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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMartin Luther Collection: Luther, Martin - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God: CHAPTER V: SATANâ€OS PEOPLE
TOPIC: Luther, Martin - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: CHAPTER V: SATANâ€OS PEOPLE
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CHAPTER FIVE
SATAN’S PEOPLE
Children of the Devil
The Scriptures clearly teach that some people are so closely related to Satan that they are called the children of the Devil. In one extended passage (Joh_8:37-47) Jesus says that some of the Jews who refused to believe on Him were “of your father the Devil.” The passage is as follows:
I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Other texts that clearly show that some people are the children of Satan are as follows. “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one” (Mat_13:38) “And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
(Act_13:10) “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. (1Jn_3:8-12)
The Whole Cosmos Is “In Satan”
In one startling passage, 1Jn_5:18-20, is revealed three things that we know. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1) We know that the Christian does not live a life of sin and that the Wicked One cannot touch him. (2) We know that the whole cosmos is “in Satan.” (3) We know that God the Son has come and has given us an understanding of spiritual things. We have dealt with the first and third of these three things elsewhere. However, the second is an amazingly frightening truth-that the whole world of men, of which Satan is the supreme commander, leader and prince is “in Satan” in the same way that all those who have been redeemed out of the cosmos are “in Christ.” On this important point Lewis Sperry Chafer has written:
In this passage there are two startling revelations in regard to this relationship [between Satan and his children]. First: the word “in” is the same as is used everywhere of the believer when he is said to be “in” Christ, and in the case of the believer it signifies an organic union to Christ-as a branch is “in” the vine, so the believer is “in” Christ. Though the word, when used of the unregenerate, probably cannot mean the same degree of organic life-relationship as exists between Christ and the believer, yet it does denote a deep relationship; and Satan is the light, inspiration, and power, of all those whom he energizes. (Lewis Sperry Chafer, Satan, electronic text)
Satan Energizes His Children
Eph_2:2 reveals the fact that Satan energizes his children. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” The word worketh is a translation of the Greek word energeo (energeo) from which we get our word energy. He is their life and inspiration. In much the same way as the Holy Spirit provides the needed power to do the will of God, Satan supplies his people with all the motivation they need in order to accomplish his plans.
Possession
As this is not a discussion on the subject of demons and demon possession one point only need be made in this regard-the final and most awful state of satanic control of a person is demon possession.
Once a person has given himself over to evil and has committed himself to work wickedness, he is in a spiritual condition that opens him for demon possession. There are at least five distinguishable marks or signs of demon possession as seen in Mar_5:1-20. In this passage Jesus meets a man who is described as having an unclean spirit. The five marks of demon possession as exhibited by this man are: (1) Dwelling on death. He lived in a cemetery (v.3). (2) Disobedience (no rules). He could not be bound or controlled by any means (v.3). (3) Defiant (no authority). He broke all the rules that were meant to “tame” him. (v.4) He also practiced nakedness (v.15). (4) Deep Depression. He was crying day and night (v.5). (5) Self-Destruction. He was cutting himself (v.5).
Today Americans (and especially young people) are doing drugs and committing suicide in record numbers. Murderers are becoming younger and younger. 5, 6, and 7 year olds are killing 2, 3, and 4 year olds. Mothers are murdering their own children. More and more death is the subject of music, movies, and clothing. Everything from abortion and euthanasia to all manner of sexual perversion is commonly discussed, dwelt upon, practiced and legalized. The night time is overwhelmingly the most popular time for young people to be out on the street. The parks used to be full of kids, couples, parents, and picnics. Now they are empty, and the streets are full of weird and strange looking teens at night. Depression, sorrow, misery, and despair are all too common in the lives of Americans. According to the National Center of Health Statistics (US Department of Health and Human Services, <www.cdc.gov/nchs>), in 2003: 3.1% of Americans 18 years of age and over suffer with serious psychological distress; 16.9% of students in 9th through 12th grade have seriously considered suicide and 2.9% have attempted suicide; 8.2% of people 12 years of age and over have used illegal drugs and 50.1% have used alcohol. These are just a few of the results of demon influence and possession in our society. We have not even mentioned pre- and extra-marital sex, homosexuality, pornography, rock, heavy metal, death metal, and so-called Christian rock music, T.V., internet, video games and DVDs, self-mutilation (body piercing, tattooing, and branding are becoming more and more popular). These things have not happened in the past to the extent that we see today. Satan is tirelessly at work in his children to drag their souls to Hell. May God’s people be just as tireless to win the lost and live holy and righteous lives.
The Great Omission
There are but two religions in the world-the way to Heaven that seems right to man and ends in eternal death (Pro_14:12; Pro_16:25), and the way to Heaven as revealed by God in the Bible. Satan would have the whole human race to be religious, after all, he seeks worship. He would have men be religious, recognize the Bible as a good book, look to Jesus as a good example and a great teacher of morality, he would have men consider themselves Christians, go to church, tithe, and give their lives in service to others. Satan would have all this and yet blind men to the one truth that will save their souls-the truth of the vicarious and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross, His shed blood for the remission of sin, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. This is the great omission.
A preacher was once asked in jest if he would have a church or a bar on every corner. Surprisingly, he answered, a bar-filling buildings with sinners who feel good about themselves is the work of the Devil, but saving men who know they are lost and searching for salvation is the work of God.
Not All Evil Is Attributable to Satan
Just as God gets blamed for much that is the Devil’s fault, Satan is faulted for much that is man’s doing. The fallen nature and wicked heart of man is the cause of much if not most of the world’s troubles. Jesus said, “from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within.” (Mat_7:21-23) There is enough wickedness within the heart of man to destroy himself and everyone else if God allowed it. Remember, when the Rapture takes place and the Man of Sin is revealed, the result is not all of those things mentioned in the previous verse, but a worldwide religious peace-a false peace that cannot last-a humanistic-satanic alliance that will be Satan’s and man’s greatest attempt at dethroning God. But it will fail. Satan is a failure. Jesus is returning in power and glory and will destroy the cosmos and everything it has built. “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1Co_12:24-28)