I appreciate your expressions. It shows you've spent your time in the Word.
Some interesting observations that maybe you'll profit from:
Satan transforms into an angel of light. Doesn't mean Satan IS an angel of light. What it does mean is that Satan occupies the same seat as mankind. Look at Satan speaking from Peter's lips and being rebuked by Jesus. Think of Satan entering Judas. What we see in these pictures is Satan and devils in mankind. Just as Jesus said is a fact in
Mark 4:15. Satan "follows after" where the Word is sown. Just as sure as night follows day.
Satan is the darkness "in mankind." In
2 Cor. 11 Paul sets up the above for his own personal disclosure of the reality of
Mark 4:15 for himself, in
2 Cor. 12:7, showing there is a "messenger of Satan" in his own flesh. We shouldn't be startled at the disclosure or try to explain it away. Paul examples this fact in
Gal. 4:14 showing again, "temptation" in his own flesh. Not hard to connect "temptation" to the "tempter."
We also know that Paul had evil present with him whenever he did good. Again, not hard to connect "evil" to the "tempter."
Romans 7:21
We also know Paul did evil and had sin,
Romans 7:17-20
We also know that we all "have sin,"
Romans 3:9, and sin is "of the devil."
1 John 3:8
We also know that evil thoughts defile us all.
Mark 7:21-23
All of this leads to one very logical conclusion. There is a person and there is a tempter or one of his own with all of us. Unpleasant fact, but a fact nevertheless. IF this ever sinks in to anyone's mind, then how they read the scriptures will change dramatically. They'll no longer read of Adam, Eve, David, any prophet, any character in the entire Bible other than Jesus, and see just a person.
Paul again personalizes this in Romans 9 showing that not all of Israel is Israel. Who is NOT Israel that is within Israel? Obviously that would be the spirit of slumber that God put upon them.
Romans 11:8. Not hard to connect "how" this happened and still happens in
Mark 4:15
In Romans 9 Paul basically says, to the natural ears, God is merciful to some, but not to others, and then berates those who question this setup (the tempter or his own IN MANKIND.)
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it,
Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of
the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
The same lump, "me," a vessel of honor and a vessel of dishonor.
Is this starting to gel yet? Or do you feel the resistance to this fact coming up to declare these things NOT SO?
It's a real phenomena. And not surprising which way the tree falls most of the time. On the denial side.