The Day of Atonement involves not only the forgiveness of sin; it pictures the removal of the primary cause of sin-Satan and his demons. Until God removes the original instigator of sin, mankind will simply continue to fall back into disobedience and suffering. Although our human nature has a part to play in our sins, Satan the devil bears great responsibility for influencing mankind to disobey God.
Even though many people doubt the existence of a devil, the Bible reveals Satan as a powerful, invisible being who can sway all mankind. Revelation 12:9 tells us that his influence is so great that he “deceives the whole world.” The devil blinds people to the understanding of God’s truth. The apostle Paul explained this to the Corinthians: If “our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Paul also teaches us that Satan has influenced every human to walk in the ways of disobedience. He notes that those called into God’s church “once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
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AuthorDr. Boyles is an ordained minister (Churches of Christ). Dr. Boyles serves as the Bilingual Preaching Minister and as a Missionary in Acuna, Mexico and along the Texas/Mexico border. He preaches, researches, writes, teaches, and lectures on ministry,missions, theological studies, and biblical texts. ArchivesCategories |