Why does Satan have any power at all?
If Christ died to bring everything on earth under His authority, why does Satan still have freedom to wreak such havoc in our world? What can we learn about these things from Scripture?
1. While Christ conquered death and sin, we will not see the completion of His victory until His second coming (Hebrews 2:5-9; John 16:33).
2. When mankind brought evil into God's perfect world, God provided a way of salvation. Satan's work must be necessary for mankind's redemption or God wouldn't allow it (Genesis 3).(1)
3. God uses Satan to test and strengthen His children (Job; Romans 8:28).(2)
4. God uses evil but does not cause it (Genesis 50:20; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5).
5. One day Satan's power will permanently and violently end (Revelation 20:10).
6. There's some mystery involved in these things, but we can trust God (1 Corinthians 13:12).
(1) Satan, a fallen angel, was used by God to test Adam and Eve - who were innocent but untested. When tested, they proved to be sinners in need of a Savior. Thus began God's redemption process. I don't think any of us fully understand this process of testing and redemption, but we can trust God's wisdom and knowledge.
(2) In Scripture, there is one incident that is credited to both God and Satan which clarifies this point that God uses Satan for His purposes. Read about that situation here: Got Questions.
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I think that also we are living in this broken world learning to refuse evil and choose good. We humans learn from experience. Maybe it is necessary to experience evil so that we can make an informed choice to instead follow the way, the truth and the life. -- as it is written in Isaiah 7:14-(NRSV)
ReplyDelete14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman[a] is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.[b] 15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
and love is not love without free will
ReplyDeleteI don't think the most high and holy God 'uses' evil to rest mankind. The mankind is a separate entity, having free will and this free will is not predictable either by God or Devil.
ReplyDeleteHi Charles,
DeleteIt appears that He used evil to test Job, and since He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, I think He must always use evil for His purposes. He doesn't cause the evil or approve it, but in Romans 8:28 fashion, He uses it for His purposes.
Shalom.
DeleteTUHAN adalah kebenaran. Maka pada TUHAN tifak ada kejahatan apalagi menggunakan kejahatan. Mohon membaca krmbali Alkitab Anda sehingga nampaklah dalam kisah Ayub bahwa Setan, si Iblis yang menuduh Ayub bahwa Ayub hanya setia karena diberkati. Setan si Iblis menuntut pembuktian kesetiaan Ayub. Sehingga Iblis meminta izin kepada TUHAN agar di-izinkan menjamah Ayub. Dan terbukti Ayub setia.
Jauh sekali dari TUHAN untuk mempergunakan kejahatan. Substansinya jelas jauh berbeda. Terima kasih. TUHAN memberkati.
Kejahatan adalah sesuatu yang sangat tidak diperkenan TUHAN. IA tidak mempergunakan kejahatan.
DeleteOrang -
DeleteGod never causes evil and God never approves of evil. I agree with you.
But God can and does use evil for good.
Romans 8:28 assures us that he can use all things (good and evil things) for our good when we choose His purposes and not our own.
Look at the story of Joseph. His brothers did great evil to him, but God used it for great good. As Joseph said in Genesis 50:20:
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
I guess only the last point is a valid one. All the other points are true but don't answer why, they are simply biblically sound statements. Second thing, testing didn't proven they are sinners rather it made led them into sin. I mean Adam and Eve were good in all aspects until they have fallen into the devil's temptation.
ReplyDeleteHi Hadi,
DeleteI think if you read the Scriptures attached to each point you will see that they pertain to the question and help us understand how God uses evil and why He allows it.
we therefore thank God because there's nitnoth that He can do to us without a purpose...
ReplyDeleteWith Satan and Adam and eve as well as with Job. Jehovah God allows evil but he does not cause it or bring it about.
ReplyDeleteJames 1:13 says When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone
All of Jehovah God‘s creation, Humans as well as angelic creatures, are free moral agents. Satan chose to rebel, Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan. Job chose not to sin as his wife begged him to do.
Hi Fred,
DeleteYou are confusing temptation with testing.
God never tempts anyone to sin, but He tests us to refine our faith.
If we believe God never tests us through bad people and bad circumstances, we would have to believe that He's not in control.
If He had no purposes and testing and refining the faith of Joseph, why didn’t he send him to Egypt through a series of “good” circumstances.
If He had no purposes in testing and refining the faith of his Old and New testament followers, why did so many suffer from bad circumstances?
Sometimes we are responsible for our bad circumstances, but not always.
I have been challenged in my life through the bad choices of other people, and I know God has used these other people’s bad choices to test and refine my faith.
Scripture makes it so clear:
1 Peter 1:6-7: In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Job 23:10: When he [God] has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Psalm 17:3: Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.
Psalm 66:10: For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.
James 1:3: the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
1 Peter 4:12-13: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But Rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Omniscience.
ReplyDeleteHe created the angelic realm, knowing Lucifer would rebel, that he’d create Hell for him, and that Most of his human creations would choose poorly.
Explain that please.
Hi Good Neighbor,
DeleteSometimes we need to admit that our human minds cannot comprehend the mind of God.
1 Corinthians 13:12: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
That actually should give us comfort to know that understanding God's wisdom and purposes is beyond our human minds. We wouldn't want to serve a god who was our peer.
But we can trust this truth: God is perfect, good, and loving. So whatever He has done or allowed, it is for mankind's good.
It’s interesting to me that folks always want to start with the garden.
ReplyDeleteThat’s not where the first rebellion took place.
Why did God create the angelic realm?
In Gods omniscience, He knew that Lucifer would rebel, which means that He intended for All of this to happen, ultimately, for His glory.
when God created everything... it was perfect which is why He always conclude each days creation with "it was good".
ReplyDeleteSo when did evil exist?... it started in heavenly revolt led by Lucifer and his plot to bring down God's creation of His own image which is the expulsion from the garden of eden somehow succeeded.
God's redemptive plan of reconciling His creation back was fulfilled thru His only begotten son Jesus Christ... our Lord and our Savior.
If God had destroyed Satan rather than merely cast him out of heaven, he would have never been in the garden of eden where he could tempt Adam and Eve.
ReplyDelete