Does satan exist?

I look at him in the mirror every time I think a temptation. I know exactly who he is;

(Gen 6:5) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

(Mar 7:20) And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

(Mar 7:21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

(Mar 7:22) Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

(Mar 7:23) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Aidan K said:

is satan an actual entity or is satan an allegory for all evil?

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If satan does not exist, then where does the evil come from?

juvenissun said:

If satan does not exist, then where does the evil come from?

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(Mar 7:23) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Aidan K said:

The most dangerous act of satan has been the convincing of so many people of his non existence

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Chapter and verse for that one please...

Shemjaza said:

(Not a believer, but interested in the topic anyway).
Isn't the Christian story that the evil of the world is a consequence for the sin of humanity?

Is an actual entity being responsible for evil kind of superfluous to an omnipotent God and already corrupt humanity?

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Some of the churches actually do teach as your second sentence above states. Bizarre huh. Catholics and a lot of the similar protestants have that devil thing going on. But your first statement is perfectly true. Haha, you, an atheist know more about this topic in scriptures than most Christians I've met, how funny

Shemjaza said:

Thanks. But the kind of atheist you meet on a Christian site is likely to be a little better read then the average.

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How did you happen to know this truth, when most of Christianity is running screaming from some superstitious slewfoot in red flannels and a pitch fork?

plummyy said:

Satan is a human concept, as is god. I think whether or not you take anything from the bible literally or metaphorically, or see symbolism, the concept of god and an ultimate adversary is a reflection of humans. We are neither good nor evil and it would not be the first time that we've manifested our turmoil, perhaps in the direction of creating perceived entities, due to our inability to understand how to dictate goodness or badness to a source. If we are good, there must be a god with whom has enlightened us, and when we are bad, then must be an adversary influencing our behavior. It's how we're able to reach neutrality. Humans are complex when we don't want to be.

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Do these fascinating trails of thought give you incredible depths of joy and peace and Love?

Shemjaza said:

The Usual Suspects (1995) is a great film, but it certainly isn't anyone's scripture.

If you have faith in your heart you really don't need to get into the nitty griitty of your religion. I'm not trying to be offensive, I honestly just think people aren't particularly concerned once they get past the important bits about sin and salvation they have really sorted out their world view.

As an unbeliever who isn't concerned about my soul, I can read through the Bible and vareious interpritation of Christianity for my own interest.

I think the Usual Suspects quote above shows how confusion happens. A lot of belief is folklore and word of mouth rather then direct from whatever version of a holy book people rely on.

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That was a pretty cool movie. I hope some day you are brought to your knees by the God who made you, in repentance and love for Him. I know He'd have to reveal Himself to you in some way other than through another man's testiomony, so I pray that for you friend. Peace

No. I don't believe Satan is literal, nor do many other Christians.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/most-u-s-christians-don-t-believe-satan-holy-spirit-exist-38051/

Cue all the "but then you're not a True Christian™" comments.....

Winepress777 said:

(Mar 7:23) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

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This applies to angels too.

Evil could be self generated. Evil could also be coerced. There will be one who coerces evil the strongest and the most effective. We name that being as the satan.

So, as long evil exists, satan also exists.

Aidan K said:

is satan an actual entity or is satan an allegory for all evil?

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Job 1:6–12
"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.

The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord."

It's important to believe that God would not put satan in the Bible by accident. Satan is there for a purpose. There is also no way to know for sure if satan is a real spiritual being or just a figment of the human mind. The Bible clearly depicts satan as a spiritual being able to move about the earth and deceive. If you discount this and say satan is not or was not a real spiritual being, you risk claiming the Bible contains lies and therefore cannot be trusted.

The Bible can be trusted, simply because all scripture is God breathed.

I do believe at this point in time satan is rendered powerless because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but this does not mean evil within man isn't capable of attacking the truth of God. From God's perspective evil is done and gone, but through Jesus Christ He is teaching his truth to us so that we humans may also be completely free of evil as well.

All Christians at some point in their faith believed that satan was a real spiritual being and its very important to believe this in order to realize he has no power over you if you believe in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which guarantees your salvation.

God knows His enemies extremely well and has completely outsmarted His enemies. God also tells us to love our enemies. He wouldn't tell us that if He didn't love His enemies as well. We are the enemy of God, which is why He sacrificed His son for us, because He loves us.

Evil will suffer for eternity, so that those who believe in Jesus can live and rejoice for ever and ever.

Revelation 20:10
"And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

juvenissun said:

This applies to angels too.

Evil could be self generated. Evil could also be coerced. There will be one who coerces evil the strongest and the most effective. We name that being as the satan.

So, as long evil exists, satan also exists.

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Only flesh and blood angels called "man" is any of this applied to. "satan" is any man who is an "adversary" against God. As long as mankind exists, satan exists. One and the same. Not a "different race" lol, that is absurd. The word "satan" simply means "adversary". Look it up in a concordance, it is an easy feat.

Winepress777 said:

Only flesh and blood angels called "man" is any of this applied to. "satan" is any man who is an "adversary" against God. As long as mankind exists, satan exists. One and the same. Not a "different race" lol, that is absurd. The word "satan" simply means "adversary". Look it up in a concordance, it is an easy feat.

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Are there evil angels?
Are men angels?
If no and yes, then your theology has BIG problem.

paulm50 said:

Can god stop it by destroying satan?
As the evil done harms the innocent and good more than it harms the evil.

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Of course. But satan still has its function now (know a Biblical figure called Job?). So, it would be something done in the future.

juvenissun said:

Are there evil angels?
Are men angels?
If no and yes, then your theology has BIG problem.

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First you need to know "who" and "what" an "angel" is before you are qualified to diagnose a "problem". Get a Strong's concordance... ready? look up the word "messengers" for instance in say, how about...

(Luk 7:24) messengers G32

(Luk 9:52) messengers G32

Then look up "angels" in, how about...

(Mat 24:31) angels G32

(Luk 15:10) angelsG 32

Do you recognize that the exact same word is translated both "messengers" as well as "angels"?

I won't include anything more in today's "angels 101" class. And you must be able to withstand a lot of forehead slapping and praising God when it begins to sink in

GoldenBoy89 said:

That's a great question! What is the source of all that exists? That would be my starting point...

(If I believed in supernatural entities)

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It began right here, as was previously posted, oh a gazillion times...

(Rom 5:12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

(Gen 3:6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

(Rom 5:19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Question answered Thank God

Winepress777 said:

It began right here, as was previously posted, oh a gazillion times...

(Rom 5:12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

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Do you consider the Garden of Eden the world? If not, then how did a deceitful serpent enter the Garden of Eden?

Winepress777 said:

(Gen 3:6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

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She only thought the tree would make her "wise" because the serpent told her it would. God told her to not eat of it, or she would surely die. Why would God tell her to not eat of a fruit that would give her knowledge of good and evil, if God didn't already know this knowledge existed?

Winepress777 said:

(Rom 5:19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

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True, but this doesn't address the question of how evil came into existence.

I'm curious, how do you interpret this verse?

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works."