Christians - Why does God tolerate the Devil?

Question

Many think that the omnipotent God would go ahead and just destroy Satan, or at least get him out of the way.

But if there were no devil we could not show God our love for Him by resisting. (James 4:7) We also build up our Christian character in this way.

If there were no devil, we would not see the mighty power of God or how He can demonstrate Himself in the face of evil and temptation.

We would not receive crowns or rewards for resisting Satan.

Also God is faithful to the timetable He set forth in scripture.

God will bruise Satan's head (Gen. 3:15), but not before His appointed time.

God has a "fullness of time" when He will do what He plans to do. (Gal. 4:4)

Answer 1

Because everyone has a choice. The devil made his choice by having sin in his heart...God wants us to love Him because we choose to, not because we're forced to. If there was no devil we'd all be forced to love God because there would be no other way.

Answer 2

To test us, because Adam and Eve sinned in the first place, that created original sin. So then no-one was perfect. The devil wouldn't have been created, but because of original sin, people had the free-will to do anything, and the apostle Judas betrayed Jesus. juJudas let the Devil into his heart, soul and body, little by little, until he turned on jesus at the Frist Supper.

Answer 3

God doesn't really tolerate the devil. Yet He allows the devil's presence.

The devil can no longer experience redemption like we can. However, God does allow the devil to intrude in our lives to test us of our faith in God.

For example, God even tested Jesus in Matthew 4:1- 4:11

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:


‘ He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘ In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

In addition the Bible also tells us that the man who endures temptation is blessed in James 1:12 - 1:15

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

So in short, you could say that God "tolerates" the devil so that we can be tempted, and in turn, have our faith tested.

Answer 4

Satan the father of the lie said man would not serve God if he did'nt give us everthing we need and protect us from everthing. Job proved him wrong and many others have conqured him as well.God is waiting for man to work out his decision with his free will who he will serve Satan or God.The time for this final issue of God's right to be worshipped is soon coming to a conclusion and your either for God or against him .No fence to sit on.

Answer 5

He doesn't. The Devil do not have a chance for any redemption. They are their way out and they want to take as many souls with them while they are here.

Answer 6

Look around you, the end is near - God won't tolerate Satan much longer.

God Bless You

Answer 7

in actuality this is a test ,, it is right . the devil wants to take as many as he can of GODS CREATED BEINGS to destruction like he is bound for.
AS GOD shows us at creation in genesis chap 2 v 7 -- This is the history of the heavens and of the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens--

5When no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not [yet] caused it to rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the ground,

----- 6But there went up a mist (fog, vapor) from the land and watered the whole surface of the ground--

7Then the Lord God formed man from the [a]dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.(C)------- king james bible puts it this way -- 7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. ------------ its so easy to understand whats being said when u let scripture speak for itself you know?

ilike the amplified bible too !! look at v 8 too --8And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden [delight]; and there He put the man whom He had formed (framed, constituted). so in verse 7 we see man became a living being he was not given a soul he bcame a living soul or living being

WHEN LUICIFER SINNED GOD had to allow for a test to see if satans accusations were true,
could GOD of destroyed the devil once rebeliion was found in him?? . IF HE HAD DID THIS the n would the other angels and possibly other worlds , of known for sure THAT SATAN was himself right .
WOULD the other angels of served him out of love or fear that if they stepped out of line like questioning if GOD WAS FAIR would he also snuff them out of existance too? . sooo what if GOD in mercy allowed the whole court of heaven to look at what satan was saying was true ?
satan said he wanted to be GOD so lets put it to a test to see clearly what would happen if satan ruled ? look im only reasoning here obviously but can u see whay GOD ALLOWED SATAN to show what would happen if he ruled?
look at how fast this earth is being destroyed ?? sin has reached a level now probably just a little lower thatn the pre flood days where every act of mans heart was continually wicked .
their has to be a time set when JESUS as our high priest SAYS ENOUGH whoever is rightous from this point on will remain so and the rest i have pleaded for but they wont respond -- sadly let them also remain wicked i must not delay anymore i soon return to gather those that are mine ?? you have to decide for yourself each of us do .. bro murray

Answer 8

because thats the way this whole thing works, the way of life, humans, souls, everythign.Without the devil god woudn't of been able to truly test us, and it was the devil that brought this all on himself.

Answer 9

the Devil isn't doing anything. It is our own Free will that he is tolerating. But hey, a Gift is a gift. Can't ask for it back!

Answer 10

It is my opinion, that He is necessary. He tests man at the worst levels. He does alot of God's footwork. Who wouldn't want a lackey?