Question

[@@Paul@@]

I wonder whether this might be implied in[bible]matthew 12:43-45[/bible]

I have heard this preached in that way, anyway. The unclean spirit cannot return if the Holy Spirit has taken up residence.

Thanks Liz, I personally can't see those verses telling us we have nothing to worry about (christian's being possessed)... I think it's saying the spirit originally left the man > then sometime after that seven more spirits returned to dwell in him. - that's not a good sign.

...i think my question is another topic altogether.

 

[kiwiekat]

Thanks everyone for the information.

If anyone still comes to this board...I have a question that is really out of topic, but I hope someone can answer me...you know how the council chose which books would be part of the NT and how some books such as the Epistle of Barnabas was left out? How did they determine what to pick, know which ones are accurate, and which ones aren't?

 

[SumTinWong]

This might sound stupid, but why does Satan still try to oppose God when he knows that he will be defeated?

When I first started to follow the Christ, I had the same question. If I am OSAS like some Baptists think I am, then why is Satan still tempting me? My pastor said it was to ruin my witness. Nothing worse for winning souls then for the witnesses to be sinning like prairie dogs* . So if Satan can make us look bad, then less people will come to the side of God, and Satan will of course lose the war, but would have won a great battle. Think about how many people live on this planet and how many are not Christian and you will see what I mean.

*this is not a slight on prarie dogs, they do no more or no less sinning than any other creature

 

[kiwiekat]

Thanks Liz, I personally can't see those verses telling us we have nothing to worry about (christian's being possessed)... I think it's saying the spirit originally left the man > then sometime after that seven more spirits returned to dwell in him. - that's not a good sign.

...i think my question is another topic altogether.

I think she meant that if the body is empty then the demons can dwell in it...but if the Holy Spirit is in the person, then they can't go in.

 

[Glorianna]

I believe it's so that he can do as much damage as possible. Put yourself in a situation similar to his. You're at war fighting for more territory and you know that your enemy is going to win because he has better weapons, more men, etc. You're not going to give up easily because you really want the territory so you figure you might as well do as much damage as you possibly can. That's the way I believe it is with Satan.