Does Satan exist?

Answer

The Bible explicitly informs us of the existence of Satan. He is described as the enemy of humanity “and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”, (Genesis 3:15), the father of lies “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”, (John 8:44b), and the accuser “And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”, (Revelation 12:10), among other things. The very name “Satan” means “adversary.” Isaiah 14:12–17 explains that Satan was originally an angelic being, but he desired the honor and worship that belong only to God, and as a result, he was cast out of heaven (also see Ezekiel 28:11-17).

Since his expulsion from heaven (along with the angels who joined him in rebellion), Satan has been determined to oppose God and lead the people of the earth into rebellion as well. Satan holds a certain authority in this world; he is referred to as “the god of this age” “The god of this age 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) and “the prince of the power of the air” «wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: », (Ephesians 2:2). That’s why we are to “be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” «Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: », (1 Peter 5:8).

One significant way Satan wreaks havoc in our lives is through deception. When Satan deceives us about who God is, who God says we are, and who he is, he gains power and authority in our lives. “Satan does not exist” is one of the most potent lies Satan tells.

At creation, God gave mankind authority over the earth «And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. », (Genesis 1:28). When Adam and Eve willingly disobeyed God, they gave up some of their authority; in listening to Satan, they subjugated themselves to the devil. Yet, at the cross, Jesus stripped Satan of his authority: “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” «Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. », (John 12:31). “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” «He that committeth sin is of the devil; for thThe devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Satan no longer has authority over those who belong to Christ, unless they grant it to him by believing his lies.

A lot of misinformation about Satan originates from Hollywood and other unreliable sources. It is crucial that we turn to the Bible for the truth on this and other subjects. The Bible clearly states that Satan is real and reveals his tactics. We should not be afraid of Satan, as his power is vastly inferior to God’s. However, the Bible warns us not to be ignorant in our spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). The key is to submit to God and resist the devil: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). We should remember that Christ has already defeated Satan on the cross, and Satan’s ultimate fate—eternal judgment—is certain: “And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur” (Revelation 19:20).