To the editor:

The question posed in the Faith Forum last Saturday was: “Was Satan a real person?” He is best described in Revelations 12 as a heavenly being who is cast out of heaven to earth with his angels. He accused the brethren day and night; just like he did with Job. I John 3:8 says, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”  James warns the proud (James 4:7), “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” 

One of Satan’s biggest deceptions in the Church is that followers of Christ do not have to do battle with Satan. Paul says in  Ephesians 6:11-12, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” 

Many aren’t living the abundant life because they think that Satan is not real, or if he is, they don’t have to be concerned with him. Now that’s deception!