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      "The Personality of Satan"
      Selected Scriptures
      Theme: Satan – as well as all who ally with him – will know no mercy.

        1. Satan’s Authorship of Sin - "We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall;"

          1. The Creation of Satan

            1. Satan – in his original creation – was the highest-ranking spiritual being or person outside of God – cp. Ezekiel 28:12-15.
              1. He was a pattern of perfection for others – cp. v. 12
              2. He was exceptionally wise and beautiful – v. 12
              3. He was present in Eden – v. 13a
              4. He was covered with precious stones – v. 13b
              5. He was gifted musically – v. 13c (KJV)
              6. He was an anointed cherub – v. 14
              7. He was morally blameless – v. 15
              8. He was one of God’s created beings – v. 15
            2. He was most likely created immediately prior to the creation of man – and was present in Eden with man – he did not exist for ages before the creation of the world, but was likely part of that creation.
            3. Thus, his time of worship before the Lord was most likely relatively short because he had to have fallen after Genesis 1:31 but before Genesis 3:1.

          2. The Cause of Sin

            1. There have been many varying attempts to explain the entrance of sin into the world.
            2. It is clear that the very first sin committed to any being was the sin committed by Satan in his rebellion against God – cp. 1 John 3:18
            3. It is never truly clarified why Satan rebelled – only that He coveted the authority and glory of God – cp. Isaiah 14:13-14
            4. The specific trigger is never given to us – however, it is possible to make some speculations
              1. Despite Satan’s high-ranking position among the angels, he was never given personal dominion over anything in God’s marvelous creation.
              2. However, when man was created, God gave to him the dominion over all of creation – cp. Genesis 1:28; 2:15, 19-20
              3. It is possible that Satan was infuriated by what he perceived as a slight – a sin resulting from pride.
            5. Fully aware of God’s promise to Adam regarding the consequence of disobedience – death (cp. Genesis 2:17), Satan’s reaction to God’s slight of his preeminence by giving man the stewardship he may have coveted was one of gross rebellion against God and it found fruition in his attempt to eliminate his "competition" – man – cp. John 8:44; Isaiah 14:12-14
              1. He desired the supreme position – v. 13a
              2. He desired heavenly power – v. 13b
              3. He desired earthly power – v. 13c
              4. He desired the highest honor – v. 14a
              5. He desired sovereignty – v. 14b
            6. Thus, Satan is the "author of sin and the cause of the fall".

        2. Satan’s Animosity Toward God – "…that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man;"

          1. The Animosity toward God

            1. Thus, Satan hates God because of how God "wronged" him [by given the dominion to man instead of him].
            2. He has established a rival "world order" over which he rules as the "prince of the power of the air" – cp. Ephesians 2:2; Matthew 4:2-11
            3. Thus he attempts to destroy everything holy and focuses especially on the Son of God – cp. Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12:3-6 .

          2. The Animosity toward Men

            1. Again, Satan’s hostility toward God has focused not only on his rebellion against the sovereign power of God, but against man – his rival for dominion – cp. 1 Peter 5:8.
            2. Satan has committed himself to thwarting God’s eternal plan by which He is glorifying Himself – thinking that to hinder God’s plan provides Him glory
              1. His foremost stratagem is to blind the eyes of men so that they can not see the light of the Gospel – cp. 2 Corinthians 4:4
              2. He hinders by marring the life and service of the believer – cp. Luke 22:31
              3. He hinders by using a counterfeit system of good – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-44
              4. He hinders by using counterfeit doctrine – 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Revelation 2:20, 24
              5. He hinders by using counterfeit churches and ministers – Revelation 2:9, 13; 3:9; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
            3. He is constantly attempting to diminish the accomplishment of Christ by accusing the brethren of the guilt of their sin – cp. Job 1:6-7; Revelation 12:10
            4. Essentially, he holds the power to keep men in allegiance to him through their fear of death – cp. Hebrews 2:14-15

        3. Satan’s Accountability to God – "…and, that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire."

          1. The Eternal Punishment of Satan

            1. Satan’s doom is certain – God pronouncing that He will judge Satan without mercy – cp. John 12:31
            2. This judgment was accomplished at Calvary – cp. John 12:32-33; Colossians 2:14-15
            3. God’s promise is to subdue all that is opposed to Him and bring them into subjection, abolishing all opposition – 1 Corinthians 15:24-25
            4. In preparation for this final judgment, God has prepared a place of eternal fire as torment – especially for the Devil – cp. Matthew 25:41
            5. He will be banished from the presence of God eternally in this Lake of Fire – cp. Revelation 20:10.

          2. The Eternal Punishment of Sinners

            1. God does not wish any to perish, but that all come to repentance – cp. 2 Peter 3:9
            2. However, Satan wants all men to suffer the agony of eternal separation from God.
            3. The tragedy is that all those who join Satan in opposition to God (which is all men who are guilty of sin), will suffer the same fate as Satan – Revelation 20:15
            4. The only solution is for a sinner to repent of his sin, confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and seek the safety gained through the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice and blood – Romans 5:8-9.

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