There are two worlds.
[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12-13)
Does Satan exist? Jesus thought so.
"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. (Matthew 13:37-39)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." … Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:1-3, 10-11)
(See also Luke 10:18, Luke 11:18)
Who is Satan?
Satan is not a myth, or a symbol. Neither is he a physical being with horns and a pointed goatee. He is a malevolent spiritual being who works to foster rebellion against God in the earthly realm. The Bible tells us a lot about him. We know he has these characteristics:
He is a creature (Ezekiel 28:14).
He was created.
He is not equal to the creator.
He is a spirit being (Ephesians 6:11-12)
[Jesus] replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:18)
He is evil
His sin: Pride / Rebellion against God
"I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14)
He has a personality:
One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." (Job 1:6-7)
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
His agenda for non-followers:
His agenda for followers:
His strategy (See C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters):
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
He has numerous aliases:
Names:
Titles:
Symbolic Representations:
What should our response to Satan be?
Have confidence that Christ has authority over Satan. Remember, Satan is only an angel – albeit a fallen one. He is not the equal to God. He has no direct control over you. Satan may be the Prince of darkness, but Christ is the King of Kings.
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. … this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Peter 3:18, 21-22)
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
… the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-18)
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)