Jesus spoke to some people in John 8 who chose not to follow him. Jesus said the devil is a liar and the father of lies and that the devil was their father. In rejecting Jesus, they were actually doing the "desires" of the devil. The people said Jesus had a demon and they tried to stone him.
The Bible is full of references to a very real devil. Satan does exist and is actively "seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8. Satan disguises himself as an "angel of light," 1 Corinthians 10:14. Many are fooled by his disguise. He can make an evil thing look like something good.
Even today, things have been turned upside down to where good is called evil and evil is called good. What used to be recognized as wrong is often now treated as the right thing or the right view. Jesus said there is no truth in Satan. Jesus taught that Satan is a "thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy."
But there is good news following that statement, which says Jesus came that we might have "life, and have it abundantly," John 10:10. Lying and stealing seem not to carry with them these days much concern to a large part of humanity.
The Bible's Ten Commandments, which are still relevant, deal with these sins, but sadly God's commandments are often ignored. A popular notion today is that everyone lies on a regular basis, and therefore it's no big deal. God says it's a big deal and there are serious consequences.
The same applies for all Ten Commandments. If society returned to paying more heed to the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5:11-21, much of the problems of society would be remedied and life on this earth would run much smoother.
The reality is evil does exist and as Jesus taught in Matthew 7:13, many choose "the broad road that leads to destruction" while only a "few take the narrow road that leads to life." Satan, along with the world and fleshly desires, is busy leading many astray. We also find in the Bible there are many demons. Satan and demons are working feverishly today to keep people from placing their faith in Christ. That same devil working so "feverishly" to capture souls will have a major fever of his own one day when God casts him into the "lake of fire," Revelation 20:10: "The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone."
Demons will do anything to keep people from the truth, sometimes even deceiving otherwise very faithful Christians into believing what the Bible calls in 1 Timothy 4:1, "doctrines of devils." Such false doctrine can lead even some of God's people to be duped by the devil.
Christians must speak up where Satan is trying to get away with deceiving unsuspecting good people about what God's Word says, and then share with others the truth, while doing so with gentleness and love.
Jude 1:3 says "Contend earnestly for the faith." As for any of the false doctrine that is out there, it is not appropriate here to state or debate opposing theological views. It is enough to say that sound biblical exegesis will easily expose any fallacy. Praise God for the good news of the gospel. Jesus gave his life for all. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
The choice is offered to all to either follow Christ and be saved, or to reject him. Romans 10:13 says: "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
We are warned there is a scheming devil and wicked spiritual forces in warfare against us. Ephesians 6:11-12 says: "Stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness."
Jesus not only paid the price for our sins on the cross, but he dealt the devil a powerful blow that Satan can never recover from. 1 John 3:8 puts it this way: "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil."
We need to know that as we place our faith in Christ and "submit to God and resist the devil," the devil "will flee," James 4:7.
Jesus countered the lies of Satan and said "I am the way, the truth, and the life," John 14:6.
Jesus offers a new, eternal life to all who believe and receive him as Lord and Savior.
The Rev. Jim Wheeler Sr. of Oneonta is an Assemblies of God evangelist.
Columns
Religion column: Jesus is the only way to the Heavenly Father
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
Ask any hospital administrators if they've ever heard of a closed hospital in New York state that has ever been re-opened. They will say, "Impossible." In a half century of going through records you can't find any.
Continued ... - Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
- Opera great's visit still a thrilling memory
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Cary Brunswick
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We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
- Obama is going against his word on Social Security
- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
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We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
- A closer look at our economy - Part II
- Use fracking to fill budget gaps
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
- Lisa Miller
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A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
- A family era ends with close of Potter series
- Independent stores make up for loss of Borders
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- Mark Simonson
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General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
Ever since 1963, when Charles Hinkley and a group of Tri-Town businessmen came up with the idea for what we know today as the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, people lined the shores of the Susquehanna to watch the canoeists as they made their 70-mile trek from Cooperstown to Bainbridge.
Continued ... - Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
- Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
- Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
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- Rick Brockway
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
When I was in my teens, old Bill Naatz told me about a stream north of Lake George where a man had panned out enough gold to make his wife a wedding band. It was all rumors, but to his grandson and myself, it sounded like the makings of a great adventure.
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
- Spring air isn't always the freshest
- Adriondacks keep growing and growing
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- Sam Pollak
- William Masters
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
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Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
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Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
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Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
