Friday, August 24, 2012

Counterfeit Trinity: Satan the Deceiver


In his vain attempt to be God, Satan is the master deceiver who tries to copy God in all that he does. Just as God is a Triune Being: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so does Satan mimic this pattern in the three persons of Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet.

Satan was originally created by God as Lucifer, the most beautiful and wise anointed angel who covered God’s throne, singing praises to Him, until he fell due to his sin of pride (Ezekiel 28). The beauty and wisdom of Lucifer, which means “the shining one” in Hebrew, are reflected in his names of an angel of light (2 Corinthians11:4) and as the son of the morning (Isaiah 14:12; a direct counterfeit to Jesus Who is the true Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).

Lucifer thought that he could overshadow God and become Him, resulting in his fall from God’s Heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15). In his rebellion against God, Lucifer convinced one third of the angels (Revelation 12:4) to follow him into his fallen state, becoming demons. Because he was the first to sin (Ezekiel 28:11-19), he is known as the man of sin (II Thessalonians 2:3), the Evil One (John 17:15; 1 John 5:9), and the Wicked One (Matthew 13:19).

After Lucifer fell from Heaven, God changed his name to Satan (Job 1:6-9; Matthew 4:10), which means “adversary,” (I Peter 5:8) or “enemy” (Matthew 13:39). Because he destroys all in his path, he is described as a murderer (John 8:44), the thief who kills and destroys (John 10:10), and a roaring lion wanting to devour us (I Peter 5:8). Although Jesus is the noble Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), Satan is the dark reflection of this power used for evil instead of good.

Other names for Satan revealing his destructive power are the destroyer (Abaddon in Hebrew or Apollyon in Greek; Revelation 9:11); Belial (II Corinthians 6:15) meaning "worthless" or "hopeless ruin," and Son of Perdition (John 17:12; II Thessalonians 2:3) meaning one who causes total physical or spiritual ruin, loss and destruction.

Believers may fall into sin because of enemy attacks from Satan, the world, and the flesh. Satan and his demons may attack the faithful directly, as they did Job (Job 1:12). God’s people may stray when worldly rewards, such as riches and power, attract us more than God’s promises (1 John 2:15). And finally, the worst enemy may be the flesh (Galatians 5:16) – that enemy within that drives believers away from God because they choose to fulfill their own lusts (Romans 13:14) rather than to keep His commandments.

Satan entices believers to sin using three lures: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). The first recorded use of this strategy resulted in Adam and Eve disobeying God and being expelled from the Garden of Eden. Satan, disguised as the serpent, convinced Eve that the forbidden fruit would be delicious to eat, appealing to her flesh; that it was beautiful, appealing to her eyes, and that it would make her as wise as God, appealing to her pride (Genesis 3:6).

David succumbed to the same trap – his eyes wandered to the beautiful Bathsheba bathing, and he indulged his flesh by committing sexual immorality with her. To compound the wrongdoing, his pride allowed him to put his own desires and ambitions over the life of an innocent man, and he schemed to trick Bathsheba’s husband Uriah and ultimately had him killed in battle (2 Samuel 11).

As we can see from these examples, Satan is the tempter (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5) and the father of all lies (John 8:44). His deceit knows no bounds, for he is even the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), parading our sins before God so as to deny our holiness through the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17,22).

Because Satan is the master deceiver, another of his favorite strategies is to change, add to, or subtract from God’s Word, as Eve and the serpent did when he beguiled her to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17 versus Genesis 3:1-4)..

This is also the ploy used by all the cults: for example, changing Christ’s identity into one who is neither fully God nor fully man (Hebrews 4:14-15); adding the need for baptism or other works to salvation by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9); or belittling the redemptive power of the shed blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12). No wonder Scripture sternly warns us not to adulterate God’s Word in any way! (Revelation 22:18-19)

Satan is the archenemy believers must face in the Church Age, but once we are Raptured (1 Corinthians 15:52), those left behind will also have to contend with the Antichrist and the False Prophet, as we shall see next week!
 
© 2012 Laurie Collett



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40 comments:

Nadwrażliwiec said...

Satan was an angel, who wanted to be God. So he has some power to cheat people and fight with them, but Jesus Christ conqered satan. Satan even can be like "angel of light", so we shouldn't believe in every religious miracle or "prophet". Greetings and blessings for You :)

Donald Fishgrab said...

Satan must love the portrayal of himself as the evil creature with horns, hooves and tail of tradition. The more convinced people are that that is what he is like, the easier it is to deceive them by appearing as an angel of light, whether as being more intelligent than others, more caring, or more popular. If he can look like a more attractive god than God, people will choose him as their God. He has used religious art to aid in the deception.

Laurie Collett said...

So true, Zim -- we must be rooted in what we believe and know Christ to spot the counterfeits and false prophets. Praise God that He Who is in me is greater than he who is in the world!
Blessings to you,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Excellent point, dfish! Satan is the great deceiver who can transform himself into whatever appearance is necessary to accomplish his ends. We must put on the whole armor of God and be vigilant to avoid his traps.
God bless,
Laurie

Denise said...

Fantastic post.

Frank E. Blasi said...

Another great post.
Just two weeks ago I wrote an article called, "What is Hell, Pt 1 The Fall of Lucifer" I wonder if, together with the timing of your latest post, God is ministering to someone?
And well done for mentioning that adding works to grace was Satan's most cunning form of deception. This was something I pondered on for many years. And the worst thing about this form of deception is that being so plausible makes it so dangerous!
I'm looking forward to read your next post.
God bless,
Frank.

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Denise! God bless!
Laurie

Charlotte said...

Very well presented. The great deceiver has really been busy and has succeeded way too many times. Thank you for sharing this.
Blessings,
Charlotte

betty-NZ said...

You're so right about the wiles of the devil. That's why we need to really know that we know Who God is. Great post.

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Frank, for your kind and thought-provoking comment! With God there are no coincidences, so it may well be that one of our mutual readers needs to hear about Satan and hell, both of which are avoided in many pulpits. Satan's master strategy is always to distort the truth a little, making it a lie, but one that is easy to miss!
May you have a blessed week in Him,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Charlotte, for your encouragement. As Satan's time grows shorter and shorter, he is trying to deceive and devour as many as he can.
God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Bettyl! Our pastor likes to use the analogy of bank tellers being trained to recognize counterfeit bills by handling real money over and over. The more we learn of God and His Word, the less likely we are to be fooled by Satan and false teachers.
Love in Him,
Laurie

momto8 said...

I find so many people who deny Satans existence....they choose not to believe..which is unbelievable to me!

Laurie Collett said...

Very true, Annmarie! Sadly, many pastors do not preach about Satan and hell, and many believers in Christ as well as members of false religions and atheists are unaware of the devil and his traps.
God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Chris,
How lovely to "meet" you! Thanks so much for your kind comment and for following! I'm headed over to your blog right now!
Blessings to you,
Laurie

Laura said...

We must be be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves when it comes to these things, mustn't we? One way to be shrewd is to study up on these things you share with us here. Thank you, Laurie.

Laurie Collett said...

So true, Laura, God's Word warns us to be vigilant and sober, girding up the loins of our mind. Thanks so much for your comment, & God bless,
Laurie

Unknown said...

What a comprehensive and concise post. The scope of the scripture presented is so thorough. It's easy to forget one or more of these. Thank you for your commitment to the Word.

Unknown said...

I feel like I'm really battling with Satan now -- to good to remind myself that he is the Father of Lies!

Ms. Kathleen said...

Just love stomping on that little worm who has NO POWER over me because I am a child of the God Most High... The name Satan is not actually mentioned in the Greek, Hebrew or Coptic texts of the Bible - but first mentioned I think in Paradise Lost. In the original scriptures "Lucifer fell"... He was a "Watchman angel", but it was a different fallen angel who tempted Eve - so you are right in that it is a pretended trinity the demons try to create. But it all falls flat, squish. Great study!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much for your encouragement, Amy! You are a blessing!
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

So true, Jen, we are constantly embroiled in spiritual warfare. Praise God that we have victory in Christ!

Laurie Collett said...

Praise God that we are daughters of the King! His Word is our best offensive weapon against the devil, and we are protected by faith, salvation, and the righteousness of Christ. Thanks so much for your comment, & God bless!
Laurie

joy said...

Great awakening teaching:)

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Joy, for your visit & comment!
Blessings to you,
Laurie

joy said...

Thanks for following my blog: joysnotepad.blogspot.com.
My other blog: willyouhearfromme.blogspot.com is where I write everything I hear from God from his words and in every area of my life:)
Thanks!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much for following, Joy! I'll go check out your other blog right now! :-)

Joan Hall said...

Our former pastor said that everything God created for good, Satan counterfeits. And he is a real enemy seeking whom he may devour. We must be on our guard and stay rooted and grounded in the Word in order to resist him.

Blessings,
Joan

Laurie Collett said...

Excellent thoughts, Joan! Thanks for your thought-provoking comment, and God bless,
Laurie

caryjo said...

Yep. We can't just drop back and pretend it's no big deal any more. It's HUGE! Watching what's changing in our culture(s), both local and world-wide, is heartbreaking/aching. Only our Lord can instruct us as His soldiers to be in the right place at the right time to bring victory, even in a small way, but that may last forever until the TOTAL VICTORY is in place. Can hardly wait!!!

Tori said...

If baptism is not necessary as a sort of step in the path to eternal life, then why was Christ baptized? Didn't he say he was fulfilling all righteousness? If He, being perfect as He was and is, had need of Baptism... then how is it that we, being sinful and imperfect, can think that faith alone (by Grace) we may be saved? Yes, it says this in the Bible. But this was not a negation of the need for both Baptism and Works, it was a negation of the pride that either alone would accomplish Salvation.

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Tori,
Thanks so much for your visit and thought-provoking comment. Our pastor likes to say that baptism doesn't make you saved any more than wearing a wedding band makes you married. Both are symbols of a deeper union. In the case of baptism, it is normally the first, or one of the first, acts of obedience a Christian does once they are born again. Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death and burial of Jesus as the believer is plunged under the water, and it also symbolizes the believer dying to his sin nature. When the believer is raised up out of the water, it symbolizes Christ's resurrection and also the believer becoming a new creation in Christ.

But baptism, or any works in general, are not necessary for salvation -- only grace through faith in Jesus' death, burial & resurrection as the only way to Heaven. (Ephesians 2:8-10). We cannot add anything to His completed work on the cross. However, once we are saved, obedience and good works, such as baptism, flow naturally out of our love for and gratitude to Him.

If baptism or any other works were necessary for salvation, then the thief who repented just before he died on the cross would not have been saved. However, Jesus said to him, "This day you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).

In a way, it is pride that makes some think that God's grace is not enough to save their souls -- that they need to add their own good works to the amazing love and self-sacrifice Christ showed by dying for our sins. The Mormons like to say "We do our best, ad Jesus does the rest." But Jesus freely gave Himself for us, and that is enough. It is as if someone offered you a brand new Mercedes Benz as a gift, no strings attached, and you said -- "No, I want to help pay for it, so here is a penny." It is prideful to think that we could save ourselves by our good works, because the Bible says that our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Yes, we are sinful and imperfect, before and after we are saved. We have no righteousness on our own, before or after baptism. But once we place our faith in Jesus, all His righteousness is imputed to our account, and all our sins are imputed to His account. So when the Father looks at a believer, He no longer sees our sins, but only the perfect righteousness of His Son.

Thanks again for bringing up this interesting discussion! In fact, your comment has inspired me -- I think I'll take a break this week from the Trinity series to post about this topic!

I hope you'll be back to read the new post!
God bless,
Laurie

Unknown said...

Great post! I love your honesty on this subject. Blessings. :) Lauren, lholmes79.wordpress.com

Amanda said...

Hi! you have a wonderful blog, you should follow me back at http://lefthandedideas.com :)

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Lauren, for your visit & encouragement!
Blessings to you,
Laurie

Unknown said...

I've never thought of Satan in this triplet framework. Thanks for linking up with WIP!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Mary Beth, for your comment & for hosting WIP!
God bless,
Laurie

raebe said...

I realize this is an older post, but the word still lives on! I agree, we have to believe, and when we've done all, STAND, and put on the whole armor. we have to continually 'renew' our minds. we can't have the attitude that ok, Jesus conquered hell, death and the grave and not be aware that satan came to steal, kill and destroy us.
Believers EVERYDAY are being defeated by the very things that Jesus gave us through His death and resurrection:
sótéria: deliverance, salvation
Original Word: σωτηρία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: sótéria
Phonetic Spelling: (so-tay-ree'-ah)
Short Definition: deliverance, salvation
Definition: welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, salvation, safety.
Those things are for TODAY! not just the hereafter. It is no coincidence that satan throws darts of sickness, poverty, depression, addiction at us. The very things that Jesus came to set us free from. He is like a roaring lion, but it is up to us to be aware, and believe, speak the word, and pray.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, raebe! So many believers live in an attitude of defeat because they lack assurance of their salvation and eternal security, or because they fall prey to the devil's lies as they have not put on the whole armor of God every day.May we be sober and vigilance, seeking God's face every day through prayer and studying His Word.
I am blessed by your visit and comment and hope you'll be back soon!
God bless,
Laurie

Steve Finnell said...

SATAN'S GAME BY STEVE FINNELL
Why do so many people play Satan's game? Satan's game of soul destroyer is like a game of baseball.

Satan wants men to remain in the batter's box. John 8:24 :There I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (NKJV)

If men will not say in the batter's box Satan can tolerate 1st base.[BELIEVE] John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

If men run to 2nd base Satan can live with that. [REPENTANCE] Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that in times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (NKJV)

If men insist on going to 3rd base, Satan says fine, thats o.k.. [CONFESSION] Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (NKJV)

The thing Satan cannot abide is when men reach home plate. [WATER BAPTISM] Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)

To remain on third base is to die in your sins.

YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://'steve-finnell.blogspot.com