Should I Forgive Satan
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· 214 viewsThe benefit of offering forgiving Satan when he wrongs us does nothing for Satan, but will greatly benefit us as we will not allow Satan to gain a foothold in our life.
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Introduction
Doing this sermon series I knew I opened the door to some difficult questions that may not have a definitive answer.
I’m afraid that this question is such a case.
Should we forgive Satan for the times that he causes harm in our life?
My response to that question is Why would you want to do that?
Better yet, whose benefit would you do that?
If it is for the benefit of Satan, in hopes that he will change his ways, forget about it.
Satan’s fate has already been sealed. It is just a matter of time before his judgment is finally handed down by Jesus.
10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
If you are hoping that by forgiving Satan, he will come to faith in Jesus, it will not happen.
2. Why are we commanded to forgive in the Lord’s Prayer?
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 9:
Understand that command to forgive is between humans.
We are commanded to forgive each other as God has forgiven us.
We forgive because of God’s mercy in our life.
That mercy extends to our enemies.
We forgive because of Jesus’ example to us.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
We forgive because of God’s grace in our life, and we are called to extend that grace to others.
11 A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
Forgiveness keeps the channels of God’s forgiveness to us flowing.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
This is important to remember,
An unforgiving heart is the seed of bitterness to the heart that will grow.
3. It may be good to forgive Satan for his wrongs against you, so that he will not have a stronghold in your life.
27 “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
Here Jesus is refuting the claim that He is working for Satan as He casts out demons.
Jesus is using the argument that if He was with Satan He would not be doing such things.
Instead, Jesus has come to bind the strong man (Satan) and plunder Him.
What does that teach us about forgiving Satan?
A. You once were a possession of Satan, but Jesus rescued you, and released you from Satan’s chains.
B. If Satan’s works against you causes you to be bound by Him again, you have to forgive him, so that his power does not thwart God’s work in your life.
A meaning for forgiveness in both the Old Testament and New Testament is “letting go”.
C. An unforgiving heart can bind your spirit up.
C. An unforgiving heart can bind your spirit up.
D. An unforgiving heart can cause you to sin.
17 “Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.
18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Leviticus
D. Forgiveness is avenue for your heart to release the hurts in your life so that you are free to be all that God wants you to be.
15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
4. Don’t mistake Satan’s work to harm you as something that God does.
God allows us to go through testing and temptation but He is not the source of it.
Satan wants you to curse God and turn your back on God. Don’t fall into that temptation.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Conclusion
We should forgive Satan only if his actions causes bitterness to take hold in our life.
Forgiveness is a characteristic of the believer toward other humans and should be freely given as God forgives us.
Satan does not deserve your forgiveness, but you deserve to forgive Satan.