Satan works to stop God’s plan throughout the Bible and in our lives. Satan had already fallen into sin when God created Adam. Although angels are mighty creations, God created humanity in His image. Satan was at war with God and corrupted one-third of the angels, who also fell into sin. Unlike humankind, there would be no redemption for fallen angels who had once lived in heaven.
After losing his battle with God in heaven, satan could not get back at God, but he could work to corrupt God’s newly created beings. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, falling into sin after being tempted by the serpent. Satan was not aware that God would redeem humanity. For all he knew, there would be no redemption for Adam and Eve, just like the fallen angels, but that was not true.
God’s Plan for Humanity Went Forward
Ephesians 1:4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [1] Before God created Adam and Eve, He knew they were going to fall into sin. The good news is the Lord planned to restore humanity by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for their sins.
When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he tried to stop God’s plan for humanity. Matthew 4:2 For forty days and forty nights, he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time, the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” [2] For forty days, Jesus fasted and prayed as satan assaulted Him in an attempt to stop God’s plans, but to no avail.
Jesus is the Second Adam
Satan had defeated Adam, but he would not defeat Jesus, who was a descendant of Adam and is both God and man. Romans 5:15 For the sin of this one man, Adam brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.[3] Satan works hard each day trying to stop the plans God has for us because he hates God and His children.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, people come to faith, receive forgiveness, and become children of God. As the Holy Spirit leads us, the Lord can begin to unfold His fantastic plans for our lives, furthering God’s plan in this world. Following the Lord is not easy, but with His help, you can be an overcomer!
To learn how satan works to stop God’s plan, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-is-tempted
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.