Why does the devil do Gods work?

ScumLord

We all know the storey, follow Gods rules or go to hell to suffer eternal damnation at the hands of the devil but why does the devil, the supposed sworn enemy of God and good go along with this?

By doing the eternal damnation and offering up somewhere where the bad or non Christian go to suffer isn't he playing into the hands of God? Surely if he wanted to defeat God he'd offer up a better alternative to Gods heaven and try and steal Gods customer (so to speak) rather than live on Gods scraps.

Is the devil really on Gods side?

wolfsbane

ScumLord wrote: »

We all know the storey, follow Gods rules or go to hell to suffer eternal damnation at the hands of the devil but why does the devil, the supposed sworn enemy of God and good go along with this?

By doing the eternal damnation and offering up somewhere where the bad or non Christian go to suffer isn't he playing into the hands of God? Surely if he wanted to defeat God he'd offer up a better alternative to Gods heaven and try and steal Gods customer (so to speak) rather than live on Gods scraps.

Is the devil really on Gods side?

Hell is not run by the devil, contrary to popular understanding. It is the place he is going to be cast into for all eternity. He will be an inmate, not a guard.

But he does serve God in this life, albeit unwillingly. All his plots and actions for evil are turned by God to accomplish God's predetermined purposes.

The prime example of this was the crucifixion of Christ. Satan meant it to end God's purpose of giving a Messiah to His people, but God turned it to be the very means of accomplishing Messiah's work - to save His people from their sins. Christ died as the innocent substitute for His guilty people. He bore the punishment for their sins in His own body, poured out His soul for their sins:
Isaiah 53
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2053&version=NKJV

pts

wolfsbane wrote: »

Hell is not run by the devil, contrary to popular understanding. It is the place he is going to be cast into for all eternity. He will be an inmate, not a guard.

But he does serve God in this life, albeit unwillingly. All his plots and actions for evil are turned by God to accomplish God's predetermined purposes.

The prime example of this was the crucifixion of Christ. Satan meant it to end God's purpose of giving a Messiah to His people, but God turned it to be the very means of accomplishing Messiah's work - to save His people from their sins. Christ died as the innocent substitute for His guilty people. He bore the punishment for their sins in His own body, poured out His soul for their sins:
Isaiah 53
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2053&version=NKJV

A bit like a Predestination paradox?

wolfsbane

pts wrote: »

A bit like a Predestination paradox?

Never heard of that before - Thanks - but it certainly has similarities.

ScumLord

wolfsbane wrote: »

But he does serve God in this life, albeit unwillingly. All his plots and actions for evil are turned by God to accomplish God's predetermined purposes.

That sounds very underhanded, god basically fuels the devils evil plans and manipulates him into doing evil so that he can step in and save the day. That god knows what evil the devil has planed and rather than use preventative action to stop the devil allows him to go through with his evil acts seems very self serving to me.

Soul Winner

wolfsbane wrote: »

Hell is not run by the devil, contrary to popular understanding. It is the place he is going to be cast into for all eternity. He will be an inmate, not a guard.

But he does serve God in this life, albeit unwillingly. All his plots and actions for evil are turned by God to accomplish God's predetermined purposes.

The prime example of this was the crucifixion of Christ. Satan meant it to end God's purpose of giving a Messiah to His people, but God turned it to be the very means of accomplishing Messiah's work - to save His people from their sins. Christ died as the innocent substitute for His guilty people. He bore the punishment for their sins in His own body, poured out His soul for their sins:
Isaiah 53
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2053&version=NKJV

Not too sure about that if I understand you correctly. Remember Satan did not want Christ to die on the cross? In the wilderness Satan tempted Him with power if only He would but bow down and worship him. And Jesus had to rebuke Satan through Peter because Satan hath literally clothed himself with Peter and attempted to reprove Jesus from going to the cross using the otherwise good intentions of Peter. Peter was used as a vessel for the message of Satan, which is basically to serve one's self, and look out for one's self. Jesus saw right through this charade and rebuked him:

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matthew 16:23

The last thing Satan wanted was for Christ to die on the cross.

Soul Winner

ScumLord wrote: »

That sounds very underhanded, god basically fuels the devils evil plans and manipulates him into doing evil so that he can step in and save the day. That god knows what evil the devil has planed and rather than use preventative action to stop the devil allows him to go through with his evil acts seems very self serving to me.

Really briliant read if you're willing to give it a whirl:



'The Invisible War' - Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse

From the Back Cover:

An exploration of the great conflict going on between good and evil within the spiritual realm, Dr. Barnhouse carefully traces this vast spiritual conflict back to the period before the beginning of recorded time. Step by step, he then follows its unfolding to the final battle at the end of time. Here are answers to questions that have long troubled thinking people--concerning the trials, sufferings, and difficulties of life--with added helpful suggestions for facing life's obstacles.

Dr. Herbert Henry Ehrenstein says, "I am certain that this book will take its place as one of the greatest Dr. Barnhouse wrote during his lifetime, unfolding as it does an entirely new area of biblical truth for many readers who have never before contemplated this invisible battle involving God, Satan, angels, demons, and mankind. Indeed, I know of no other available book of so complex a subject."

wolfsbane

Soul Winner wrote: »

Not too sure about that if I understand you correctly. Remember Satan did not want Christ to die on the cross? In the wilderness Satan tempted Him with power if only He would but bow down and worship him. And Jesus had to rebuke Satan through Peter because Satan hath literally clothed himself with Peter and attempted to reprove Jesus from going to the cross using the otherwise good intentions of Peter. Peter was used as a vessel for the message of Satan, which is basically to serve one's self, and look out for one's self. Jesus saw right through this charade and rebuked him:

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matthew 16:23

The last thing Satan wanted was for Christ to die on the cross.

I don't think we should read it that Peter was directly influenced by Satan in his attempt to dissuade Christ. But the Bible directly says Judas was so controlled in his plan to deliver Christ to the Jewish authorities. And their plan was always to kill Him. In Satan's mind Christ's death ended His Messiahship - the victorious Resurrection was hidden from him.

Peter rather manifested a carnal mind-set, one that had earthly advance in view rather than God's kingdom. All such is of the Devil, but not directly so. It is our natural human way of thinking.

As for Satan himself, any sin by Christ would have been just as good - even better - than killing Him. All would have ended the prospect of the Messiah who would deliver His people from their sins. But he failed in all the temptations, so killing the Messiah was the logical alternative.

wolfsbane

ScumLord wrote: »

That sounds very underhanded, god basically fuels the devils evil plans and manipulates him into doing evil so that he can step in and save the day. That god knows what evil the devil has planed and rather than use preventative action to stop the devil allows him to go through with his evil acts seems very self serving to me.

God does not make the Devil sin, He just chooses which sins He permits him to do.

And why must God stop every evil? He is sovereign, and is entitled to allow the sinner to sin when it serves to achieve His ultimate good goal.