Theology of Satan, Pt III

Satan's Wiles and God's Means

Though Satan's authority to pronounce condemnation against the people of God has been stripped through the "abolishing of the law of commandments expressed in ordinances," in Christ, he still has power. Power to seduce, entice, entrap; power to oppress, torment and afflict - both physically and spiritually. He employs all such techniques to "devour" his enemies (cf. 1Pe.5:8) - God's people specifically, but mankind in general. For these reasons, we are to be "on the alert," and "not ignorant of his schemes."

However, we shouldn't be overly impressed with his wiles or ways. As illustrated by the book of Job, Satan's power is entirely delimited by God's sovereignty, and not only in his ability to afflict, but apparently even in his abilities to tempt (e.g., 1Co.10:13). Satan's power, then, is severely limited in the life of the believer. As James promised us, "resist the devil and he will flee," (4:7; cf. 1Pe.5:9).

Both affliction and temptation are summarized in the NT by the word trial or test (peirasmos/peirozow). Suffering is testing (1Pe.1:6). Temptation is testing (Jas.1:11-12). Thus Jesus is driven into the wilderness by the Spirit of God to be tested/tempted by the devil (e.g., Mt.4:1). Thus the apostle Paul is given a "thorn in the flesh," a messenger of Satan (2Co.12:7). Here we see Satan fulfilling (unwittingly perhaps) a divinely ordained role in the perfection of the saints - and that beginning with the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ Himself (Heb.2:10; 5:8-9; 12:2). As believers face the various trials of affliction and temptation in this world their faith is matured, and they grow in holiness. Their faith deepens as they continue to trust in God "under pressure," rather than give in to the fear of pain or the loss of pleasure. They grow in perseverence, in other words, which perfects character (Ro.5:3-4; Jas.1:2-5; 1Pe.1:7).

Satan exploits our natural weaknesses and inherent wickedness, that is, our flesh. He appeals to both our perverted desires for power and pleasure in direct temptation, and to our vulnerability and frailities through an indirect appeal to legitimate desires, and our natural fear of loss of control and security. The latter case is vividly illustrated in Jesus' three-fold temptation/testing in the wilderness (Mt.4:2-10). And his primary weapon is falsehood. He lies, insisting that God is either (or both) unwilling and/or unable to care for us. In a word, God is not trustworthy; we need to find another way, any other way, than faith in God.

But as the believer, by grace, trusts in God, rather than falters in that trust, he/she grows in faith and righteousness. In this sense, we again see that Satan is an agent of the redemption of God's people, though his motives are malicious (see Rev.2:10). God uses it for good, Satan for destruction.

Perhaps this concept of Satan's divine 'usefulness' is behind Paul's cryptic statement of handing lapsed Christians "over to Satan" (1Co.5:5; 1Ti.1:20). In the act of 'church discipline', men and women who persist in disobedience are consigned to the afflictions (spiritual and physical) of Satan, and the divinely-ordered (we might call them 'natural') consequences of disobedience. In these buffets from Satan, the believer is eventually broken (perhaps even to the point of death? - 1Co.5:5), and thereby brought back to God in repentance. To hand someone over to Satan is to give them over to their sin, letting sin have its way with us, and all of its accompanying effects, until, by God's grace, we come to our senses (2Ti.2:25-26).

Moreover, the believer has the indwelling and empowering Holy Spirit, waging war against his flesh (Gal.5:17), and empowering the believer in his warfare against the powers of this dark world and heavenly forces of evil (Eph.6:12-17). The Spirit's power and presence ensures the believer's 'survival' in satanic affliction, ultimately for the purposes of sanctification. The Spirit's primary weapon in this war is the truth - God's Word. As we are sanctified in the truth, we are strengthened and made battle-ready. As we face the "fiery darts" of the devil, we are battle-proven. Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Even what does kill us makes us stronger. Every power and principality - even death itself - which stands against us must fall. More than that, it must become to us means of our salvation. This is no doubt what Paul means in Romans 8:37-39 when he says that, in the face of these 'cosmic' threats we are MORE than conquerers. We not only defeat them through faith (cf. Ro.16:20), but they turn out to be the very means through which our victory is established, to the praise of the glory of God's grace and power!

And so the Christian can sing these (otherwise) perplexing words:

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn, and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure;
With Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee Abba, Father!
I have stayed my heart on Thee.
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather,
All must work for good to me.