IS SATAN A THREAT TO CHRISTIANS TODAY?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Is Satan a Threat to Christians Today?
a) Satan or the Devil is only a threat to Christians in that he tempts us, as do the demons, to sin and rebel against God. Today Satan is the ruler of the world of those who do not belong to Christ as 1 John 5:19 says, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” Satan has blinded those who do not believe in Jesus, and is called, “The god of this age (who) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
b) Satan is no longer a threat to a believer’s salvation but he still holds sway over the unsaved world (Revelation 12:9). In fact, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness by offering him a short cut to be king over the world that Satan already had as his own and thus Jesus could have avoided Calvary but only if he worshiped Satan. Satan, “took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8-9). Of course Jesus rebuked Satan and when we flee temptation and rebuke him in Jesus’ name, he must depart (Matthew 4:10). Satan is an adversary to believers even if he can’t rob our eternal life from us, but this is why Peter warned us to, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
The End ...
1. Is Satan a Threat to Christians Today?a) Satan or the Devil is only a threat to Christians in that he tempts us, as do the demons, to sin and rebel against God. Today Satan is the ruler of the world of those who do not belong to Christ as 1 John 5:19 says, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” Satan has blinded those who do not believe in Jesus, and is called, “The god of this age (who) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
b) Satan is no longer a threat to a believer’s salvation but he still holds sway over the unsaved world (Revelation 12:9). In fact, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness by offering him a short cut to be king over the world that Satan already had as his own and thus Jesus could have avoided Calvary but only if he worshiped Satan. Satan, “took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8-9). Of course Jesus rebuked Satan and when we flee temptation and rebuke him in Jesus’ name, he must depart (Matthew 4:10). Satan is an adversary to believers even if he can’t rob our eternal life from us, but this is why Peter warned us to, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
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