Christian Principles: Unit #4, Week #1

Xenos Christian Fellowship
Christian Ministry Unit 1

Introduction to Theology

Week 4: Satanology - Origin and Covert Tactics

Introduction

C. S. Lewis spoke of the two most common errors people tend to make about Satan: "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight."

Scripture and Satan's Existence

Old Testament: Gen. 3:1 (see also Rev. 12:9 "the serpent of old"); Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37; 1 Chron. 21:1; Job 1,2; Zech. 3:1,2.

Jesus Christ: Interacts with and speaks more about Satan and demons than any other biblical character. Mt. 4:24; Mt. 6:13; Mt. 13:19; Mt. 13:36-43; Mt. 25:41; Lk. 4:2-13 (and parallels); Mk. 5:2-19 (and other exorcisms); Lk. 10:17-20; Jn. 8:44; 2:31; 13:27; 14:30; 17:15

The gospel authors are careful to differentiate demonic activity and other sicknesses.

(Luke 4:40-41f) And while the sun was setting,. all who had any sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on every one of them, He was healing them. (41) And demons also [emphasis added] were coming out of many . . .

(Norval Geldenhuys) "It is noteworthy that it is distinguished (especially in the gospel of the physician, Luke) from cases of ordinary sickness, insanity, leprosy, blindness, lameness, deafness, and other natural defects and diseases (cf., Matt. 4:23,24; 8:16; 10:8; Mark 6:13; Luke 4:40; 7:21,22). . . .Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. Matt 12:22, 17:15; Mark 9:18). (Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary of the Gospel of Luke, [Grand Rapids, Mi.: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1988], p. 174.)

Rest of the New Testament:(see Acts 5:3; 16:16; Eph. 1:21; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; James 2:19; 1 Pet. 5:8-10; 1 Jn. 3:8; 5:19; Jude 1:9; Rev. 12:9-11)

A secondary line of evidence for the existence of Satan:

Origin and Fall of Satan: Ezekiel 28

Ezekiel 28:1-19

Verses 1-10

Verses 11-19

¹The word of the LORD came again to me saying,

² "Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, `Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because your heart is lifted up And you have said, `I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the heart of the seas'; Yet you are a man and not God, Although you make your heart like the heart of God—

³Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; There is no secret that is a match for you.

⁴"By your wisdom and understanding You have acquired riches for yourself, And have acquired gold and silver for your treasuries.

⁵"By your great wisdom, by your trade You have increased your riches, And your heart is lifted up because of your riches—

⁶ Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, `Because you have made your heart Like the heart of God,

⁷ Therefore, behold, I will bring strangers upon you, The most ruthless of the nations. And they will draw their swords Against the beauty of your wisdom And defile your splendor.

⁸ `They will bring you down to the pit, And you will die the death of those who are slain In the heart of the seas.

⁹ `Will you still say, "I am a god," In the presence of your slayer, Although you are a man and not God, In the hands of those who wound you?

¹⁰ `You will die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of strangers, For I have spoken!' declares the Lord GOD!"'"

¹¹Again the word of the LORD came to me saying,

¹² "Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, `Thus says the Lord GOD, "You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

¹³"You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you.On the day that you were created They were prepared.

¹⁴ "You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there.You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁵ "You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created, Until unrighteousness was found in you.

¹⁶ "By the abundance of your trade You were internally filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁷ "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you.

¹⁸ "By the multitude of your iniquities, In the unrighteousness of your trade, You profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you, And I have turned you to ashes on the earth In the eyes of all who see you.

¹⁹ "All who know you among the peoples Are appalled at you; You have become terrified, And you will be no more."'"

Ezekiel 28:11-19 – About Satan or not?

Reasons for vv. 11-19 referring to Satan

Reasons against vv 11-19 referring to Satan

(1 Cor. 10:19-20) What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? (20) No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.

Response to this:

Ezekiel 28:11-19 is consistent with other Biblical teaching on Satan:

NOTE: Isaiah 14:12-21 -- Many interpret this passage as also referring to Satan.

Reasons For Satan	Reasons Against Satan
Vs 12: "fallen from heaven"	could be figurative language (taunt; see vs 13)
Vs 12: "star of the dawn" = Lucifer = Satan	The Hebrew word is "helel", the Greek, "heosphoros" — neither can be translated "Lucifer". Lucifer is the Latin word for Venus — the "morning star." It wasn't found in the Bible until translated into the Latin (at the earliest in the late 4th century or early 5th AD) (see KJV). It is circular reasoning to state this word is referring to Satan since nowhere else in the Bible is this word used as a noun! This can easily refer to mythological gods.
Vs 13,14: aspiration to equality w/ God "clouds" & "recesses of the north"	common for kings to claim this (Ezek 28:2) refers to the dwelling place of the Canaanite gods
Vs 16,17,21: has global dominion ("earth;" "world")	Neither "earth" (erets) nor "world" (tebel) are necessarily global (erets is translated "country" in vs 20).
	The context is a human king with a human kingdom (vs 3,4,22,23). Unless we can show compelling reasons why we should break context, we should assume that vs 12-21 is about a human king (i.e. of Babylon or more likely Assyria. We know that Assyrian kings referred to themselves as kings of Babylon
	He is described as a man: He dies & is buried (vs 11,19,20). "Sheol" means "the grave" - not the abyss. He is called a man (vs 16). He has descendants (vs 20b,21).

Conclusion:

There is insufficient basis for saying that this passage is about Satan.
We could say that the attitude of the king being described is satanic in principle and ultimate origin (Gen 3:5).

Additional biographical information about Satan:

1. He evidently persuaded one-third of the angels to join him in his rebellion against God (Rev. 12:4,9).

2. He then led the first humans into his rebellion (Gen. 3), after which their dominion over the earth was forfeited to him (this will be an important point to recall in future weeks).

3. He opposes God’s redemptive work by trying to hinder people from being reconciled to God (Matt. 13:39,41; 2 Cor. 4:4), and seeking to neutralize believers from being effective for Christ (Eph. 6:11).

4. We don't know his proper name. Satan, Beelzebub, and Devil are all descriptive titles.

5. He was substantially defeated at the cross (Col. 2:15) and will be completely vanquished at the return of Christ. His doom is sure (Mt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

(Eph. 6:12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Three key attitudes:

(1 Pet. 5:8*) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

(Rev. 12:11*) And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.

(1 John 4:4*) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

(Eph 6:10-18**) Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. (11) Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (14) Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; (16) in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. (17)And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (18) With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints . . .

Question: Which of these above attitudes do you tend to lack?

Covert Tactics

Definition: Covert tactics are subtle/hidden strategies that Satan uses to attack Christians

(2 Cor. 2:11). . . in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his

schemes.

Deception

(Rev 20:3) “He deceives the nations…”

(Jn 8:44) “He is a liar and the father of lies…”

Definition:

Avenues:

(Col. 2:8) See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

(2 Cor. 11:13-15) For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.

(2 Tim. 4:2-4) Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; (4) and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

(Heb. 13:9) Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.

Countermeasures:

(Acts 20:20,27) . . . how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house . . . (27) For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

(Heb. 5:14) But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

(Acts 20:32) And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

(Col. 2:2) My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ . . .

(Prov. 27:17) Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Doubt

Definition: seeks to erode a Christian's confidence in God

Avenues:

Note: James 1:6 uses the word ‘doubt’ to mean one who is "double-minded" (vs 8)

Countermeasures: It is not a sin to have doubts; it is what you do with doubts when they emerge that matters.

6..

"Doubt is to faith what fear is to courage."

Seduction

Purpose:

Avenues: The kosmos

Satan is the creator and ruler of the Kosmos:

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

(2 Cor. 4:4) . . . in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

(Eph. 2:2) . . . in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

The goal of the kosmos: to directly oppose God’s will for our lives.

(1 Cor. 2:12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God . . .

(Titus 2:11) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age . . .

(2 Pet. 1:4) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

(2 Pet. 2:20) For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

(James 4:4) You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Key components of the Kosmos (from 1 John 2:15,16):

(1 John 2:15,16*) Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

"Lust of flesh" (Hedonism):

"Lust of eye" (Materialism):

"Boastful pride of life" (Egotism):

Note:

The kosmos is effective because of its extreme subtlety.

"The world is an atmosphere, a mood. It is nearly as hard for a sinner to recognize the world's temptations as it is for a fish to discover the impurities in the water. There is a sense, a feeling that things aren't right . . . but just what it is eludes analysis." (Eugene Peterson, quoted in Stephen Eyre, Defeating the Dragons of this World(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1987), p. 19.)

Countermeasures:

(John 17:15) I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one . . . As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

(1 Cor. 5:9,10) I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; (10) I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world.

(Phil 2:14,15) Do all things without grumbling or disputing; (15) that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world . . .

(1 John 2:17) And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

(2 Pet. 2:18-19) For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, (19) promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

(James 4:4-10) You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (5) Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? (6) But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (7) Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

(2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? . . . (1)Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

(Matt. 6:32,33) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

(1 Tim. 6:11) But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

(2 Tim. 2:22) Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

As we gain God's perspective we begin to experience true joy and our perspective on the kosmos changes.

(Romans 12:2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

C.S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters. xiii.
"It remains to consider how we can retrieve this disaster (his conversion). The great thing is to prevent his doing anything. As long as he does not convert it into action, it does not matter how much he thinks about this new repentance. Let the little brute wallow in it. Let him, if he has any bent that way, write a book about it; that is often an excellent way of sterilising the seeds which the Enemy plants in a human soul. Let him do anything but act. No amount of piety in his imagination and affections will harm us if we can keep it out of his will."

Memory Verses

Ezek. 28:11-19** - Satan's origins

Eph. 6:10-18** - Our real battle is against the schemes of Satan. Our primary armor and weapons are our position in Christ, the Word and prayer.

Rev. 12:11* - Christians overcome Satan's accusations through grace, his deception through the Word, and his persecution through radical commitment to Christ.

1 Jn. 2:15,16* - Loving the kosmos is antithetical to loving God. The key components of the kosmos are the lust of the flesh (HEDONISM), the lust of the eye (MATERIALISM), and the boastful pride of life (EGOTISM).

Homework Assignment

Complete the Satanology Passages 2 Assignment.