Sample Chapter

Questions and Answers

by Malcolm L. Hill

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DEVIL

"Is there really a devil? If so, where did he come from? Is he at work today? If so, how?"

There can be no doubt but that the devil is real! The Bible speaks often about the devil. He is called by many different names in the Holy Scriptures. He is called Satan, the devil, the wicked one, the Prince of this World, Lucifer, etc. If the Bible can be proven to be the word of God, and it can be, then we may rest assured that Satan is real.

There can be no doubt but that God created angels before the foundation of the world. In some way God needed them and their service (Heb. 1:14; II Pet. 2:4). It is inferred that Satan existed before Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3:1-19). It could be safely said that one may conclude that the devil is a fallen angel. He rebelled against God and was expelled from heaven (Isa. 14:12).

But is Satan at work today? How can one see all the evil about him and ask such a question? The devil is at work twenty-four hours each day and seven days per week. There is never a time when he is at ease. Is it any wonder why his work continues to grow? If the Lord's people would work like the advocates of the devil, the gospel of Christ would circle the earth many times within a short period of time. God does a great work with many people for the little time they give Him.

What is Satan trying to do today? He is doing all he can to undo the work of God (Mark 4:15). He would like to see all men renounce their Maker (Job 2:4-5). Satan goes about instigating evil (Jn. 13:2, 27). The devil would like for all men to fall down and worship him (Lk. 4:6-8; II Thess. 2:3-4). The wicked one goes about deceiving every soul possible (Rev. 12:9). He is the author of all lies (Jn. 8:44). Thus, all liars are his children. He often appears as one of God's servants (II Cor. 11:14). The devil insinuates doubt (Gen. 3:1), misuses the Scriptures (Matt. 4:6), afflicts believers, and does all he can to outsmart God's children (II Cor. 2:11).

Satan hates the church (Matt. 16:18), hates the truth (Lk. 8:12), hates preachers of the gospel (II Tim. 3:12), hates every true and righteous work.

How does the devil work today? He does his work through outright evil people--men who cannot blush nor have shame (Jer. 6:15; 8:12). He works through preachers and teachers that will not preach the complete, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:6-9). Satan sometimes gets into church members and uses them to his advantage (II Cor. 11:14). He is no fool (II Cor. 2:11). Many souls will be lost forever because of those who are supposed to be servants of God will have permitted Satan to use them. Sometimes preachers and church leaders will take a stand against the Lord's work without cause. They sometimes have excuses for their position but not one single reason. They are being used by Satan.

God wants and even demands that His people prove, try, and test all things, and hold fast that which is good (I Thess. 5:21). Christians must be ready always to give a truthful answer for what they believe, practice, and stand for (I Pet. 3:15).

Satan is real so watch out for him. He wears different suits and faces. Don't let him catch you and use you.

"Please explain in your newspaper article how the devil works today."

There can be no doubt that the devil is at work today. All one has to do is look around and see his works taking place. If all the evil about us is not a work of the evil one, then where did it start? Who is responsible for all the heartache and heartbreak? It had to start somewhere, with someone. The Bible teaches that it began with the devil and it continues to be his work (I Pet. 5:8).

The devil accomplishes, or tries to accomplish, his evil work in a number of ways. Sometimes he works through the vilest of sinners. We are warned about evil people and their influence. "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (I Cor. 15:33). "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (II Cor. 6:17). There are many, many passages which teach that evil people will influence others to do wrong. So the devil works through very wicked men.

The devil works through religious people. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23). Notice please, that these people did many works in the name of the Lord (they were religious), and yet the Bible says that God will say one the judgment day that He never knew them. The reason that God never knew them is because they only obeyed the Lord's will in part. They went beyond in some things and did not do other things. Satan works through folks like this today. We are warned about believing everything that comes in the name of religion (I Jn. 4:1).

The devil works through disciples of Christ. Jesus once called Peter "Satan," because the wicked one had entered into Peter's heart and was influencing him to go wrong (Matt. 16:21-23). This often happens today. Christians must be constantly aware that Satan will use them, if they will but let him. Sometimes disciples of Christ will fight a worthy and righteous cause, or talk down good works, or try to destroy good influences, thinking they are right. I truly believe good men are wrong and do not know it. Paul talks about self-deception in Galatians 6:7. We must forever be aware of such and not let Satan use us.

Sometimes Satan takes advantage of circumstances to accomplish his work. When trials and hardships come upon us, we must fight and not let these things get us down. Jesus talked about the burdens and cares of this life and how they would cause men to go astray and quit (Lk. 8:14). We must learn to bear up under extreme hardships and circumstances, lest the devil gets the advantage of us.

Satan sometimes makes evil look right and men often fall for such (II Cor. 2:11). It is always good to check into a matter before we accept it. So many times people jump and then look. The sad thing about this is that they find themselves in wrong before they realize it. Be sure you know what you are doing.

Satan is no ignoramus. He is wise and crafty. He knows how and when to approach us in order that he may lead us astray. Be aware of him and his work. Do not let him mislead you.

"Please respond to the material written by Mr. William Garrett about Cain being the fleshly son of the devil. His article appeared in the Herald Citizen, February 11, 1987."

Mr. Garrett starts off by saying that Cain is not mentioned in the genealogy of Adam as set forth in Gen. 5:1-3 and therefore, he is not the son of Adam. But if this were the case, then Abel is not Adam's son on the same basis, for he is not mentioned in this genealogy. Seth is the only one of Adam's children mentioned in this place. Adam had other children which are not mentioned in Gen. 5:1-3. See Genesis 5:4. Does this mean that they were not his children but children of the devil? The Bible plainly says that Adam knew (had sex with) his wife Eve and she bore him (Adam) a son (Gen. 4:1).

Mr. Garrett indicates that because Cain's offering was not accepted by the Lord, he was the fleshly son of the devil. Mr. Garrett needs to realize that Cain's offering would have been accepted had he offered what God demanded. Genesis 4:7 says so. These two brothers offered to God by faith (Heb. 11:4). But faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). The reason God accepted Abel's offering and rejected Cain's is due to Abel doing what God said and Cain did not. If God told Abel what to offer but did not tell Cain, then how could God hold Cain accountable for something he did not know. This makes God mean and unjust! Make no mistake about it, God told both of them what to offer. One obeyed and the other did not.

Mr. Garrett talks about blood sin. I do not know what he means by this. Does anyone know what he means by this? Does God know what Mr. Garrett means by this? If it has any meaning at all, I feel sure God knows but He has not revealed it to us in His word. I wonder where Mr. Garrett ran upon this statement? It is not in the Bible and here he is trying to explain the Bible with something not mentioned in the Bible.

Mr. Garrett says that Adam did not sin. I beg to differ with you Mr. Garrett. I do not believe you have read your Bible as you should, Mr. Garrett. One should not make statements unless he knows they are found in the Bible. Mr. Garrett cites I Tim. 2:14 to prove that Adam did not sin. But I Tim. 2:14 does not say that Adam was free of sin. It says that Adam was not "deceived." There is a lot of difference in not being deceived and not committing sin. The Bible says that Adam did sin in Eden. Romans 5:12 says that sin entered into the world by Adam. I Cor. 15:22-23 indicates the same thing. It seems to me that Mr. Garrett has been scheming and devising his plan about Cain being the son of the devil by flesh and blood and has forgotten other passages of the Bible. Mr. Garrett, there is more to the Bible than Genesis chapters 4 and 5.

Mr. Garrett says that Satan is "Lord of this earth." Now if he means by this Satan controls most folks I will agree, but if he means that Satan owns the heavens and earth I disagree. The Bible says, "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." (Psa. 24:1).

Mr. Garrett next cites Matt. 13:33-34 and says that Satan sowed the tares. It is true that Satan sows tares among the wheat but what does this have do with Cain? He might as well cite a passage that talks about the river of Jordan and try to make it prove that Cain was not Adam's son. To tell the truth, none of his articles has any logic about them. What he tries to prove by the Bible actually disproves what he is trying to establish. He would have been far better off if he had said: Cain was the son of the devil because he had green hair, yellow eyes, a hole in his head, and a big wart on his nose and stayed away from the Scriptures for proof.

If Matt. 22:29 applies to anyone, if applies to Mr. Garrett. That passage says, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." His article is a jumbled up mess. It reminds me of my fishing line. If you are mixed up about what he said in his article, do not feel that your thinking is bad. You are only thinking correctly for his article lead you to think that way. He cites Matt. 22:29 and says that those who disagree with him about Cain do not know the Scriptures.

Mr. Garrett says that when Eve said, "I have gotten a man from the Lord," this proves that Cain was the son of Satan and Eve. The Hebrew word for "man" in Gen. 4:1 is "ish" and means an individual. Does "man" in this passage mean that Cain was a fleshly descendant of the devil? If so, then the devil had hundreds of fleshly descendants, for this word is used many times in the Old Testament alone. This makes Eve a fleshly descendant of the devil for the same Hebrew word is used with reference to her (Gen. 2:23). It also makes Adam a fleshly descendant of Satan for the same word is used with reference to him (Gen. 2:24). The Bible says that Noah was a just man and that he walked with God (Gen. 6:9). The same word for "Man" is used here as used with reference to Eve and the fact that she had begotten a "man." Does this mean that a fleshly son of the devil was just and walked with God? According to Mr. Garrett this would be the case for he thinks that "man" in Gen. 4:1 means a fleshly descendant of the devil and Eve. Such thinking!

Mr. Garrett says that when Eve ate of the fruit in the garden of Eden that was then she first conceived. He seems to think that Eve became pregnant with Cain and that it was caused by some kind of fruit. I hardly believe that this is the reason little babies have come into the world. I doubt that Mr. Garrett is here because his mother ate some kind of fruit.

Mr. Garrett says that Eve committed adultery with the Serpent. Where does the Bible say this? Mr. Garrett needs to understand that just because he makes a religious statement this does not necessarily mean that it is true. He also says that the "daughters of men" found in Gen. 6:3-4 were the daughters of Cain. Mr. Garrett, give us Bible for this. Some of them could have been descendants of Cain but not necessarily so.

Several people have asked me to respond to Mr. Garrett's article. I have done so.