In the first two installments (Part One & Two), we started answering this very common question which comes up in both the classroom and counseling room, Can the devil make me sin? You could add with that, Can the devil or Satan give me certain thoughts? Although we have probably all heard someone, when caught doing something bad, “The devil made me do it,” I have also had suffering and distraught people ask this question. But is this true? Can the devil make you do anything?
To answer this question, I will answer four separate questions. This article concludes the final question..
- Where do temptations to sin come from? Answered in Part One
- Can Satan indwell a follower of Christ/child of God? Answered in Part Two
- What is the difference between Satan’s control and influence? Answered in Part Two
- What does Satan do?
For each of these questions, we turn to the biblical text as the authority for our answer. Personal experience must be evaluated by the biblical text. As followers of Christ, we start with the Bible and then consider our experiences; we do not start with our experiences than try to determine what the Bible means.
Where do temptations to sin come from?
As discussed in part one, they come from from the desires in our own hearts.
Can Satan indwell a follower of Christ/child of God?
No, as was demonstrated in part two, Satan nor any demon can indwell a true child of God.
What is the difference between Satan’s control and influence?
Satan can influence through various means but cannot control a believer since greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (Part two).
What does Satan do?
With those questions answered from the Bible, the final question remains: What does Satan do?
He can’t make a person sin. He can’t indwell a person. Plus, he can’t control a person, only influence. So what can he do?
Satan Is Limited in His Power, Knowledge, and Presence
Satan’s power is limited. The Apostle Paul described for us the incredible nature of the victory of Christ over Satan. In that victory, Satan’s power was incredibly limited. Notice what Paul wrote:
14 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He [Christ] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:14)
On the cross, the power of Satan in this world was forever broken. Anything and everything Satan does currently is limited based upon what Jesus did on the cross. He temporarily is the prince and power of the culture (Eph 2:1-3); however, he does not have unlimited power.
Consider how the narrative of Job demonstrates that Satan operates from limited power, much more so after the cross of Jesus (cf., Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6). Furthermore, this same narrative clearly demonstrates that Satan is not everywhere-present as it describes him, in his own words to God, as roaming on the earth. In addition, his knowledge is limited. He did not know Job’s motives, nor did not know what Job would do when influenced by him. Yet, in this same story, Satan does control to some extent the weather (lightening, wind) and biology (an infection).
When warning Peter of his coming temptation, Jesus tells Peter that Satan had asked for Peter, to sift him as wheat (Luke 22:31). This demonstrates Satan’s limited power.
Compared to Jesus, Who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere-present, Satan is none of those things. Just like everything else in creation, Satan was created. Paul describes this:
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
As created, Satan also suffers under the limitations of all other created beings. Therefore, Satan is not a mini-God. He does not share in the mighty attributes of God.
Maybe, most importantly, Satan nor his minions of any kind can separate you from the love of God in Christ.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Satan Rules the World System
A variety of texts demonstrate that Satan rules the world system. He is known as a ruler (Matt 12:24) and the power of the air (Eph 2:2). Again, the victory by Jesus on the cross guarantees a limit to his power, although he still rules the world system.
Those that work under him are variously known in the Bible as demons, powers, principalities, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness, among other such terms (cf., Matt 12:24; Col 2:14; Eph 6:12).
The extent of his rule and the means of his rule are unknown. We learn that the Sabeans, under the influence of Satan, raided Job’s property and took away the oxen and donkeys, while also killing many servants of Job (Job 1:13-15). Further, Satan influenced the Babylonians (Chaldeans) who formed three groups, raided Job’s property, stole all the camels, and killed many of Job’s servants (Job 1:17).
He influences and by his influence rules the world system. But how?
Satan Deceives the World and Tries to Deceive Followers of Christ
Satan deceives the world and does his best to deceive followers of Christ, usually through the world and world system (Rom 12:1-2; Col 2:8; Rev 12:9). Jesus referred to him as the father of lies (John 8:44). When the serpent enters the scene in the Garden of Eden, he seeks to deceive, he lies, and he twists the truth (Gen 3:1-4).
Part of the deception of the world is easy for Satan. Any person who is not a child of God is a child of the devil (John 8:44). As such, all people who are dead in trespasses and sin follows their own desires, their own hearts, and the power of the air – Satan himself (Eph 2:1-3). They do this by nature.
Satan Seeks to Harm All Christians, Especially Pastors/Elders
In Christ, the believer enjoys all the benefits of the Gospel. However, Satan hopes to influence the follower of Christ and steal the joy, hurt the testimony, and otherwise minimize Christ’s effects on an individual’s life.
For all people:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
For pastors and elders:
6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:6-7)
How Does Satan Influence?
As a follower of Christ, expect Satan to potentially influence you through any means possible. If Satan can influence you through culture, friends, social media, movies, television, the internet, and government, Satan will do it.
Through his kingdom of this world, Satan seeks to ruin you, trap you, and, for the one who does not have a relationship with Christ yet, keep you forever away from the benefits and blessings offered through Jesus Christ.
What are we to do about it? In Part Four, I will help you develop a plan to resist Satan and his kingdom’s influence in your life.
So, Can the Devil Make Me Sin?
As I mentioned above, four separate questions help us answer this question.
- Where do temptations to sin come from? – A temptation to sin comes from your own heart. You are responsible for your sin.
- Can Satan indwell a follower of Christ/child of God? – No, Satan cannot indwell a believer in Jesus Christ.
- What is the difference between Satan’s control and influence? – Satan can influence through various means but cannot control a believer since greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
- What does Satan do? – He uses all the means at his disposal to influence the follower of Christ to be ineffective, unproductive, and joyless as a follower of Jesus.
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