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Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa
What are you saying?
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Originally Posted by Shaun
Satan is stronger than God?
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No. Absolutely not. But God has allowed satan to reign over this earth for a time.
Examples:
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Originally Posted by 1 John 5:19
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
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Originally Posted by Luke 4:5-6 - Ref: when Christ was tempted by satan.
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours."
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Originally Posted by Job 1:9 - Ref: God allows satan to ruin Job's life.
The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
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Originally Posted by Shaun
Humans are absolved of all wrong doing because "the devil made me do it?"
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Again, I am not saying that. While satan influences mankind (ie: temptation), ultimately, each and every man is responsible for his or her own actions.
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Originally Posted by Eph 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
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Originally Posted by Shaun
I don't know about you, but Christ didn't die for our sins so that we could be blameless in the end.
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Actually, through Christ's death, we are made blameless. He has made the payment for all of our sin and wrong doing. He "stood in" for us and received the punishment for our sins.
That said, "The devil made me do it" is not a valid argument. Everyone is tempted, and that's satan's doing. Those who succumb to the temptation are responsible for their actions.
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Originally Posted by 1 John 3:8
The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
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Originally Posted by Shaun
Saying Satan is the driving force behind the increase in evil (which there isn't BTW) is like the kid blaming his imaginary friend for the missing cookies.
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Again, I'm not trying to avoid the responsibility for anyone's sins or wrong doing -- but satan is the driving force behind the evil in this world.
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Originally Posted by James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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Originally Posted by Shaun
Take responsibility for evil.
Take responsibility for combatting evil.
Look first upward, then inward, not down.
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Indeed.
-Zoltan.