Satan yes, leads us away from. God gives him the authority to tempt man, to see who will sand, and who will fall. Even Jesus was tempted by Satan before Jesus began his ministry. All of God’s created beings, men and angels alike, were given FREE WILL. Satan was not “created evil;” out of pride, Satan chose to exercise his free will in defiance of God. This resulted NOT in his being consigned to hell (not yet); Satan and the angels who chose to follow him were cast down to EARTH. God doesn’t “let” Satan tempt humans. WE LET HIM DO IT OURSELVES.Sorry if this is a bad question, but it is something I have been thinking about the last few days. I’ve always been under the impression that Satan is the one tempting us into sin, to separate us from God. If this is true, why does he have such authority? If he is just an angel, how come there isn’t an angel to lead us to good as equally as there is an angel to lead us to sin?
"Each person is tempted when he/she is lured and enticed by his/her own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death."James 1:14and15. This is a process that starts out small and grows, and then grows into sin and then death, spiritual death. A small mental suggestion usually triggered by exposure to or engaging in activity where sin was involved or committed. This is then entertained, debated with, and begins to grow until an rationalization is reached. Then, sin. The only way something can grow is if it is fed. We feed our desires by entertaining them. A desire is usually laid to rest if we avoid those people we used to sin with or the places where we used commit sin. Not always the case, but usually. Dealing with temptation is a tough row to hoe.Sorry if this is a bad question, but it is something I have been thinking about the last few days. I’ve always been under the impression that Satan is the one tempting us into sin, to separate us from God. If this is true, why does he have such authority? If he is just an angel, how come there isn’t an angel to lead us to good as equally as there is an angel to lead us to sin?
Well put.As previously mentioned, the devil does sometimes tempt us by suggestion, but as indicated by Scripture, we are more often drawn away by our own sinful inclination (concupiscence). This concupiscence is one of the consequences of original sin. Before the fall of Adam & Eve, our passions were ordered as God intended, but since the fall, they have become disordered and we are more inclined to be drawn away by our own sinful nature. However, as we draw closer to God (particularly through the Sacraments and choice of lifestyle), we will find that these sinful desires have less appeal because we see sin for what it is…death.
CSJ