In Hosea 1:2, the Lord directly ordered Hosea to find and marry a loose woman. This marriage was symbolic of God's love for Israel despite Israel's unfaithfulness by practicing idolatry. God often compared idolatry by His people to the adultery of an unfaithful wife.
But God had Hosea prophesy that one day God would establish a nation of Israel that would be faithful to Him. One day, God would create an Israel that would no longer practice idolatry.
In Hosea 3:1-3, God ordered Hosea to go to the slave market and buy his wife back for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. Apparently, she had left Hosea and finally wound up on the slave market. Hosea gladly obeyed the Lord because he loved his wife so much. This part of the story amounts to a remarkable prophecy of how one day Jesus the Messiah would lay down His life in love for lost sinners enslaved in the market of sin. Jesus would purchase them from slavery to sin and the Devil by His agony and shed blood on a cruel cross.
Hosea 3:4-5 records an amazingly accurate prophecy of how God would one day scatter the people of Israel over the whole world but they would be completely cured of idolatry, and they would have no king and they would no longer practice animal sacrifice. All of this has happened exactly as Hosea prophesied. In verse five, Hosea prophesied that the people of Israel would one day return to their land and be a nation again. This prophecy was fulfilled on May 15, 1948. The rest of the prophecy that one day Israel will seek the Lord and David their king who is actually Jesus their Messiah, will assuredly be fulfilled at some time in the future.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat was a good and able ruler of Judah who feared the Lord. However, he had a very curious flaw in his character. He was extremely naive.
According to I Kings 22:4, Jehoshaphat thought that he could be a friend and ally of the wicked and treacherous King Ahab of Israel without any harm. Jehoshaphat thought that he and Ahab could get along because they had the same language and heritage.
Because of his misplaced trust, Jehoshaphat foolishly agreed to go with Ahab into battle with the Syrians. Jehoshaphat did not even suspect Ahab's treachery when Ahab suggested that Jehoshaphat go into battle dressed in his kingly robes while Ahab disguised himself as an ordinary soldier. Jehoshaphat apparently had no clue that Ahab had set him up to be killed because Ahab knew full well that the king of Syria would order his soldiers to go all out to kill him. This is exactly that which happened when the battle was joined. The king of Syria ordered thirty two of his captains and their soldiers to press an attack directly toward King Ahab in order to kill him. Just as Ahab knew they would, these Syrian soldiers mistook Jehoshaphat for King Ahab.
When King Jehoshaphat cried out for reinforcements to help him repel this direct attack against him, the Syrians realized that this was not King Ahab and withdrew their attack. They probably knew Jehoshaphat was not Ahab because the soldiers who came to his aid were Judean soldiers and not Israeli.
Yet, a Syrian archer shot an aimless arrow in the general direction of the Israeli army and mortally wounded King Ahab.
This is a remarkable story of how God protected good King Jehoshaphat despite his incredible naivete, and had a wicked king killed for his cruel treachery.
According to I Kings 22:4, Jehoshaphat thought that he could be a friend and ally of the wicked and treacherous King Ahab of Israel without any harm. Jehoshaphat thought that he and Ahab could get along because they had the same language and heritage.
Because of his misplaced trust, Jehoshaphat foolishly agreed to go with Ahab into battle with the Syrians. Jehoshaphat did not even suspect Ahab's treachery when Ahab suggested that Jehoshaphat go into battle dressed in his kingly robes while Ahab disguised himself as an ordinary soldier. Jehoshaphat apparently had no clue that Ahab had set him up to be killed because Ahab knew full well that the king of Syria would order his soldiers to go all out to kill him. This is exactly that which happened when the battle was joined. The king of Syria ordered thirty two of his captains and their soldiers to press an attack directly toward King Ahab in order to kill him. Just as Ahab knew they would, these Syrian soldiers mistook Jehoshaphat for King Ahab.
When King Jehoshaphat cried out for reinforcements to help him repel this direct attack against him, the Syrians realized that this was not King Ahab and withdrew their attack. They probably knew Jehoshaphat was not Ahab because the soldiers who came to his aid were Judean soldiers and not Israeli.
Yet, a Syrian archer shot an aimless arrow in the general direction of the Israeli army and mortally wounded King Ahab.
This is a remarkable story of how God protected good King Jehoshaphat despite his incredible naivete, and had a wicked king killed for his cruel treachery.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Balaam
Balaam was one of the strangest and most interesting characters in all of the Bible. He was a Gentile and yet God had given him the gift of prophecy. For some unknown reason, God gave him a lot of light for his good side, and yet he also had a deep darkness on his evil side.
Contrary to the opinion of some commentators, Balaam never sold his gift of prophecy for money. The Bible never states that he did. Balaam knew better than to sell his prophecy for money because he knew that if he did, God would immediately take it away or kill him. In fact, Balaam's final prophecy in Numbers 24:15-24 is quite sublime, even including a prophecy about Israel's coming Messiah.
Balaam's sin and apostasy occurred after his sublime prophecy. Balaam's sin happened because of his "perverse way" as spoken by the angel in Numbers 22:32. His sin was also called "the counsel of Balaam" in Numbers 31:16, the "way of Balaam" in II Peter 2:15, the "error of Balaam" in Jude 11, and the "doctrine of Balaam" in Revelation 2:14. As described in Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14, the sin of Balaam was that he conspired with Balak, and for wages, to send pagan women into the camp of Israel to seduce Israeli men and lead them into practicing idol worship and thus corrupt the camp of Israel by causing Israel to abandon their faith in God. In this way, Balaam tried to get around the fact that God would not allow him to curse Israel but rather bless them, by devising a plan whereby he would reduce Israel to paganism and thus cause God to curse them. But God protected Israel and Balaam's wicked plot miserably failed and he paid for his sin with his life in Israel's war with Midian. Numbers 31:8.
Contrary to the opinion of some commentators, Balaam never sold his gift of prophecy for money. The Bible never states that he did. Balaam knew better than to sell his prophecy for money because he knew that if he did, God would immediately take it away or kill him. In fact, Balaam's final prophecy in Numbers 24:15-24 is quite sublime, even including a prophecy about Israel's coming Messiah.
Balaam's sin and apostasy occurred after his sublime prophecy. Balaam's sin happened because of his "perverse way" as spoken by the angel in Numbers 22:32. His sin was also called "the counsel of Balaam" in Numbers 31:16, the "way of Balaam" in II Peter 2:15, the "error of Balaam" in Jude 11, and the "doctrine of Balaam" in Revelation 2:14. As described in Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14, the sin of Balaam was that he conspired with Balak, and for wages, to send pagan women into the camp of Israel to seduce Israeli men and lead them into practicing idol worship and thus corrupt the camp of Israel by causing Israel to abandon their faith in God. In this way, Balaam tried to get around the fact that God would not allow him to curse Israel but rather bless them, by devising a plan whereby he would reduce Israel to paganism and thus cause God to curse them. But God protected Israel and Balaam's wicked plot miserably failed and he paid for his sin with his life in Israel's war with Midian. Numbers 31:8.
On the Characteristics of Faithful Angels versus Evil Angels
One reason why evil angels cannot be saved is because they, like Satan himself, are totally given to evil. They have no good side. They are equivalent to evil itself. God intends to purge all evil from His universe, and so when God recreates His heaven and earth, He will throw all the evil angels into the lake of fire, and let their torment keep their minds busy forever so that they can no longer devise any evil and destructive plots.
Although mankind is depraved and original sin deprives him of the ability to think much about God, man does have a good side as well as an evil side. Man's problem is that his good side cannot save his evil side. Man is destined for hell. But God loves man, and God can see that there is hope for man. God can change man's heart and cause him to desire to be wholly good, to desire even to be like Jesus.
God could also see that man had no hope of saving himself. So, God decided to come to earth as a perfect man and do all that was necessary to get rid of man's evil side, cause him to desire to be good, to be like Jesus. God succeeded in His plan and now any human who hears the gospel and puts his trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus will have all their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and will be recreated by the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and God will guarantee their salvation and sanctification and will cause them to desire to become like Jesus.
Faithful angels are a good example for Christians because they are absolutely obedient and submissive to the will of God.
Although mankind is depraved and original sin deprives him of the ability to think much about God, man does have a good side as well as an evil side. Man's problem is that his good side cannot save his evil side. Man is destined for hell. But God loves man, and God can see that there is hope for man. God can change man's heart and cause him to desire to be wholly good, to desire even to be like Jesus.
God could also see that man had no hope of saving himself. So, God decided to come to earth as a perfect man and do all that was necessary to get rid of man's evil side, cause him to desire to be good, to be like Jesus. God succeeded in His plan and now any human who hears the gospel and puts his trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus will have all their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and will be recreated by the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and God will guarantee their salvation and sanctification and will cause them to desire to become like Jesus.
Faithful angels are a good example for Christians because they are absolutely obedient and submissive to the will of God.
On the Doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ
The Incarnation of Christ became absolutely necessary if God were to save mankind from a lost condition from which it was impossible for man to save himself. Mark 10:26-27. Adam and Eve, the first humans, disobeyed God when they were living in a state of innocence and fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden. God told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they did. They gained the knowledge of good and evil, but they lost their fellowship with God. Separation from God causes spiritual and physical death, for God is the source of all life and separation from God means loss of life. They exchanged an immortal and beautiful life for one of sorrow, pain, labor and death. Genesis 3:16-24.
The knowledge of evil involves a consciousness from which man cannot rid himself. Evil remains constantly a part of our consciousness and thus a part of our very being. This condition is called original sin, and inevitably, it causes us to commit sins. Genesis 2:17; Mark 7:20-23. God continued to love mankind despite his fall into an original sin which results in death which is an eternal separation from God. In His compassion for mankind, God desired to restore man to an eternal fellowship with Him, which constitutes the best possible life for mankind. John 3:16; John 10:10.
Since God knew that man could not possibly save himself, God simply decided to do everything for man, in his place, in order to save mankind from sin and death. Ephesians 1:4-5. God came to earth to be born as a baby, and live as a man on earth from birth to death. This Jesus, who was God in human form, avoided original sin by being born of a virgin supernaturally impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:34-35. This was necessary so that Jesus would lead an absolutely perfect life free from sin in man's place, which was impossible for man to do due to original sin. Hebrews 7:26-27. This innocent Jesus then allowed Himself to be nailed to a cruel cross to suffer there all the penalty for man's sin Himself, the separation from God and the agony of hell; the innocent in the place of the guilty. II Corinthians 5:21; Mark 15:34; I Peter 2:21-24; I Peter 3:18. The blood that Jesus shed on the cross has the power to cleanse all who will believe in Him from all of their sins. I John 1:7. In addition, Jesus rose from the dead to overcome man's death by giving him His own eternal life and eternal fellowship with God. Romans 6:3-11. Thus, by His life, death, burial and resurrection, Jesus accomplished every work that man needs for his salvation, and all anyone needs in order to receive this salvation is to repent of one's sins and believe that Jesus has done all of this for him personally. I Corinthians 15:1-4
The knowledge of evil involves a consciousness from which man cannot rid himself. Evil remains constantly a part of our consciousness and thus a part of our very being. This condition is called original sin, and inevitably, it causes us to commit sins. Genesis 2:17; Mark 7:20-23. God continued to love mankind despite his fall into an original sin which results in death which is an eternal separation from God. In His compassion for mankind, God desired to restore man to an eternal fellowship with Him, which constitutes the best possible life for mankind. John 3:16; John 10:10.
Since God knew that man could not possibly save himself, God simply decided to do everything for man, in his place, in order to save mankind from sin and death. Ephesians 1:4-5. God came to earth to be born as a baby, and live as a man on earth from birth to death. This Jesus, who was God in human form, avoided original sin by being born of a virgin supernaturally impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:34-35. This was necessary so that Jesus would lead an absolutely perfect life free from sin in man's place, which was impossible for man to do due to original sin. Hebrews 7:26-27. This innocent Jesus then allowed Himself to be nailed to a cruel cross to suffer there all the penalty for man's sin Himself, the separation from God and the agony of hell; the innocent in the place of the guilty. II Corinthians 5:21; Mark 15:34; I Peter 2:21-24; I Peter 3:18. The blood that Jesus shed on the cross has the power to cleanse all who will believe in Him from all of their sins. I John 1:7. In addition, Jesus rose from the dead to overcome man's death by giving him His own eternal life and eternal fellowship with God. Romans 6:3-11. Thus, by His life, death, burial and resurrection, Jesus accomplished every work that man needs for his salvation, and all anyone needs in order to receive this salvation is to repent of one's sins and believe that Jesus has done all of this for him personally. I Corinthians 15:1-4
On the Vine and the Branches as a Symbol of Christ and His Church
John 15:1-8 clearly teaches that Christ is the Vine who produces the fruit, the fruit being the good works of His believers. The Branches symbolize the believers who can either abide in the Vine or not. The Branches who abide in the Vine are those believers who desire to be close to Christ, to obey Him, to study His Word, to meet for worship and to lead a clean life for the glory of God. But these efforts on the part of His believers do not produce the fruit. These efforts only allow the sap from the Vine, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, to flow through the Branches to produce the fruit.
John 15:6 does not teach that a believer who fails to abide in the Vine loses His salvation. This verse teaches that the carnal believer receives discipline from God for not yielding his life to the control of the Holy Spirit. This same kind of discipline is recorded in I Corinthians 3:15. Believers saved by the grace of God never lose their salvation. John 10:27-29.
John 15:6 does not teach that a believer who fails to abide in the Vine loses His salvation. This verse teaches that the carnal believer receives discipline from God for not yielding his life to the control of the Holy Spirit. This same kind of discipline is recorded in I Corinthians 3:15. Believers saved by the grace of God never lose their salvation. John 10:27-29.
A Discussion on the Original Choices of Man
One of the most interesting questions that we may ponder is this: What would man's life have been like had he never sinned? What would Adam and Eve's lives have been like if they had chosen to eat of the tree of life and had shunned the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
I believe that in such a case, they could never have known the good in any definite way because one cannot know the good specifically unless one also knows the evil by contrast. I believe they could have only known innocence, which is good but only in a natural and unspecific way. Living in a state of innocence would have been blissful since they could never have known anything about evil.
But living in such a state of bliss means that they would have been living like God before Lucifer's rebellion. Before Lucifer's rebellion, God knew absolutely nothing about evil. In His state of blissful innocence, God could only create beautiful, glorious and happy things. Lucifer's rebellion may have injured God's innocence, but it could never break God's power. Genesis 3:15.
I believe that in such a case, they could never have known the good in any definite way because one cannot know the good specifically unless one also knows the evil by contrast. I believe they could have only known innocence, which is good but only in a natural and unspecific way. Living in a state of innocence would have been blissful since they could never have known anything about evil.
But living in such a state of bliss means that they would have been living like God before Lucifer's rebellion. Before Lucifer's rebellion, God knew absolutely nothing about evil. In His state of blissful innocence, God could only create beautiful, glorious and happy things. Lucifer's rebellion may have injured God's innocence, but it could never break God's power. Genesis 3:15.
On the Origin of Man
That God created man to give Him glory, and to fellowship with Him and to demonstrate the wonder of His grace, the scriptures absolutely confirm. The Genesis account tells us how God created man and woman, and of their relationship with God both before and after the fall.
But I believe an equally deep reason for why God created man is revealed in the first book that was written, the book of Job. Satan challenged God's love by saying that Job did not serve God because he loved God, but only because God had blessed him. Remove the blessings, Satan said, and Job's love for God would die. This challenge to God's love was directly connected to Lucifer's rebellion. Lucifer rebelled because of his pride, but this challenge to God's love implies that perhaps his pride arose because he had come to believe that God's love was not real. God accepted Satan's challenge because God desired to prove that His love for His tested creation, as well as man's free choice to love Him, constituted a power that absolutely nothing could ever break. Romans 8:31-39.
But I believe an equally deep reason for why God created man is revealed in the first book that was written, the book of Job. Satan challenged God's love by saying that Job did not serve God because he loved God, but only because God had blessed him. Remove the blessings, Satan said, and Job's love for God would die. This challenge to God's love was directly connected to Lucifer's rebellion. Lucifer rebelled because of his pride, but this challenge to God's love implies that perhaps his pride arose because he had come to believe that God's love was not real. God accepted Satan's challenge because God desired to prove that His love for His tested creation, as well as man's free choice to love Him, constituted a power that absolutely nothing could ever break. Romans 8:31-39.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
On the Nature of Sin
Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:6 clearly teach that the knowledge of good and evil was present in the forbidden tree. Note the phrase in verse 6 where Eve states: "and a tree to be desired to make one wise."
God desired that Adam and Eve live in a state of innocence and fellowship with Him in a blissful paradise forever. But He also gave them freedom to choose for themselves to eat either of the tree of life and remain in paradise forever, or to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and suffer spiritual and physical death; that is, separation from Him. God commanded them and warned them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in order to protect them.
Adam and Eve certainly sinned when they disobeyed God, but all of humanity acquired original sin because of the poison that was in the fruit of the forbidden tree. Mankind acquired its intellectual powers when this poison took effect. The fruit of the forbidden tree contained some kind of serum which altered the nature of man. Man acquired intellectual powers which he could only partly handle. Man was doomed to a life of creativity but also of confusion. He was doomed to do some good things, but also many evil things. His depravity, on the evil side, consists of having no desire to have fellowship with God.
However, despite all this, God in His love for man had a backup plan to rid man of his fallen nature and reconcile man to Himself by His vicarious suffering of man's fallen nature, and by employing man's freedom to be able to receive God's salvation through faith.
God desired that Adam and Eve live in a state of innocence and fellowship with Him in a blissful paradise forever. But He also gave them freedom to choose for themselves to eat either of the tree of life and remain in paradise forever, or to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and suffer spiritual and physical death; that is, separation from Him. God commanded them and warned them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in order to protect them.
Adam and Eve certainly sinned when they disobeyed God, but all of humanity acquired original sin because of the poison that was in the fruit of the forbidden tree. Mankind acquired its intellectual powers when this poison took effect. The fruit of the forbidden tree contained some kind of serum which altered the nature of man. Man acquired intellectual powers which he could only partly handle. Man was doomed to a life of creativity but also of confusion. He was doomed to do some good things, but also many evil things. His depravity, on the evil side, consists of having no desire to have fellowship with God.
However, despite all this, God in His love for man had a backup plan to rid man of his fallen nature and reconcile man to Himself by His vicarious suffering of man's fallen nature, and by employing man's freedom to be able to receive God's salvation through faith.
On the Origin of the Fall of Lucifer
Both Isaiah and Ezekiel rightly describe the fall of Lucifer and rightly ascribe his motive as being one of pride. Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-29. But neither prophet relates exactly from where this pride came. Ezekiel implies in 28:15 that this iniquity just suddenly appeared, as if from nowhere.
Colossians 1:16-17 teaches that God created all things, "visible and invisible." This means that God not only created all things we can see, but also all things we cannot see such as "ideas" and "emotions." Therefore, God created "pride," but God has never used "pride," or any other of the infinite things He has created, except in creative and useful ways. In fact, God does not even know how to use any thing He has created except in creative and useful ways. God wanted Lucifer to feel "proud" of his beauty and position that God had given him as long as his "pride" was properly balanced by "humility."
But something strange suddenly happened to Lucifer. He used his free will to annul his "humility" and exalt his "pride." In other words, Lucifer misused the emotion called "pride" and turned it to an exaltation of himself and rebellion against God. It is no accident that the Old Testament word for sin is "khata" which means "missing the mark," and the New Testament word is "harmarta" which also means "missing the mark." Sin is the misuse of God's creations; that is, "missing the mark" by failing to use the things that God has created in the useful and creative ways that He has intended.
II Thessalonians 2:7 informs us that iniquity is a mystery. This has to mean that it is a mystery even to God. But this mystery does not diminish God's omniscience or omnipotence in the least because God's infinite creative knowledge and power can accomplish anything good. The Word of God often equates sin and evil with "vanity," which means "emptiness." "Emptiness" can never diminish God's infinite power and knowledge, for "emptiness" is exactly where sin came from and exactly where it will be sent when God cleanses His universe.
Colossians 1:16-17 teaches that God created all things, "visible and invisible." This means that God not only created all things we can see, but also all things we cannot see such as "ideas" and "emotions." Therefore, God created "pride," but God has never used "pride," or any other of the infinite things He has created, except in creative and useful ways. In fact, God does not even know how to use any thing He has created except in creative and useful ways. God wanted Lucifer to feel "proud" of his beauty and position that God had given him as long as his "pride" was properly balanced by "humility."
But something strange suddenly happened to Lucifer. He used his free will to annul his "humility" and exalt his "pride." In other words, Lucifer misused the emotion called "pride" and turned it to an exaltation of himself and rebellion against God. It is no accident that the Old Testament word for sin is "khata" which means "missing the mark," and the New Testament word is "harmarta" which also means "missing the mark." Sin is the misuse of God's creations; that is, "missing the mark" by failing to use the things that God has created in the useful and creative ways that He has intended.
II Thessalonians 2:7 informs us that iniquity is a mystery. This has to mean that it is a mystery even to God. But this mystery does not diminish God's omniscience or omnipotence in the least because God's infinite creative knowledge and power can accomplish anything good. The Word of God often equates sin and evil with "vanity," which means "emptiness." "Emptiness" can never diminish God's infinite power and knowledge, for "emptiness" is exactly where sin came from and exactly where it will be sent when God cleanses His universe.
On the Differences between Justification, Sanctification and Glorification
Romans 5:1. Justification is based solely on the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and is received by the repentant sinner solely by faith. Justification is solely a private transaction between the new believer and God and as such is no one else's business. The Holy Spirit washes the justified believer in the blood of Jesus, remits his sins by the burial of Jesus, and gives him the resurrected eternal life of Jesus. I Corinthians 15:1-4; I Corinthians 6:11; I Corinthians 12:13. This transaction reconciles the justified believer to God and saves him forever from the power of sin and the Devil. Acts 26:18; II Corinthians 5:17-18.
Sanctification begins with justification. Sanctification is a process by which God conforms the justified believer to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29-30. But the justified believer must yield himself to the sanctification process. Romans 6:11-23. Yet, God never fails to sanctify every justified believer no matter how long this process may take. Philippians 1:6. The justified believer who resists God's sanctification process; that is, the carnal believer, never loses his justification; but God will punish him for his sins and discipline him until he realizes that he must yield his life to the sanctification process. Galatians 6:7; Hebrews 12:5-14.
God never fails to save the sincere repentant sinner. John 6:37. God also never fails to sanctify the justified believer. Romans 8:29-30. This means both justification and sanctification are God's work, and effects His eternal security for the believer. John 10:27-30.
Glorification is the end result of justification and sanctification. Glorification is the bliss of heaven forever. Revelation 22:14.
Sanctification begins with justification. Sanctification is a process by which God conforms the justified believer to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29-30. But the justified believer must yield himself to the sanctification process. Romans 6:11-23. Yet, God never fails to sanctify every justified believer no matter how long this process may take. Philippians 1:6. The justified believer who resists God's sanctification process; that is, the carnal believer, never loses his justification; but God will punish him for his sins and discipline him until he realizes that he must yield his life to the sanctification process. Galatians 6:7; Hebrews 12:5-14.
God never fails to save the sincere repentant sinner. John 6:37. God also never fails to sanctify the justified believer. Romans 8:29-30. This means both justification and sanctification are God's work, and effects His eternal security for the believer. John 10:27-30.
Glorification is the end result of justification and sanctification. Glorification is the bliss of heaven forever. Revelation 22:14.
On the Limitations of Satan and the Christian's Victory over Satan
The believer gains complete victory over Satan the moment he or she repents and believes in Christ. Romans 10:13; Romans 1:17. The believer receives a complete salvation already accomplished by Christ; all of his sins are washed away forever by the blood of Jesus and he is sealed forever by the power of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 15:1-4; Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 1:13. God claims the "born again" believer for His own forever and gives them His own eternal life which they can never lose. John 10:28-29.
Satan knows the scriptures. He knows that eternal security is true. Then, why does Satan bother to tempt believers to sin since he knows that they are protected by God and he can never regain control of them? Satan tempts believers to commit sins so that unbelievers will see those sins and conclude that there is no truth to Christianity. Satan tempts believers to sin in order to keep unbelievers from believing. For this reason, believers should pray every day that God will keep them out of sin, and help them to be a good witness for Him that day.
Temptations to sin come from the world, the flesh and the Devil. For this reason, some commentators on the Bible contend that the Devil is not responsible for all our sins. In a sense they are right, but in another sense they are wrong. They are right in that sometimes we sin because we are tempted by the world or our own flesh. However, Satan is the "god of this world," and the flesh stems from original sin which Satan brought into the lives of humans in the Garden of Eden. This makes Satan directly or indirectly responsible for all our sins. But this fact does not mean that sinners can blame Satan and get away with their sins. The only unpardonable sin occurs when a lost sinner refuses to accept by faith the cure for his sins already provided by the Lord Jesus Christ. By refusing Christ's free pardon of sin, the lost sinner cannot avoid taking full responsibility for his own sins.
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