) it was an angel of God or man Satan didn’t have to go up and down from heaven to talk with God.

Proof of Existence of Fallen Angel? Sons of God often used to refer to mortal believers (John 1:12, 1 John 3:2)

Proof of Existence of Fallen Angel? Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. God inflicted sufferings, not supernatural being

Proof of Existence of Fallen Angel? Job 19:21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. Acknowledged by Job, writer

Proof of Existence of Fallen Angel? War in Heaven Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, This is not literal, as there is also mentioned of a birth (vv.1-2) Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Devil and Satan are a dragon (v.9) Symbolic of political order of Rome, deceivers and false accusers

Christ’s Purpose Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. What did he destroy? What had the power of death? Answer: SIN!

Christ’s Purpose Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Our Purpose through Christ 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. See also: –Rom 5:21 –Rom 6:23 –1 cor 15:3 –1 john 1:9 –2 cor 5:15 –Gal 2;20 –Phil 3:20

Our Fight with Sin in the Flesh Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Flesh at war with God’s reqts

Our Fight with Sin in the Flesh Confess our sins, repent, seek forgiveness, and they will be forgiven Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Conclusions Check out every instance yourself –There are other verses that are wrested to ‘prove’ the existence of a supernatural being –Use context –Verify consistency If the supernatural devil made us do it, why are we held responsible for our actions, both by man and God? God wants us to be saved, why would he allow the existence of this kind of being? Devil and Satan are not proper names (unless someone were to name their kids)

Conclusions None indicate a supernatural being causing man to sin. Devil not even in OT (devils 4 times for pagan gods) Sin comes from the heart of man Devil used to personify evil lusts that tempt man to sin Devil used to represent classes of people who walk in sin (governments, religions) Satan – good and bad adversaries We can place the blame on the devil! The devil DID make us do it!

Conclusions Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. We have sin in the flesh, we sin, we die, but...

Conclusions Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.