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Is it Biblical for Christians to hate Satan? Does God hate him? This is one of those questions that are not directly answered in Scripture with a yes or no, but should be evident by what God approves of and what God hates. God hates falsehood, lies and liars- Jesus said Satan is the father of lies, who has no truth in him. Deuteronomy 7:9-10: “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.” If God is like this to us what is he like to Satan who cannot repent and is against His work. Psalms 11:5: “The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.” Proverbs 6:16-19: “ These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Every one of these mentioned is what Satan possesses and acts like. It is Satan who had tricked Eve to eat from the tree that gave her knowledge of evil by tempting her to be as god. This is why we are told “by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14) so we can recognize evil and stay away from it. Peter explains: “the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:12). In Acts 13:8-10 When Elymas the sorcerer tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. “ Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil , you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? Paul recognized the influence and did not mince words. Are we to love or hate Satan? we are to hate every evil thing. If we soften our perspective we then allow it into our lives. Ps 119:104-105 “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Ps 97:10: “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” Amos 5:15: “Hate evil, love good” Ps 45:7 “You love righteousness and hate wickedness” Ps 5:5-6 “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; you hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Believers are instructed-- Romans 12:9 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good”. Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Jesus, when the disciples asked him top teach them how to pray (Matthew 6:13) Jesus said ‘And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. In Jesus’ prayer to the Father he prays for us, ‘You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15-16). Satan is called the evil one. We are promised “who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3-4). James 3:14-16: “do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” This is what Satan’s nature is like. Jesus said in John 3:20, “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Satan is in stealth mode as much as possible as he devises evil and hides in darkness trying not to be exposed by the light. Ephesians 2:2-3 We once “walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” This is the disobedience that Satan influences us in through our sinful nature until one is regenerated. Satan is known as the enemy of our souls. He oppresses, he takes captives, he deceives, he lies; he kills and destroys-Peter calls him our adversary1 Peter 5:8. Jesus commends the church that “cannot bear those who are evil” (Revelation 2:2). Satan is evil. The Bible tells us to pray for those who do evil to us, but in this matter there is no redemption for Satan and his rebellious demons that are already sentenced waiting to be judged. In 1 John 3:8 we are told “for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Satan is to be “cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41, as are all those who refuse Christ and follow his ways. The devil hated Jesus and used everything at his disposal to prevent him from a successful mission. John 15:23 “He who hates Me hates My Father also.” If God and Jesus hate sin and evil and Satan is the author of it, (and embodies it) then certainly we are justified to hate what God hates.
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