Satan - Biblical Principles
Biblical Principles
Principle 1
The
existence of God is expressed by the generic name ‘YHWH’. It is from the
Hebrew verb ‘to be’. When God said to Moses, “I am who I am” (Exod. 3:14; 6:2-3):
It is translated from the Hebrew phrase ‘ehyeh asher ehyeh’. Its root
idea is of independent existence. It affirms that God is ‘He is’. He is
in a supreme state (being self-existent) that no other being is (Neh. 9:6; Isa. 45:5-6; 18b). Such a unique difference is due to this - His being is found in Himself.
‘The Lord is the Almighty’ is a
divinely inspired belief throughout the Bible. The LORD is the eternally
self-existent One. He is because He is. He is called the Almighty (Exod. 6:3, Ruth 1:21; Joel 1:15; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7).
‘Being the Almighty’ conveys the truth that the complete and
incomparable power is inherent within His own existence, which is beyond
the reach of any known beings.
“I am the LORD and there is no other” (Isa 45:18b). There is none who can create the universe (Isa 45:18a). That is precisely the reason that the Lord says He is the only Creator (Isa 45:18a; 48:12-13; Jer 10:11-13).
To say Satan is self-existent is equal to saying He has the power to
create the universe. This is a damning statement on the Lord and makes
Him a liar.
Principle 2
Looking at the teaching of Elder John, it is clear that Satan sinned from the beginning (1 Jn. 3:8). He has been the first to violate the command (law) of the Lord, as John teaches that sin is lawlessness (1 Jn. 3:4). Clearly, in the beginning he was made to be subject under the rule of God.
Jude teaches that angels who do not keep their proper domain were cast into the chain of darkness (Jude 6).
They have left the positions in which God has put them. In the case of
the evil one, he became puffed up. That is why Paul warns that a novice
should not be given the role of a presbytery for fear of falling into
the condemnation of the devil (1 Tim 3:7),
should he become proud. The teaching of Paul is expressly clear about
Satan is under the dictate of a higher power. Otherwise, there is no
reason for him to be judged and condemned.
Principle 3
Eternity is
an idea introduced in the space and time continuum. God is before
everything and His fullness fills all in all. Since eternity, like ‘the
beginning’, is part of the all things, it has to be created by God, and
thus, He is before it.
‘The beginning’ has to be used
accurately and precisely according to each context. For example, John
says Satan was a murderer from the beginning (Jn. 8:44).
Does it mean that before the universe, in his own existence, he
committed murder? This does not make sense biblically. The murder here
is one in the physical world. In this case, he instigated the murder of
Abel through Cain. Even if one insists that this is not the case, it
will end up saying that he has sinned by murdering a being from the
beginning, which the Bible does not talk about. In which case, he still
sinned, not as ‘the self-existence of Satan’ (SS) proposed, but rather,
he existed in a form of sin. So, the two usages of ‘the beginning’
cannot be put on par as being equal in existence.
Principle 4
The
teachings of the Bible are not based upon human suppositions or logical
deductions. Neither are they founded on assumptive arguments. Whatever
the Bible teaches is always clear and verifiable by other parts of the
Bible. Since God is an infinite God, it is utterly wrong to suggest that
He does not know the deeds of the wicked before they are committed.
There are many examples which state
otherwise. In Deuteronomy, before Moses died, God told him that the
people of God would commit harlotry with the locals after they had
gained entry into the land (Deut. 31:16). Is this not the foreknowledge of God of evil deeds before they are done at its clearest fore?
In Revelation, God forewarned the
church at Smyrna that Satan was about to strike. For that reason, God
sent a messenger to warn the church of this impending strike from Satan (Rev. 2:10). Again is this not an unquestionable foreknowledge of God of evil before it is done?
With the above biblical proofs, is
it wrong to claim that God did not know beforehand that Adam would sin
against Him? Does this make God a wicked God on account of knowing what
He would create would sin against Him? Surely, it cannot be right for us
to fit God’s function into our mode of thinking.
Principle 5
The Bible clearly tells us that the earth is for man to live in (Isa. 45:18). Being the Supreme Being, He has created the earth for man to enjoy and to have dominion over all the creatures (Gen 1:26, 28). This is the unquestionable intent of the Lord.
The Lord had glory even before the world was (Jn. 17:5). The universe has been created to declare the glory of the Lord (Ps. 19:1). For God alone is to be glorified, none must usurp the glory of the Lord (Ps 29:1-2; 96:8; 115:1). He is above all gods, and none is like Him in any sense (Ps. 95:3; 96:4; 97:9).
With the word of God, the universe was created. Through the existence of the universe, the knowledge of the Lord (Ps. 19:2)
is revealed. The operation of the universe, in an orderly manner, shows
how great the wisdom of the Lord is. With the same word, the universe
is sustained (2 Pet. 3:7).
To say that the existence of the
universe serves as a battle ground to destroy Satan is going against the
very nature of the Lord. The creation of the universe demonstrates the
mercy of the Lord (Ps. 136:5).
Coming in the flesh into the world to defeat Satan is hugely different
from creating the universe as a battle ground to defeat Satan. The
former demonstrates the mercy and the love of the Lord, but the latter
depicts the Lord to be a shrewd strategist, and worst still, a heartless
perpetrator to achieve His end at the loss of countless souls.
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