03 - The Devil and Temptation
3. THE DEVIL AND THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATION The Source of Human Temptation
Compared with the great wealth of moral teaching in the Bible, little is written about how we are tempted to do wrong. However, those writers who do dwell on the source of sinfulness speak with united voice that temptation does not come from without but from within. James writes, "..but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his ow lust and enticed, then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death" (James 1:13-15). The Apostle Paul laments, "For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me". Romans 7:18-20
Jesus himself, likewise blames the human heart as the real source of evil: "For from within out of the heart of man proceedeth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness,. all these evil things come from within and defile the man. Mark 7:21-23
None of the above key passages blames any external evil agency for the sins of mankind, but much is said against the rebellion of the human heart which, says God through Jeremiah, "is deceitful and desperately wicked," therefore it is to the human heart (or conscience) that the gospel of salvation is directed.
Devil and Satan From what has been said so far, the obvious question follows: If devils and evil spirits and now temptation all emanate from within the person, how are we to explain the terms ‘Devil’ and ’Satan’ which occur several times in Scripture? The book of Revelation uses ‘Devil’ and ‘Satan’ symbolically of opposing powers; in fact both terms have been left untranslated in the biblical text, giving the impression that they are always a proper noun, which is certainly not so. Basically, Satan means adversary and Devil means false accuser or slanderer, the terms are used in Scripture for individuals, disease, rulers, and generally things which are in opposition. Even Peter was called ‘Satan’ by Jesus when he objected to his going to the cross. He also called Judas Iscariot ‘a devil’ because he knew he would betray him. Matthew 16:21-3John 6:70-71 The believers at Pergamos were said to dwell where ‘Satan’s seat’ was, an obvious reference to some persecuting power, almost certainly Rome. Revelation 2:12-13
It is not surprising that these terms were used parabolically as proper nouns, and found their way into folklore etc., but we are told nothing plainly about a supernatural agency called Satan who tempts mankind, nor how such a being originated. How very strange that we are kept in the dark; yet, all the passages about human evil declare plainly that it comes from within as we have discovered!
Satan in the Book of Job The adversary in the story of Job was one of the assembly of ‘the Sons of God’ who discussed Job’s character with the Almighty. Whether one believes this meeting took place between angels in heaven or men upon earth, the adversary invited the trials upon Job for his spiritual good, and under God’s control. Job 1:12 Furthermore, we are told at the end of the book, that it was God who brought the evil on Job, who clearly benefited from his trials. Job 42:11-12 Whoever then Job’s adversary was, he was not really his enemy nor even wicked. He is incidental to the main story, and is nowhere reproved by God for his part in it. The Tempter of Jesus
Similarly, the tempter of Jesus was under God’s control, for we are told that he was "led up of the spirit" to be tempted in the wilderness. Matthew 4:1 As was the case with Job, it was God who arranged the trial. Exactly who the Accuser was therefore doesn’t really matter. Brother John Thomas wrote in the third volume of his book, Eureka, that an angel could have conducted the temptations, which may have been the case, but the real battle undoubtedly was fought in the mind of Jesus, and it was there that the victory was won.
Sin Power Personified
If all that has been said fits together, then the last piece of the jigsaw would be that in Scripture, sin also is occasionally personified, as are other abstracts such as wisdom, worthlessness, idolatry, death, etc., and we most certainly find this to be the case. By way of example many passages in the epistle to the Romans could be cited where sin is described as an oppressive master who should not be allowed to get the better of us. Romans 6:14Romans 7:14 It is not surprising therefore that when death and hell (the grave) are symbolically cast into a fiery lake to express their final end in Revelation 20:1-15, sin-power as ‘the Devil’ that deceived the nations is cast in with them. Revelation 20:10
CONCLUSION In our search to unravel the apparent tangle of demons, spirits, and the whole subject of paranormal happenings, in the light of Scripture revelation, we have travelled a long way and over a wide field, and each section of the subject touched upon is capable of expansion. We have pursued the subject on the basis that intelligent powers of evil do not and cannot exist, not because we refuse to consider that possibility, but because of the lack of direct scriptural guidance on the matter. If it were really true, it would he of such tremendous importance that God would have left substantial and indisputable evidence as clear warning to His children. The early chapters of Genesis, for example, are silent about the origins of supernatural evil, and we learn nothing about its impact upon man other than a beguiling serpent which is classified as ‘a beast,’ and such then it must have been. Genesis 3:12-14
We discovered that where the Bible discusses temptation it is our ’own lust’ which is responsible; that evil thoughts come from ’within’; that ‘the heart of man is desperately wicked’ and imagines evil. Surely then it must be from this basis that evil spirits and the like should he explained. In our quest to explain phenomena that many would attribute to a spirit world, we have spent a considerable time explaining that these and other paranormal manifestations are emanations from the human unconscious mind. The alternative when analyzed is too horrific to contemplate, and not a little blasphemous: that Almighty God would even permit the existence of such powerful opposition; that angelic nature and evil could coexist; that God should he apparently unable, or unwilling to control such forces; and still worse, to cooperate with them when expedient. But most bewildering of all, that elected saints, having finally reached promised equality with angels, Luke 20:35-36 might still have the capacity to morally fail and fall. As individuals we are the very highest form of God’s creative genius. We possess faculties truly remarkable by comparison with the lower creation, yet unlike them, we are sinners every one. The very first step in returning to God’s favour and to salvation is the painful recognition that we ourselves and no other agency are to blame for our sins. The prodigal son returned to his father having first "come to himself’ Luke 15:17-20 and placed the blame at his own disobedient heart and nowhere else when he said, "I have sinned against heaven and before thee. " The way back to God can only be via our own deep conviction of sin, with the spotlight shining into the deep recesses of our ‘heart.’ It is in there, within the human mind, that the battle with sin’s power is either won or lost and where the grace of Almighty God can operate through His guiding providence and His Scriptures of Truth. It is such a mind, humbled and contrite, that makes the all-important decision our Creator always longs to hear: ‘I will arise and go to my father.’
Malcolm Edwards, Chirnside Park
(Concluded)