Can Satan injure God’s children or not? (1 John 5:18)
Indeed, even Jesus admitted to Peter, "Satan has requested you, that he may filter you as wheat" (Luke 22:31). Notwithstanding, John demands here that "he who has been conceived of God keeps himself, and the fiendish one doesn't contact him." These sections seem to struggle with one another.
1 John 5:18
NKJV - 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
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Asked November 28 2020
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Anonymous
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Tim Maas
Supporter
I would say that, despite the very real presence of Satan and his demonic forces in this fallen world, nothing can happen to Christians outside of the permissive will of God. And God is able to bring ultimate good to any of His followers out of even the worst contingencies that evil may devise or inflict (Romans 8:28). However, because God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), that good may come in forms other than what we expect or hope for, and may even (at first glance or on the surface) appear from our limited perspective to not be for our benefit. Christians are also responsible to God for not taking actions that knowingly or deliberately put His protection (either physical or spiritual) to the test (Matthew 4:6). And on those occasions when Christians fail in that respect, they should acknowledge that failing, repent of it, and seek God's forgiveness.
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
I believe that 1 John 5:18 talks about God's protection against the devil's abuses in those situations when we resist his temptations. When Satan tempted Jesus to harm Himself (in order to prove His divinity), (Matt 4:5-7) the devil did not have the power to push him off the roof. And when Jesus resisted him, Satan left defeated (Matt 4:10-11). In this life, Christians are not immune to difficulties, illness, and all sorts of problems (John 16:33), out of the 12 disciples, only John died of old age. If we are truly born of God, habitual sinning will not be part of our life any longer (Rom 6:16). A born-again person cannot be subjected to Satan's slavery - we belong to God. Yes, trials will come but we have the assurance that He will be with us every step of the way (Ps 23:4; Rom 8:13; Heb 13:5).
Dale Casselman
Supporter
The Bible talks about Christians being handed over to Satan. 1 Cor. 5:5. Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
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