Many people today say they believe in God, yet they seem not to want to believe in Satan or hell. What all must understand is that man’s greatest enemy is Satan. He has been trying to keep man away from God from the very beginning.
When God promised to provide a savior for mankind, Satan tried time and time again to keep this from happening. His every goal is wicked and evil, yet he makes his product look so attractive. If man could see Satan as he is described by Peter, "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8), perhaps they would be more watchful of his devices. Perhaps people would take Peter’s advice as is found in the same verse, "Be sober, be vigilant."
One can read in the Bible of how Satan has sought to take man away from God. In man’s first encounter with this being, in the Garden of Eden, mother Eve was overcome by the lies of Satan. God had told them, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:16, 17).
Satan knew God had told Adam and Eve the truth. Yet he tells Eve, "Ye shall not surely die:" (Gen. 3:4, 5). He continues his lying today. He tells people still that God really does not mean what he has said. God has told us in his word that baptism is for salvation (1 Peter 3:21), yet Satan has people believing that baptism is not important.
Adam and Eve were cast from the garden, and death entered into the world because they listened to Satan’s lie. Man must learn from their mistakes and not believe Satan’s lies. Failing to learn from the recorded word will lead to individuals sinning and losing their souls.
Another method Satan has is that of using scripture. The New Testament tells of a time when Jesus was tempted by Satan. As one examines the text of the account it is seen that Satan tried to use God’s words to entrap the Lord. He did quote the Psalmist, "for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Matt. 4:6). He was tempting the Lord to tempt the words of his Father.
It was true that Jesus would have been protected from such harm, yet this portrayal of him as the Messiah was not as God had planned. Also, Jesus knew the scriptures well and so used them to overcome this temptation. "Ye shall not tempt the lord your God," (Deut. 6:16). It is seen by this encounter that those who would seek God’s approval in their life should study His word and live by those words.
Man must be aware of the works of Satan. God’s word is the only place one can find out how Satan works and how they can be overcome. All men sin, but God has provided a way for all to be saved. Christ came to give the only sacrifice that would appease God. One must contact the blood of Christ for salvation and that is by obeying the gospel. Believe in Jesus, repent of one’s sins, confess the name of Jesus before men, be baptized and then live faithfully.
Satan will still try and overcome Christians, but they have a friend who can help them overcome.