Love your enemies - should we even love Satan?

Swamper · Post by **Swamper** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:02 pm

I think the topic title says it all.

Birdie · Post by **Birdie** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:53 pm

I'm sure God loves Satan. Love doesn't mean you would have to obey the person or devil you love.

Turgonian · Post by **Turgonian** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:41 am

I'm sure God's wrath is on Satan.

'Love' does not mean 'have good feelings toward'. It is based on actions, which can even be contrary to our feelings. 'Love your enemies' means you should treat your enemies like you would your friends. Show charity even toward the people who despise you or try to harm you (the 'Good Samaritan' in Jesus's parable went out of his way into danger, to help someone who would have despised him).

Satan does not need or want our charity. We should actively oppose him.

pdavid · Post by **pdavid** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:05 pm

And how might one actively oppose satan?

David

August · Post by **August** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:11 pm

pdavid wrote:And how might one actively oppose satan?

David

By spreading the gospel. The thing that defeats evil in the human context is the blood of Christ, a pillar of the gospel.

pdavid · Post by **pdavid** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:44 pm

Surely that's active promotion of the gospel, not active opposition of satan. How does one actively oppose satan? Actively opposing satan is no more possible than actively opposing god. How can you actively oppose something that isn't a direct intervention in your life, rather it is something that exists beyond space and time. You can only see the apparent effects of satan. It is impossible to actively oppose satan because satan exists in a realm inaccessable to you.

The assumption you have made is that promotion of the gospel is a detriment to the devil, and therefore actively opposing the devil. Unless the former is a direct hinderance to the latter, then this cannot be the case.

David

IRQ Conflict · Post by **IRQ Conflict** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:37 am

pdavid wrote:Actively opposing satan is no more possible than actively opposing god.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

smrpgx · Post by **smrpgx** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:40 pm

It's a blasphemy to say we should love Satan. Even God Himself hates Satan.

Swamper · Post by **Swamper** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:21 pm

smrpgx wrote:It's a blasphemy to say we should love Satan. Even God Himself hates Satan.

Do you have any Bible verses supporting this?

Silvertusk · Post by **Silvertusk** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:18 am

Swamper wrote:
smrpgx wrote:It's a blasphemy to say we should love Satan. Even God Himself hates Satan.
Do you have any Bible verses supporting this?

Yes I would be quite interested to see this as well -for as far as I am concerned God loves all his creation.

YLTYLT · Post by **YLTYLT** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:32 am

I just had this discussion last night with some friends. And I kind of leaned more toward scriptures saying that God loves Satan and so should we.

But Birdie wrote something that gave me something to consider.

Birdie wrote:I'm sure God loves Satan. Love doesn't mean you would have to obey the person or devil you love.

Because, scripture tells us that if we love God we will obey his commands.

So does that mean that to love satan we would obey his commands?

It may be that we obey the commands of those we love AND also Trust.

We have trusted Christ and we show our love by obeying his commands. And although we can love satan, we do not obey his commands because we do not trust him. But I guess you could say you can always trust that Satan will lie.

Just writing whats going through my mind now.......... Any additional thoughts?

puritan lad · Post by **puritan lad** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:58 pm

Swamper wrote:
smrpgx wrote:It's a blasphemy to say we should love Satan. Even God Himself hates Satan.
Do you have any Bible verses supporting this?

Psalm 5:5-6 may be a bombshell for you. (There are others as well).

FFC · Post by **FFC** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:49 pm

puritan lad wrote:
Swamper wrote:
smrpgx wrote:It's a blasphemy to say we should love Satan. Even God Himself hates Satan.
Do you have any Bible verses supporting this?
Psalm 5:5-6 may be a bombshell for you. (There are others as well).

Question. Does God hate the elect when they do wrong?

puritan lad · Post by **puritan lad** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:14 pm

No, but he is grieved.

In any case, comparing the way God looks at the elect to "loving Satan" won't answer many quandries.

bizzt · Post by **bizzt** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:15 am

Is Satan the Embodiment of Sin??