In the Bible we read that Satan hates men and pushes them to commitsin. But God loves the sinner but not the sin. Satan is the one, whodeceives the whole world, but Jesus is the one who carried on thecross the sins of the whole world.
The Word of God tells us about three categories of people, who reactdifferently when they hear the gospel.
– The person hears the message of salvation, but later forgets it, ordoesn’t understand it. The reason is that the enemy of our soulsteals the seed of the word from his heart. And it happens indifferent ways: One reason is that someone has a lot of thoughts inhis mind and forgets the truths he heard from God’ s word. Or maybesomeone accepts the lies of the enemy, and ignores the truth. Peoplealso have religious prejudice, because of wrong religious teachings.
Or someone believes wrong principles, like, ‘’a man cannot escape hisdestiny.’’ So, the person believes that God is responsible for hisproblems and sorrows. In contrast God doesn’t cause evil. God alwayshelps us and sets us free, He protects us and He provides. For thisreason, everyone has to keep the truth of the word in his heart, inorder to resist the deceptive ways of the enemy.
– The person has heard the message of the Gospel, but when afflictionor persecution comes he falls away. Unfortunately, all over the world Satan deceives people who completely deviate from the truth of thegospel and create religions. And those religious people who aredeceived by Satan, persecute the real Christians, who are saved bygrace through faith in Jesus Christ. And throughout history, real Christians have always preferred to be persecuted and be eternallywith their Redeemer, rather than deny Him and lose eternity.
Examples of persecutions from the Bible. Satan has always placedobstacles to the spread of the gospel and used , hard-hearted peopleor hypocrites against Jesus and the prophets. So there were, peoplewith prejudice, false witnesses against Stephen, religious fanaticsagainst the early Christians, the unfaithful and cruel Herod against Peter and James, materialists and greedy against Paul and Silas,mockers against Paul, liars who spread the message that Jesus was notresurrected etc. And of course, Satan used people full of hatred, whotortured, mocked, and violently stoned, and prisoned Christians whoendured everything and glorified Jesus with their faith till the end.
And of course the same happens today, as well. So, we are really worthliving not for ourselves, but for the Son of God who died and roseagain for our own sake.
– The person has heard the message of the Gospel, but the cares of theworld and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word. Jesus said:Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give yourest. The bible tells us: Teach those who are rich in this world notto be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable.
Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for ourenjoyment. And the Bible also tells us: Love not the world, neitherthe things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the loveof the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust ofthe flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not ofthe Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away and thelust also, but he that does the will of God remains for ever.
Colossians 1/13 Mathew 9/13 Revelation 12/9 John 1/29 Matthew 13
– Daniel 3/25,26 Exodus 14/21,22 A’ Kings 17/4 Acts 27/23, 5/19
– B’ Timothy 3/12 Luke 6/22,23 Mathew 5/11,12 Acts 7/51 Matthew23/25-27 13/57 Acts 6/13 9/1 12/2-4 16/19-24 17/32 Mathew28/11-15 Hebrews 11/35-39 B’ Kor 5/15
– Mathew 13/22 11/28 Mark 4/19 A’ Tim 6/17 A’ John 2/15,16 2/17