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It is natural and rational to believe that God exists. It is obviously natural and rational to believe that humans exist. The Bible speaks of another category of God-created, spiritual beings. When created this category was “angles”. At some point in the past, however, some of these angles sinned against God and now exist to work evil. We now call these “fallen” angels demons and their leader is Satan (adversary or accuser) or the Devil (slanderer).

2 Peter 2:4 – For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Jude 6 – And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day

The New Testament speaks much about Satan. Every New Testament writer and nineteen of the books make reference to him. The NT mentions Satan over 35 times and has many different names for him that are also used – like the Devil. In the NT we see Satan referred to as “tempter” (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5), “ruler of demons” (Matt. 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15), “evil one” (Matt. 13:38; 1 John 5:19), “enemy” (Matt. 13:39), “the father of lies” (John 8:44), “a murderer” (John 8:44), and a roaringlion that seeks to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Paul said that Satan may appear as an “angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Revelation refers to him as “one who deceives” (Rev. 12:9), “an accuser” (Rev. 12:10), “a serpent” (Rev. 12:9), and “a dragon” (Rev. 12:3–17; 13:2, 11).

Satan is responsible for the temptation of Christ in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1). He is the leader of demonic forces which are able to inflict disease (Matt. 17:14–18; Luke 13:16) and possess people (Luke 22:3). Paul portrayed Satan as the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). He is the chief power of the demonic forces often referred to as “powers of the air” (Eph. 2:2; 6:12).

SATAN HAS A DOMINATING INFLUENCE

Satan has a dominating influence in this world until Jesus comes again..Jesus called Satan “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30). Paul calls him “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), “the prince of the powers of the air” (Eph. 2:2), “the ruler of the darkness of this age” (Eph. 6:12).

Galatians 1:4 – who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…

Ephesians 5:15–16 – Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

1 John 5:19 – We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

SATAN IS NOT IN CONTROLL – SATAN IS NOT GOD’S EVIL TWIN

Though Satan is called “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), his rule is NOT autonomous – Satan does not make the rules, God does. We see Jesus as having authority over demons:

Mark 1:27 – And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

And in the book of Job we see that the devil does nothing without permission from God.

While the Bible clearly recognizes the influence of demonic activity, our sin is our sin and not Satan’s. Satan and his forces are always looking for an opening to exert influence they do not control our actions:

SATAN’S RULE IS BROKEN IN JESUS

Satan was rendered powerless through the cross. Christ partook of humanity, and through His substitutionary death He defeated Satan, rendering him impotent in the believer’s life. Satan had the power of death over people but that power was broken through Christ (Heb. 2:14).¹ The accuser can still accuse but his accusations are empty because Jesus is my Champion. I am not trusting in my righteousness – Jesus is my righteousness.

Colossians 2:13–15 – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

If you know Jesus as your savior, as Champion, Satan and all that he is and represents does NOT win the day. He does not win the day because what he does – accuse, what he does – tempt, what he does – harass, can now only result in good.

Jesus – the holy one of God – came and died so that God’s love would be on display, the worst sinner would be reconciled to God, and that Jesus would be lifted up. Satan’s activity does NOT change that. If, through faith alone, Jesus is your Champion, God’s love is on display, you are reconciled to God, and Jesus is lifted up. YOU ARE FREE

Galatians 5:1 – For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

The challenge now is to live as free people

1 John 2:14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Ephesians 4:26–27 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.