Does God want the Devil to tempt us?

[Spiderman]

One of the things that frustrates me is when people blame everything on Satan. Does God have the power to lock Satan up and restrain him from doing anything? Well, unless he isn't a God with which anything is possible, then Yes.

God made the Devil knowing in advance what he would do, correct? So if the Devil is assaulting you, God wants him to be there. If God wanted him to not be there he wouldn't be, correct?

It's sort of like this. If you have a flock of sheep, and you let a wolf or a lion out of it's cage, and you only give the predator as much leash as you will, knowing that it will attack your sheep, can you place all the blame on the wolf/lion who is just being himself and following natural instincts?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

There is a consensus that God gave us a freedom of choice--which means Satan too. So, Satan's choice to tempt us into sin is not pined to God since He doesn't influence our choices.

What I contend is that either the first humans were children and had no clue to what it meant by punishment and death. So God, in a sense, would be to blame because He should have explained by dialogue not by mistake what it meant by death and the punishment of being separated from Him.

I wouldn't blame Satan for being Himself. I would say it was God who gave us the freedom of choice to do good and evil. If He is not happy with the choices we (angels included) make, why not give us good choices like which fruit we should have apples or oranges?

I never had a good explanation of this. /shrugs/

 

[Spiderman]

There is a consensus that God gave us a freedom of choice--which means Satan too. So, Satan's choice to tempt us into sin is not pined to God since He doesn't influence our choices.

What I contend is that either the first humans were children and had no clue to what it meant by punishment and death. So God, in a sense, would be to blame because He should have explained by dialogue not by mistake what it meant by death and the punishment of being separated from Him.

I wouldn't blame Satan for being Himself. I would say it was God who gave us the freedom of choice to do good and evil. If He is not happy with the choices we (angels included) make, why not give us good choices like which fruit we should have apples or oranges?

I never had a good explanation of this. /shrugs/

beautiful post. I just wish every Christian pastor would recognize it.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

beautiful post. I just wish every Christian pastor would recognize it.

Thank you

 

[Simplelogic]

One of the things that frustrates me is when people blame everything on Satan. Does God have the power to lock Satan up and restrain him from doing anything? Well, unless he isn't a God with which anything is possible, then Yes.

God made the Devil knowing in advance what he would do, correct? So if the Devil is assaulting you, God wants him to be there. If God wanted him to not be there he wouldn't be, correct?

It's sort of like this. If you have a flock of sheep, and you let a wolf or a lion out of it's cage, and you only give the predator as much leash as you will, knowing that it will attack your sheep, can you place all the blame on the wolf/lion who is just being himself and following natural instincts?

I agree that it is very annoying the way people blame everything on satan. No matter how one sees this topic it should be evident that satan can't force anyone to do anything, apart from their will. So its really a moot point.

However I would challenge the notion that God is responsible for what satan does. I maintain that God didn't create evil and it is a byproduct of God's decision to create beings who are independent of His will. Don't want to derail your discussion here. If you want to discuss this further I recommend:

https://www.religiousforums.com/thr...god-allow-……-posts.172444/page-4#post-4110579

 

[BilliardsBall]

I agree. Anyone who blames everything on Satan is denying that they are a weak human vessel with a sin nature themselves.

 

[Spiderman]

So we have more no on the poll then yes.

For those who answered no, if God doesn't want satan to tempt us, it would not cost him a penny to restrain satan and he chooses not to! Satan is on God's leash. If God doesn't want him to tempt us he could stop it as easy as you could smash a mosquito on your arm.

 

[Glaurung]

God made the Devil knowing in advance what he would do, correct? So if the Devil is assaulting you, God wants him to be there. If God wanted him to not be there he wouldn't be, correct?

What God wants and what he allows are two different things. Remember, God created both us and them with free will. God permits the demonic to tempt humans (as he also allows humans to tempt other humans, and worse) but only because in his foreknowledge he knows that doing so will bring about a greater good. An example is that temptation is also an opportunity to prevail in virtue, which is meritorious in the eyes of God.

God doesn't want anybody to sin, but he permits it nonetheless otherwise our freedom is meaningless.

It's sort of like this. If you have a flock of sheep, and you let a wolf or a lion out of it's cage, and you only give the predator as much leash as you will, knowing that it will attack your sheep, can you place all the blame on the wolf/lion who is just being himself and following natural instincts?

God will never allow the demonic to attack you beyond your ability, or that which you yourself allow. And since all sin requires the assent of the will, you are accountable for your sins because they are ultimately a choice you have made. The demonic can tempt, but they can never compel. Do not think that Satan and his minions will not themselves have to answer for their activities at the final judgement, they will and they know it.

 

[bretzter]

Because of faith.
Was Abrahams faith not to tested when he was asked by God to sacrifice Isaac?.
Was not Jobs integrity tested by the loss of all of his earthly belongings,including
his children?.
Not to mention his being afflicted with the disease of leprosy.
Was not Jesus Christ,the "Prince of Peace" tested on numerous occasions?.
Truth is,is you wish to consider yourself a true Christian follower of Christ,or lead
a godly life,expect yourself to be tested as regards your faith.
Lip service alone won´t cut it.
Actions speak louder than words.
Read in the NT what Christ stated.
And to all supposed Christians,Jews,and Muslims,just as works without faith are
dead,so too faith without works.

 

[bobhikes]

I've always seen the Devil(Satan) as Gods advocate. In the garden the devils puts test to the humans and we fail. In Job its clear the devil is trying to protect the lord and insure that Job is truly a holy man. With Jesus in the desert Satan just tests Jesus 3 times and then Jesus dismisses him. It seems quite odd that a being that wants to take over Gods world would work with God in Job and then test Jesus in the desert but no capture or hurt him.

I see Satan as the tester. We are tested by Satan several times in our lives to prove worthiness. Satan is not evil but your choice maybe.

Revelations is the only book in the New Testament that indicates Satan is something else. This book doesn't jive with anything previous. Jesus says you will never know the time of the end It will come as a thief in the night but revelations spills it all out for you and it will be over a period of years with lots of signs.