According to Christian beliefs, what exactly make the Devil evil rather than simply an instrument of God?

Question

In various passages in the Bible the devil is shown as being either an "associate" or instrument of God. For example, in the Temptation of Christ (Matthew 4) it is stated that "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." (Matthew 4:1)

Furthermore, the devil's banishment from Heaven is told in the context of his *belief* in humanity, as opposed to God's doubt. The story of Genesis makes no explicit reference to Satan or the devil and although people attribute the serpent's actions to the devil, this is difficult to resolve for two reasons:

1. Either it was not Satan (likely since no explicit mention of it *being* Satan appears in Genesis)
2. Or it was Satan but it wished simply to give mankind the gift of knowledge

I am non-Abrahamic but am trying to understand the allegories and stories of the Bible and am having a difficult time with this facet of the Book.

Lion of Judah: Thank you for the links. However, these impose a presumption that the devil, the Great Red Dragon and the serpent, etc are one in the same. Can you provide me with passages that indicate this to be true in the Bible itself, or is this simply the interpretation of men under the presumption that all evil acts are due to the devil's influence?

Jean, that answers my question. Thanks.

Answer 1

http://www.carm.org/questions/whois_satan.htm

http://www.carm.org/sermons/Gen3_1-7.htm

Answer 2

What makes the Devil evil instead of simply an instrument?

The fact that like us, he was given the ability to choose to do good or to choose to do evil.

An instrument on the otherhand would not have a choice - it would simply do what it was manufactured or pre-programmed to do and would have no say or choice in the matter. It therefore would earn no credit for doing well and deserve no condemnation for doing bad.

The serpent in Genesis was either Satan appearing as a serpent, possessing a serpent, or deceiving Eve into believing that a serpent was talking to her.

Given that Serpents / snakes do not possess the ability to speak it's more likely to have been Satan appearing in the form of a serpent or creating an illusion of same .

Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 both describe Satan as a serpent. “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,” (Revelation 20:2).

“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9).

Answer 3

The word Devil means 'slanderer of God' and Satan means 'adversary'. It is highly unlikely that a slanderer and an adversary would also be an 'associate' or an 'instrument' of God. Someone has already given you scriptures that name Satan as the original serpent and the only thing he gave mankind was a death sentence by persuading Adam and Eve that God was lying to them. Genesis 3:1-4

Answer 4

Apostle John answers your questions in Revelation 12:9
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

After May 15, 1948, Satan knows his time is short and he is preparing this earth for his take over.

What makes Satan evil is that he tempts men to sin and deceives men and women who allow it.

Answer 5

Satan is subject to the limitations of being a creature. He is not everywhere-present, all-powerful, or all-knowing like God.

The devil heads a great kingdom of evil. The New Testament refers to him as "the god of this age" (2 Cor. 4:4), "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2), and the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31). Jesus identifies Satan with Beelzebub, prince of the demons (Luke 11:14-23). In addition, his human followers are "the sons of the wicked one" (Matt. 13:38), "ministers" of Satan (2 Cor. 11:15), the "synagogue of Satan" (Rev. 2:9), and the "children of the devil" (1 John 3:10). He exercised authority over the rulers of Persia through a demon called "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" (Dan. 10:12, 13). Jude portrays him as so awesome in his power and authority that the archangel "dared not bring against him a reviling accusation" (v.9). In Ephesians 6:12 he is pictured as heading a well-organized army of spiritual agents.

The devil, however, is not everywhere-present, all-powerful, or all-knowing, like God. He is subject to the limitations of creaturehood. To carry out his program he must work through subordinates--both demonic and human.

He has organized his demons into a military structure. As noted earlier, a demon was assigned to influence the leaders of Persia (Dan. 10:12, 13). The terms principalities, powers, rulers of this darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness (Eph. 6:12) denote the ranks in his army. Through them he gathers information and implements his will. Just as a competent general can impose a high degree of control over his army and through his troops carry out his program over a vast area, the devil can rule his worldwide kingdom of darkness.

The devil also uses people. Although he can be in only one place at one time, and cannot personally work in every human heart, he influences multitudes both through his demonic followers and through a system of thought the Bible calls "the world." John wrote:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world (1 John 2:15-17).

The "world" in this context is a way of thinking that dominates the life of runaway humanity. The characteristics of this thought-system may vary from one culture to another, but these differences are relatively insignificant. What is consistent, however, is an emphasis on the temporal rather than the eternal. He influences multitudes as they buy into the thinking of their day.

He also uses mankind's sinful nature. Paul declared that before we came to Christ we "were dead in trespasses and sins... walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, ... conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh" (Eph. 2:1-3). When people willfully choose evil, they become the "children of the devil" (John 8:44; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:10). Thus multitudes of people either knowingly or unknowingly help Satan in his role as "the god of this world."

The devil's power over mankind, though limited by God's permissive and directive will, is fearful. He and his evil spirits can assume visible form (Matt. 4, Luke 4); cause blindness (Matt. 12:22), paralysis (Acts 8:7), and convulsions (Luke 9:39); induce self-destructive or bizarre behavior (Luke 8:27; Matt. 17:15); compel animals to destroy themselves (Matt. 8:28-34); create powerful illusions (Ex. 7:11, 12); and perform signs and wonders (Matt. 24:24).

Evil spirits have the power to directly influence our health, moods, imagination, and thoughts. For example, it is sobering to read that "Satan entered Judas" (Luke 22:3) and led him to betray Christ and finally commit suicide. And it is frightening to read about the horrible condition of the two demon-possessed men in Matthew 8:28, 29.

We must not make the mistake of minimizing Satan's power or denying the reality of his kingdom of evil. But we must also avoid the error of giving in to despair. He cannot go beyond the limits set by God. Moreover, the Christian who submits to God and resists the devil can put him to flight (James 4:7).