The Devil and Satan
"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature; that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil . . ." Hebrews 2:14
"But (Jesus) ... has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". Hebrews 9:26
False accuser
To understand what the devil and Satan are requires a thorough Bible study, both Old and New Testaments. The word for 'devil' is strictly New Testament and is the Greek, 'diabolos' meaning a 'false accuser' or 'slanderer' while 'satan' is a Hebrew word meaning 'an enemy'.
The first false accusation was made against God by the serpent in Eden. From that time the Bible uses the symbol of the serpent as the slanderer of God and men. Thus, we find in Revelation "that Old Serpent, the devil and Satan" and both Jesus and John the Baptist refer to the Pharisees as a "generation of vipers".
Many theories, more based on pagan mythology than on Biblical revelation, have grown up to portray satan, (the capital 'S' is not in the original), as a sort of god of evil, a fallen angel whose domain is hell.
All these ideas are inconsistent with the Bible. We find in Deuteronomy 4:35:" the Lord Himself is God; there is none other beside Him." Another god is not possible.
The angels of God do not sin and do not die. We have the words of Jesus that his people will finally be like the angels, dying no more. Satan is never found in hell in the Bible. He, or rather it, is destroyed in a lake of fire along with death and hell.
Peter was satan
Jesus Christ defines satan for us. When his apostle Peter tried to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem the last time Jesus said to him in Matthew 16:23,"Get behind me, Satan! You are an offence to me: for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Yes it is true! Jesus called Peter 'Satan' because he was trying to stop Jesus from doing the will of his Father. Peter was thinking the way mortal men think - protect yourself at all cost. He was tempting Jesus to sin.
When we are more mindful of the things of men rather than the those of God we are satan and the devil too. The attitude, the spirit, which is so common in society, to go the way of men rather than the way of God is also styled the devil and satan in the Bible. Look at the drama of Jesus' temptations. All three were about considering the way man would naturally go compared to the way God required.
Jesus chose his Father's way even to his death on the cross. So we are told about his death in Hebrews 2:14, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same; that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." An odd way to destroy a fallen angel isn't it?
The devil is very human. He began with the first humans and he will end with the last of Adam's mortal descendants.
To find out more about the Devil and Satan, go to Do You Believe in a Devil? or complete an Online Bible Course.
"But (Jesus) ... has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". Hebrews 9:26
False accuser
To understand what the devil and Satan are requires a thorough Bible study, both Old and New Testaments. The word for 'devil' is strictly New Testament and is the Greek, 'diabolos' meaning a 'false accuser' or 'slanderer' while 'satan' is a Hebrew word meaning 'an enemy'.
The first false accusation was made against God by the serpent in Eden. From that time the Bible uses the symbol of the serpent as the slanderer of God and men. Thus, we find in Revelation "that Old Serpent, the devil and Satan" and both Jesus and John the Baptist refer to the Pharisees as a "generation of vipers".
Many theories, more based on pagan mythology than on Biblical revelation, have grown up to portray satan, (the capital 'S' is not in the original), as a sort of god of evil, a fallen angel whose domain is hell.
All these ideas are inconsistent with the Bible. We find in Deuteronomy 4:35:" the Lord Himself is God; there is none other beside Him." Another god is not possible.
The angels of God do not sin and do not die. We have the words of Jesus that his people will finally be like the angels, dying no more. Satan is never found in hell in the Bible. He, or rather it, is destroyed in a lake of fire along with death and hell.
Peter was satan
Jesus Christ defines satan for us. When his apostle Peter tried to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem the last time Jesus said to him in Matthew 16:23,"Get behind me, Satan! You are an offence to me: for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Yes it is true! Jesus called Peter 'Satan' because he was trying to stop Jesus from doing the will of his Father. Peter was thinking the way mortal men think - protect yourself at all cost. He was tempting Jesus to sin.
When we are more mindful of the things of men rather than the those of God we are satan and the devil too. The attitude, the spirit, which is so common in society, to go the way of men rather than the way of God is also styled the devil and satan in the Bible. Look at the drama of Jesus' temptations. All three were about considering the way man would naturally go compared to the way God required.
Jesus chose his Father's way even to his death on the cross. So we are told about his death in Hebrews 2:14, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same; that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." An odd way to destroy a fallen angel isn't it?
The devil is very human. He began with the first humans and he will end with the last of Adam's mortal descendants.
To find out more about the Devil and Satan, go to Do You Believe in a Devil? or complete an Online Bible Course.
Complete a free Online Bible Course