Yes, indeed, Satan has existed since before mankind. But what was Satan’s first lie?
God tells the first human being: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17).
Satan tells the woman: “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5).
Satan tempts the woman to eat of the forbidden fruit **by lying **about what God has said would happen if she ate of it.
Satan’s first lie? Man “shall not surely die.” He is an immortal soul!
And human beings have believed in that lie ever since. Indeed, Satan not only predated mankind for probably millions of years, but he is also “the most cunning [creature] that the Lord God had made” (Gen. 3:1).
Nice Post!
This reminds me in some ways at Easter Vigil and through Easter when the (R.C.I.A. candidates") and Faithful make their Easter Promise and their Renunciation of Satan (the Father of all lies).
Do you reject sin so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?
Do you reject the glamor of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin?
Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?
Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from dead, and now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Do yo believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
**The renunciation of the devil must have been adopted in all the churches prior to Nicaea. The North African church in Tertullian’s day had: "I renounce the devil, his pomp, and his angels. Ambrose’s church in Milan had the candidate renounce, “the devil and his works, the world, its luxuries and pleasures.”
In Gaul, the renunciation included, the devil, the world, and sins."
According to Chrysostom, at Antioch it was; “I renounce you, Satan, and your pomp, and your service,” and at Constantinople, I renounce you, Satan, and your pomp, and your service, and your angels.
The renunciation was very personal. Satan is addressed directly as if he were present and visible; he is defied “to his face” by having the candidate face the west during the renunciation, a custom apparently universal by the fourth century. In many places hands were outstretched towards the west, towards the devil, as though he were present himself. In some churches the candidates were even made to spit towards the west.
To renounce Satan thus is not to reject a mythological being in whose existence one does not even believe. It is to reject an entire worldview made up of pride and self-afirmation, of that pride which has truly taken human life from God and made it into darkness, death and hell.
One can be sure that Satan himself will not forget this renunciation from followers of Christ. Indeed this renunciation is a challenge. (“Breathe and spit upon him!”. A war is declared! A fight begins whose real issue is either eternal life or eternal damnation.
For this is what being a Christian Catholic is truly about! This is what our choice ultimately means.**
Peace
Chris
