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Many people deny the existence of the devil saying that evil and good is within man and he does one or the other. Such is not the teaching of the Bible because the devil is a real personality called Satan and other names. 1. THE BIBLE REVEALS THAT THERE IS A DEVIL. In Genesis, I Chronicles, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah he is mentioned under different names and shown to be the deceiver of the human race in the Old Testament. In the four Gospels, Acts, Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Thesalonians, Timothy, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Jude and Revelation the devil and his devices are also shown. 2. CHRIST RECOGNIZED THE DEVIL AS A REAL BEING. He was tempted by the devil (Mat. 4). He speaks of people having the devil for their father (John 8:44).He speaks of the devil falling from heaven (Lk. 10:18). He said Satan inspired Peter to try to dissuade him from dying on the cross (Mat. 16:21-32). Jesus said Satan put it into the heart of Judas to betray him (Jn. 13:3). Also that Satan desired to sift Peter as wheat (Lk. 22:31,32). Jesus revealed the truth about the devil. 3. THE DEVIL IS A PERSONALITY. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them" (Job 1:6). The Lord asked, "Whence comest thou?" and he answered, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it" (Job 1:7). Now since the sons of God are real, and God is real then the devil is also real. He is walking up and down in the earth to tempt and deceive men. He presented himself to God and God talked with him. The intelligence of the devil is seen in that he has "devices" (2 Cor. 2:11), "Wiles" (Eph. 6:11), and "deceives the whole world" (Rev. 12:9). He is an extremely intelligent being and uses that intelligence to get men to fall into sin. The devil quotes the scripture (Mat. 4:6) but twists and perverts it to suit his evil designs. The devil has snares and men are taken captive by him (2 Tim. 2:26). He desires to control the souls of men (Lk. 22:31), is filled with pride (I Tim. 3:6), and also has wrath (Rev. 12:12). The devil has executive and organizing ability. He has angels and organizes them to engage in warfare against all that is good and righteous (Rev. 12:7; 20:7, 8; Eph. 6:11,12). He has a kingdom and he is ruler over that evil kingdom (Mat. 12:26). He has personal actions attributed to him such as speaking a talking with God (Job 1:9,10), and also with Christ (Mat. 4). Speech is the normal possession of personalities only. The devil tempts men and even tempted Jesus (Mat. 4). The devil accused Job of serving God because of the blessings God was giving him (Job 1:9,10). He accused God of holding something back that was good for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:5). He uses various devices to get the advantage of mankind. He has his lying wonders and miracles (Ex. 7:11; 2 Thes. 2:9). He is capable of being punished and hell is prepared for the devil and his angels (Mat. 25:41). All these things show that the devil is a real personality having a real influence in this world. 4. THE DEVIL IS A FALLEN BEING AND IS TRYING TO GET EVERYONE ON EARTH TO FALL. Jesus said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44). Notice that the devil is the father of lies. Also notice that he "abode not in the truth." This shows that he once was is in the truth but did not abide in it, so he fell from it. Jesus said that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit (Mat. 7:18). God is the ultimate of goodness. He created the devil just like all other beings were created by him. God did not create the devil a liar and a murderer. The devil fell into this state. In I Tim. 3:6 the Bible teaches that a novice is not to be put into the eldership lest, "being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." This shows that the devil fell into condemnation because of his pride and that man can fall into the same condemnation because of his pride. The devil is a real being who fell by sinning and he brought sin into the world. "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." (I John 3:8). The devil is an extremely intelligent and powerful being who because of his fall is condemned to the everlasting punishment of hell (Mat. 25:41). His design on this earth is to manipulate all the people he can because he wants everyone to also be lost in hell. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and to loose his hold over men. "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; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Heb. 2:14, 15). Because of what Jesus has done we need to heed this admonition: "submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7).
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