If I Were the Devil
--- title: "If I Were the Devil" date: series: "Sermons 2001 Rewritten" text: "John 8:44" speaker: Ed Rangel location: Waupaca Church of Christ bibleversion: NASB 1995 type: Topical status: draft tags:
sermon
sermons-2001-rewritten
devil
temptation
scripture
obedience
cssclasses:
tpt-sermon
tpt-sermon-outline
tpt-mode-outline
---
If I Were the Devil
Learning Objectives
Identify the devil’s character as liar, murderer, deceiver, and enemy of souls.
Explain why Satan attacks confidence in Scripture.
Show how Satan uses delay, discouragement, difficulty, hypocrisy, and division to keep people from obeying God.
Warn Christians against Satan’s efforts to destroy faith from inside the church.
Call hearers to reject Satan’s lies and obey Christ now.
Thesis
The devil destroys souls by lying about Scripture, time, obedience, difficulty, hypocrisy, and sin, but Christ exposes those lies through the truth of God’s word and calls men to obey now.
The devil rarely walks in wearing a name tag. He does not usually announce, “I am here to destroy your soul.” He lies with a smoother voice than that. He tells the young, “You have time.” He tells the old, “It is too late.” He tells the sinner, “Christianity is too hard.” He tells the Christian, “This little sin will not matter.” He tells the church, “Fight over small things until you forget lost souls.” Jesus called him a liar and the father of lies. We had better believe Jesus.
Introduction.
As a child, I loved being left alone.
Alone meant opportunity.
Alone meant planning.
Alone meant trouble.
I had a dangerous fascination with destruction.
Fireworks.
Fire.
Knives.
Things that exploded, burned, broke, or tore.
I could make a mess and think the punishment was worth it.
That is how foolishness thinks.
That is how rebellion thinks.
That is how a destructive mind justifies itself.
That thought raises a serious question.
What if I were the devil?
What would I do if my aim were to destroy souls?
How would I keep sinners from obeying Christ?
How would I weaken Christians who had already obeyed?
Scripture does not leave us guessing about Satan.
He lies.
He deceives.
He tempts.
He disguises himself.
He seeks to devour.
John 8:44 gives the plain truth about him.
He was a murderer from the beginning.
He does not stand in the truth.
There is no truth in him.
When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature.
He is a liar and the father of lies.
The issue is not whether Satan is clever.
He is.
The issue is whether we will believe Christ or listen to the liar.
I. If I Were the Devil, I Would Attack Confidence in Scripture.
Satan wants men to distrust God’s word.
If I were the devil, I would tell people the Bible is full of contradictions.
I would say it is not inspired.
I would say it has been corrupted.
I would point to translations to create suspicion.
I would make people feel foolish for carrying and reading a Bible.
I would especially keep people from comparing preaching with Scripture.
I would tell them to trust personality.
I would tell them to trust tradition.
I would tell them to trust religious emotion.
I would do anything to keep the Bible closed.
The devil has always attacked God’s word.
In Eden, he questioned what God said.
He twisted God’s command.
He denied God’s warning.
He made disobedience look desirable.
Satan attacks Scripture because Scripture exposes him.
Scripture tells the truth about the devil.
He is a liar.
He is a murderer.
He is a deceiver.
He is headed for judgment.
Scripture tells the truth about God.
The Father is holy.
The Son is Lord.
The Spirit revealed truth.
God’s will is not hidden from those who will hear Him.
Scripture tells the truth about salvation.
The gospel is God’s power to save.
Christ died for sins.
Christ was buried.
Christ was raised.
Sinners must respond in obedient faith.
Scripture shows the road to heaven and warns about the road to hell.
Satan does not want that road map read.
He does not want sinners warned.
He does not want Christians strengthened.
He does not want error exposed.
The word of God must remain our authority.
Romans 1:16–17 teaches that the gospel is God’s power for salvation.
Not human philosophy.
Not denominational tradition.
Not emotional manipulation.
The gospel.
Jesus tied love to obedience.
In John 14:15, love keeps His commandments.
In John 14:24, the one who does not love Him does not keep His words.
The devil wants a religion that claims love while refusing obedience.
We must not be ashamed of Scripture.
Read it.
Study it.
Compare teaching by it.
Test every doctrine by it.
Obey it.
II. If I Were the Devil, I Would Tell Sinners They Have Plenty of Time.
Delay is one of Satan’s favorite lies.
If I were speaking to the young, I would say, “You are too young to become a Christian.”
Enjoy life.
Do not tie yourself down.
Religion is boring.
Everyone your age is having fun.
Why waste hours every week worshiping God?
If I were speaking to the old, I would say, “You are too old to worry about it now.”
You have lived your life.
You have aches and pains.
You are too wise for all this.
If you decide to join something, any church will do.
The lie changes with the age, but the goal is the same.
Keep the soul from obeying Christ.
Keep the sinner waiting.
Keep the conscience quiet until it is too late.
Scripture says now is the time to obey.
Second Corinthians 6:2 teaches that now is the acceptable time and now is the day of salvation.
Not someday.
Not when life slows down.
Not when youth is spent.
Not when death is near.
The Philippian jailer did not wait.
He asked what he must do to be saved.
Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him.
That same hour of the night he was baptized.
Saul of Tarsus was told not to delay.
Acts 22:16 pressed him to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins.
The command was immediate.
The need was urgent.
James 4:14 warns that life is a vapor.
We do not know what tomorrow holds.
Time is not ours to command.
A man who delays obedience is gambling with a soul he cannot replace.
Delay can damn a soul.
Satan does not need every sinner to hate Christ.
He only needs them to postpone obedience.
He only needs them to say, “Later.”
He only needs them to assume they will have another chance.
Many will be lost who intended to obey someday.
Someday after school.
Someday after marriage.
Someday after children.
Someday after retirement.
Someday after one more sin.
The Lord does not promise someday.
He gives today.
He gives the gospel.
He gives the invitation.
He commands repentance.
III. If I Were the Devil, I Would Make Christianity Look Too Hard.
Satan exaggerates the burden of obedience.
If I were the devil, I would say Christianity has too many rules.
You have to pray.
You have to be modest.
You have to be honest.
You have to be sincere.
You cannot lie, cheat, steal, or live any way you please.
You have to assemble too often.
I would make obedience sound like misery.
No joy.
No freedom.
No pleasure.
No life.
I would ask, “Who do they think they are telling you what to do?”
That question is bait.
The real issue is not what people say.
The real issue is what Christ commands.
God’s commandments are not burdensome.
First John 5:3–4 teaches that love for God keeps His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome.
God’s law is not cruelty.
God’s will is not oppression.
God’s commands train us for victory.
Jesus offers rest to the weary.
Matthew 11:28–30 calls the weary to come to Him.
His yoke is easy.
His burden is light.
The world is the cruel master, not Christ.
Sin is the harder master.
Sin enslaves.
Sin shames.
Sin destroys homes.
Sin ruins bodies.
Sin hardens hearts.
Sin ends in death.
Satan uses hypocrisy to discourage obedience.
If I were the devil, I would point to hypocrites in the church.
Liars.
Cheats.
Mean people.
Proud people.
People who speak religion but live poorly.
I would say, “Why try? You will just be a hypocrite like them.”
That is a lie.
The presence of hypocrites does not excuse disobedience.
Another man’s sin will not justify yours.
Hypocrisy is real, but it is not a reason to reject Christ.
Christ did not sin.
Christ did not lie.
Christ did not fail.
Christ is the standard, not the hypocrite.
The keeping of God’s commandments does not mean a person must be perfect before obeying the gospel.
Hebrews 2:17–18 shows Christ as merciful and faithful High Priest.
He understands temptation.
He aids those who are tempted.
The answer to weakness is not delay; the answer is Christ.
IV. If I Were the Devil, I Would Work to Destroy Christians and Churches from Within.
Satan attacks Christians through strife.
If I were the devil, I would enter business meetings.
I would make brethren fight over paint.
I would make them argue over temperature.
I would make them divide over small matters.
I would make them forget souls while defending preferences.
I would cause Christians to pick at the preacher.
Criticize constantly.
Suspect motives.
Wear him down.
Distract him from the work.
Strife wastes spiritual strength.
Time that should be spent teaching is spent arguing.
Energy that should be spent serving is spent fighting.
Love grows cold while pride grows loud.
Satan attacks Christians through temptation.
He studies weakness.
Adam and Eve were tempted.
Cain was tempted.
Many after them listened and fell.
The devil knows how to bait the hook.
Pride for one person.
Lust for another.
Money for another.
Anger for another.
Discouragement for another.
False doctrine for another.
First Peter 5:8 warns that the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
He is not playing.
He is hunting.
He wants spiritual destruction.
Satan disguises his work.
Second Corinthians 11:3 says the serpent deceived Eve by craftiness.
Satan aims at the mind.
He leads people away from simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
He corrupts by deception.
Second Corinthians 11:13–15 warns that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
False apostles may look religious.
Deceitful workers may sound righteous.
Satan’s servants may appear as servants of righteousness.
Not every religious voice is from God.
Some preach another gospel.
Some soften obedience.
Some deny judgment.
Some turn grace into permission.
Some lead people beyond the teaching of Christ.
Satan has already lost the decisive battle, but he still seeks casualties.
Genesis 3:15 promised the crushing blow against the serpent.
Christ delivered that blow through His death and resurrection.
Satan did not defeat Christ.
The empty tomb declares his defeat.
But Satan still works to destroy souls.
He cannot overthrow Christ.
He can still deceive men.
He can still devour the careless.
He can still divide the church when brethren let him.
Christians must stay awake.
Guard the mind.
Guard the heart.
Guard the congregation.
Guard the doctrine.
Resist the devil.
Application.
For the sinner.
Do not believe the lie that you have plenty of time.
Do not believe the lie that Christianity is too hard.
Do not believe the lie that hypocrites excuse your rebellion.
Obey Christ now.
For the Christian.
Do not let Satan make sin look harmless.
Do not let him make obedience look miserable.
Do not let him use your weakness as a doorway.
Watch your soul.
For the church.
Do not let Satan turn the congregation into a battlefield of preferences.
Do not let small matters devour great work.
Do not let false doctrine enter under a religious disguise.
Stand on the word.
For parents and the next generation.
Teach children that the devil lies.
Teach them that delay is dangerous.
Teach them that Scripture is trustworthy.
Teach them that sin is not a toy.
A generation that laughs at the devil’s lies will eventually live under them.
Conclusion.
The devil is a liar.
Jesus said so.
Scripture proves it.
History shows it.
Sin confirms it.
He lies about Scripture.
He wants the Bible doubted, neglected, mocked, and ignored.
But the gospel remains God’s power to save.
He lies about time.
He says, “Later.”
God says, “Now.”
He lies about obedience.
He says, “Too hard.”
Christ says, “Come to Me.”
He lies about the church.
He magnifies hypocrisy to excuse rebellion.
He stirs strife to weaken the faithful.
He disguises error as light.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 gives the final answer.
Fear God.
Keep His commandments.
God will bring every act into judgment.
The question is not whether the devil is lying.
He is.
The question is whether you are listening.
Plan of Salvation
Hear the word.
Faith begins when the sinner hears the message of Christ.
Satan wants the Bible closed, but salvation begins with the word heard.
Reference: Romans 10:17.
Believe Christ.
The sinner must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Faith must rest in Christ rather than Satan’s lies.
Reference: John 8:24.
Repent.
Repentance turns the heart from sin toward God.
Delay is dangerous because God commands repentance now.
Reference: Acts 17:30.
Confess Christ.
Faith must not remain hidden.
The sinner must confess Christ as Lord.
Reference: Romans 10:9–10.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
The sinner must submit to baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
Baptism is not a symbol after salvation; Scripture connects it with forgiveness, new life, and entrance into Christ.
References: Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21.
Live faithfully.
The Christian must resist the devil and remain faithful to Christ.
The Lord calls His people to faithfulness until death.
Reference: Revelation 2:10.
Word Study.
| Word | Original | Meaning | Use in Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devil | διάβολος / diabolos | Slanderer, accuser. | Describes Satan as the one who accuses, lies, and opposes God’s people. |
| Liar | ψεύστης / pseustēs | One who lies, deceiver. | Jesus identifies the devil as a liar and father of lies. |
| Truth | ἀλήθεια / alētheia | Truth, reality, what is reliable. | Satan does not stand in the truth; Christ reveals truth. |
| Murderer | ἀνθρωποκτόνος / anthrōpoktonos | Man-killer, murderer. | Jesus says Satan was a murderer from the beginning. |
| Deceive | ἐξαπατάω / exapataō | To deceive thoroughly. | Satan deceived Eve and continues to corrupt minds. |
| Adversary | ἀντίδικος / antidikos | Opponent, adversary. | First Peter 5:8 describes Satan as the adversary who seeks to devour. |
| Resist | ἀνθίστημι / anthistēmi | To stand against, oppose. | Christians must stand against the devil’s schemes. |
|---|---|---|---| | Devil | διάβολος / diabolos | Slanderer, accuser. | Describes Satan as the one who accuses, lies, and opposes God’s people. | | Liar | ψεύστης / pseustēs | One who lies, deceiver. | Jesus identifies the devil as a liar and father of lies. | | Truth | ἀλήθεια / alētheia | Truth, reality, what is reliable. | Satan does not stand in the truth; Christ reveals truth. | | Murderer | ἀνθρωποκτόνος / anthrōpoktonos | Man-killer, murderer. | Jesus says Satan was a murderer from the beginning. | | Deceive | ἐξαπατάω / exapataō | To deceive thoroughly. | Satan deceived Eve and continues to corrupt minds. | | Adversary | ἀντίδικος / antidikos | Opponent, adversary. | First Peter 5:8 describes Satan as the adversary who seeks to devour. | | Resist | ἀνθίστημι / anthistēmi | To stand against, oppose. | Christians must stand against the devil’s schemes. |
Scripture Interlock Table.
| Testament | Reference | Original Context | Connection to Main Text | Doctrinal Use | Sermon / Teaching Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Testament | Genesis 3:1–15 | Satan deceives Eve, sin enters, and God promises the serpent’s defeat. | Shows Satan’s method of twisting God’s word. | Establishes Satan as deceiver and defeated enemy. | Supports Points I and IV. |
| Old Testament | Proverbs 23:31–32 | Wine is described as attractive but deadly in the end. | Parallels sin’s deceptive appearance and destructive bite. | Warns against lingering over temptation. | Supports Introduction and Application. |
| Old Testament | Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 | The final duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments because judgment is coming. | Gives the answer to Satan’s lies. | Calls all men to obedience before judgment. | Supports Conclusion. |
| New Testament | John 8:44 | Jesus identifies the devil as liar, murderer, and father of lies. | Main text. | Defines Satan’s character. | Governs the sermon. |
| New Testament | Matthew 25:41 | Jesus speaks of eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. | Shows Satan’s destiny and the danger of following him. | Warns of final judgment. | Supports Point II. |
| New Testament | Matthew 11:28–30 | Jesus invites the weary to come to Him and find rest. | Corrects Satan’s lie that obedience to Christ is unbearable. | Shows Christ’s yoke is gracious. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | John 14:15, 24 | Jesus connects love for Him with keeping His commandments. | Refutes religion that claims love while rejecting obedience. | Establishes obedient love. | Supports Point I. |
| New Testament | Acts 16:30–33 | The Philippian jailer hears the word and is baptized that same hour. | Shows immediate obedience rather than delay. | Refutes postponed obedience. | Supports Point II and Plan of Salvation. |
| New Testament | Acts 22:16 | Ananias tells Saul to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins. | Shows urgency and baptism’s connection to forgiveness. | Refutes delay and baptism-as-symbol doctrine. | Supports Point II and Plan of Salvation. |
| New Testament | Romans 1:16–17 | The gospel is God’s power for salvation. | Shows why Satan attacks Scripture and the gospel. | Grounds salvation in the gospel. | Supports Point I. |
| New Testament | 2 Corinthians 6:2 | Paul declares now is the acceptable time and day of salvation. | Refutes Satan’s lie that there is plenty of time. | Presses immediate obedience. | Supports Point II. |
| New Testament | 2 Corinthians 11:3, 13–15 | Paul warns of Satan’s craftiness and disguises. | Shows Satan works through religious deception. | Warns against false teachers and false appearances. | Supports Point IV. |
| New Testament | Hebrews 2:17–18 | Christ is merciful and helps those who are tempted. | Refutes the idea that weakness should delay obedience. | Shows Christ aids the tempted. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | 1 John 5:3–4 | God’s commandments are not burdensome, and faith overcomes the world. | Corrects Satan’s lie that Christianity is unbearable. | Shows obedience belongs to love. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | 1 Peter 5:8 | The devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. | Shows Satan actively seeks destruction. | Calls Christians to vigilance. | Supports Point IV. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Old Testament | Genesis 3:1–15 | Satan deceives Eve, sin enters, and God promises the serpent’s defeat. | Shows Satan’s method of twisting God’s word. | Establishes Satan as deceiver and defeated enemy. | Supports Points I and IV. | | Old Testament | Proverbs 23:31–32 | Wine is described as attractive but deadly in the end. | Parallels sin’s deceptive appearance and destructive bite. | Warns against lingering over temptation. | Supports Introduction and Application. | | Old Testament | Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 | The final duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments because judgment is coming. | Gives the answer to Satan’s lies. | Calls all men to obedience before judgment. | Supports Conclusion. | | New Testament | John 8:44 | Jesus identifies the devil as liar, murderer, and father of lies. | Main text. | Defines Satan’s character. | Governs the sermon. | | New Testament | Matthew 25:41 | Jesus speaks of eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. | Shows Satan’s destiny and the danger of following him. | Warns of final judgment. | Supports Point II. | | New Testament | Matthew 11:28–30 | Jesus invites the weary to come to Him and find rest. | Corrects Satan’s lie that obedience to Christ is unbearable. | Shows Christ’s yoke is gracious. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | John 14:15, 24 | Jesus connects love for Him with keeping His commandments. | Refutes religion that claims love while rejecting obedience. | Establishes obedient love. | Supports Point I. | | New Testament | Acts 16:30–33 | The Philippian jailer hears the word and is baptized that same hour. | Shows immediate obedience rather than delay. | Refutes postponed obedience. | Supports Point II and Plan of Salvation. | | New Testament | Acts 22:16 | Ananias tells Saul to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins. | Shows urgency and baptism’s connection to forgiveness. | Refutes delay and baptism-as-symbol doctrine. | Supports Point II and Plan of Salvation. | | New Testament | Romans 1:16–17 | The gospel is God’s power for salvation. | Shows why Satan attacks Scripture and the gospel. | Grounds salvation in the gospel. | Supports Point I. | | New Testament | 2 Corinthians 6:2 | Paul declares now is the acceptable time and day of salvation. | Refutes Satan’s lie that there is plenty of time. | Presses immediate obedience. | Supports Point II. | | New Testament | 2 Corinthians 11:3, 13–15 | Paul warns of Satan’s craftiness and disguises. | Shows Satan works through religious deception. | Warns against false teachers and false appearances. | Supports Point IV. | | New Testament | Hebrews 2:17–18 | Christ is merciful and helps those who are tempted. | Refutes the idea that weakness should delay obedience. | Shows Christ aids the tempted. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | 1 John 5:3–4 | God’s commandments are not burdensome, and faith overcomes the world. | Corrects Satan’s lie that Christianity is unbearable. | Shows obedience belongs to love. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | 1 Peter 5:8 | The devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. | Shows Satan actively seeks destruction. | Calls Christians to vigilance. | Supports Point IV. |
Invitation.
Hear the word.
Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Believe Christ.
John 8:24 warns that unless you believe that Jesus is He, you will die in your sins.
Repent.
Acts 17:30 says God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Confess Christ.
Romans 10:9–10 teaches confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Live faithfully.
Revelation 2:10 calls the Christian to be faithful until death.
