Can Christians Become Demon-Possessed?
May 22nd, 2008
(By John MacArthur)
We must remember, first of all, that God’s Word is our only reliable source of truth about Satan and demons.
Princeton theologian and scholar Dr. Charles Hodge rightly warned:
No amount of learning, no superiority of talent, nor even the pretension to inspiration, can justify a departure from the . . . truths taught by men to whose inspiration God has borne witness. All teachers must be brought to this standard; and even if an angel from heaven should teach anything contrary to the Scriptures, he should be regarded as anathema, Gal. 1:8. It is a matter of constant gratitude that we have such a standard whereby to try the spirits whether they be of God (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972], p. 395).
What does God’s Word, the touchstone of truth, say? Can demons inhabit or spatially indwell a true believer? Can they walk through an open door and become a squatter? Proponents of today’s spiritual warfare movement say yes, but they base their answer on subjective experience, not on God’s Word. The Bible makes it clear that such a claim has no justifiable basis.
There is no clear example in the Bible where a demon ever inhabited or invaded a true believer. Never in the New Testament epistles are believers warned about the possibility of being inhabited by demons. Neither do we see anyone rebuking, binding, or casting demons out of a true believer. The epistles never instruct believers to cast out demons, whether from a believer or unbeliever. Christ and the apostles were the only ones who cast out demons, and in every instance the demon-possessed people were unbelievers.
The collective teaching of Scripture is that demons can never spatially indwell a true believer. A clear implication of 2 Corinthians 6, for example, is that the indwelling Holy Spirit could never cohabit with demons:
What harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (vv. 15–16).
In Colossians 1:13, Paul says God “delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Salvation brings true deliverance and protection from Satan. In Romans 8:37, Paul says we overwhelmingly conquer through Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:57, he says God gives us the victory. In 2 Corinthians 2:14, he says God always leads us in triumph. In 1 John 2:13, John says we have overcome the evil one. And, in 4:4, he says the indwelling Holy Spirit is greater than Satan. How could anyone affirm those glorious truths, yet believe demons can indwell genuine believers?
DEMON POSSESSION AND TRUE CONVERSION
Many of the leading voices in today’s spiritual warfare movement are too quick to hail every profession of faith in Christ as proof of salvation. That reflects the easy-believism that has swept this generation.
A thorough biblical understanding of the doctrine of conversion makes it clear that demons could never indwell or possess a believer. Jonathan Edwards wrote about true conversion:
Scripture describes conversion in terms which imply or signify a change of nature: being born again, becoming new creatures, rising from the dead, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, dying to sin and living to righteousness, putting off the old man and putting on the new, becoming partakers of the divine nature, and so on.
It follows that if there is no real and lasting change in people who think they are converted, their religion is worthless, whatever their experiences may be. Conversion is the turning of the whole man from sin to God. God can restrain unconverted people from sin, of course, but in conversion he turns the very heart and nature from sin to holiness. The converted person becomes the enemy of sin.
What, then, shall we make of a person who says he has experienced conversion, but whose religious emotions soon die away, leaving him much the same person as he was before? He seems as selfish, worldly, foolish, perverse and un-Christian as ever. This speaks against him louder than any religious experiences can speak for him.
In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, neither a dramatic experience nor a quiet one, neither a wonderful testimony nor a dull one, counts for anything. The only thing that counts is a new creation (The Experience That Counts! p. 99).
In Matthew 12, Christ rebuked those who were following Him just for the sake of witnessing great signs and wonders:
When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came” ; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation (vv. 43–45).
Instead of responding with spectacular signs and wonders, Christ addressed their need for salvation. Many people appear to have their lives in order. But in reality, they have not trusted Christ as Savior and Lord. Their souls are “unoccupied” — that is, the Holy Spirit does not indwell them. Thus they are open to demonic invasion. That cannot be true of those whose bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 6:16).
According to 1 Peter 1:5, when Christ reigns in a person’s life, that person is kept by God’s power. As a result, “the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18). When the Holy Spirit inhabits a person, no demon can set up house as a squatter. Indwelling by demons is only evidence of a lack of genuine salvation.
(For more on what the Bible says about Satan and demons, see John’s book How to Meet the Enemy.)
This is so important, not just for the spiritual warfare issue, but also for an idea that is so prevelant in many churches today: blaming the devil for one’s actions.
I can’t count how many times Christians caught in sin have told me that Satan’s really trying to get them. Even church members who have a hard time waking up for Sunday morning service blame it on the devil.
Now of course, Satan is out there trying to put up obstacles in our lives, but who is any Christian to think that the non-omnipotent, non-omnipresent Satan is dealing with him specifically? And when will we just realize that most of the time. . .it’s out fault? Thank God He transformed us from darkness to light. Now the thing I struggle with most is my own flesh…I don’t think I can handle a demon as well!
I wholehearted agree!
Satan can tempt us (though it is hard to tell the difference between what our flesh does and what the devil does) but cannot indwell us.
Over the years we’ve heard of Christian leaders and pastors being caught in sin and in violation of secular laws, usually sex scandals and theft or improper use of church funds. While we understand that even Christians are capable of falling into grievous errors and sins and that we’re not suppose to judge,I think its a fair observation that these church leaders give religion, in general, and Christianity, in particular, a really bad name. Having said that, I believe that many regular church members, those who are not in leadership positions, are equally guilty of giving religion and Christianity a really bad name in their own private ways. Really the only difference between the sinning church leader and sinning church member is the degree of exposure by which the offenders and the offenses are broadcast. They are both guilty although I suppose the offending church leaders have more to answer for, in the eyes of God and men, by reason of their positions.
When Christians commit egregious and flagrant sins, could we say they’re not genuinely converted in the first place? They’re not indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Christ does not reign in their lives and they’re not kept by God’s power? Have they been touched by the evil one? Are there biblical bases with which we can give a definite yes or no answers to those questions? Or shall we just say “only God knows” and have no opinion at all?
Many times I’m embarrassed at how and who our public Christian leaders are exposed as. I said they give religion and Christianity a really bad name. But its more than that. They strengthen peoples’ skeptism and agnosticism. They bolster peoples’ unbelief. They push people to hell.
(To the Moderator: This is a revision of my previous post on the issue. Kindly disregard the previous one, and if this meets your standard, please publish this one instead. If you could delete this note, that will be great too. Thanks. Jun)
Over the years we’ve heard of Christian leaders and pastors being caught in sin and in violation of secular laws, usually sex scandals and theft or improper use of church funds. While we understand that even Christians are capable of falling into grievous errors and sins and that we’re not suppose to judge I think its a fair observation that these church leaders give religion, in general, and Christianity, in particular, a really bad name. Having said that, I believe that many regular church members, those who are not in leadership positions, are equally guilty of giving religion and Christianity a really bad name in their own private ways. Really the only difference between the sinning church leader and sinning church member is the degree of exposure by which the offenders and the offenses are broadcast. They are both guilty although I suppose the offending church leaders have more to answer for, in the eyes of God and men, by reason of their positions.
When Christians commit egregious and flagrant sins, could we say they’re not genuinely converted? They’re not indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Christ does not reign in their lives and they’re not kept by God’s power? Have they been touched by the evil one? Were they demon-possessed during the entire time they were committing the sin and performing the criminal act? Should we suspend our judgment and just say that only God knows?
Some critics of Christianity say we always have convenient excuse whenever we commit sin, that is, we put the blame on the devil. They even say Christianity has tendency to encourage criminal behavior because Christians believe they are assured of forgiveness no matter what wrong they do or no matter what crime they commit.
Many times I’m embarrassed when our public Christian leaders are exposed as hypocrites, unethical and even criminals. I said they give religion and Christianity a really bad name. But its more than that. They strengthen peoples’ skeptism and agnosticism. They bolster peoples’ unbelief. They push people to hell. Are they demon-possessed?
When Christians commit egregious and flagrant sins, could we say they’re not genuinely converted? They’re not indwelt by the Holy Spirit?
Part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to bring our sin to our attention and call us to repentance. We are not condemned because we sin. We are condemned because we fail to confess our sin and repent.
1 John 1:9-10 (New International Version)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
1 John 2:1-2 (New International Version)
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Argument one - There is no clear N.T. example of a true believer ever having been demonized.
Response
• If we argue that because there is no N.T. example of a demon being expelled from a believer, therefore it can’t be true, then we must understand that our stand or belief is being built on silence alone.
• The same argument could be used for the O.T. believers. There is no internal evidence that a covenant child of God, namely the Jews could be demonized. In the Old testament there is zero mention of any practice or methodology of deliverance or exorcism except David playing the harp for King Saul.
• However, the silence of scripture didn’t prevent the reality of the event. Neither Moses nor the prophets ever spoke to it doctrinally. There was no methodology or guidelines mentioned to the priesthood as to how to deal with such things, yet we know by Jesus’ statement in Matthew and by the book of Acts that there were priestly exorcists.
Mat 12:27 But if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
Act 19:13 And certain from the strolling Jews, exorcists, undertook to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those having evil spirits, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.
Jesus came under the O.T. economy to the Jews and cast demons out of His own covenant people. If the Pharisees had said to Jesus, “Where do you find this in the scriptures?” He could not have pointed to any scripture stating that a child of Abraham could be demonized. If someone asked the Pharisees where they received authority to cast out demons, where would they point in the scriptures? There was no clear scripture they could use.
It is a matter of historical and biblical fact the Jews practiced exorcism before Jesus came and after he had left. The question must be asked, “If one needs scripture alone as a basis for the possibility of something, where did the Jews get the idea of casting out demons?” Jesus recognized the practice of it in his day.
However, we have a very plain example of a saved woman who was demonized in Luke 13:10-16.
Luk 13:10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bowed together and was not able to be completely erect. 12 And when Jesus saw her, He called and said to her, Woman, you are delivered from your infirmity. 13 And He laid His hands on her. And instantly she was made erect, and she glorified God. 14 And answering, the synagogue ruler, being angry because Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, said to the crowd, There are six days in which it is right to work. Therefore in them come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 And the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the sabbath loosen his ox or ass from the stall and lead it away, to give it drink?
Luk 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound, lo these eighteen years, be loosened from this bond on the Sabbath day?
Jesus called this woman a “daughter of Abraham”, which is a term in scripture only used for true believers having genuine salvation. (See Rom. 4:8-22 especially verse 11,16; Rom. 9:8;) All true believers are the children of Abraham, whether Jew or Gentile. (Gal. 3:7) In Jn. 8:31-41; 44, Jesus told the Jews who boasted in the fact that they were of the physical seed of Abraham that Abraham was not their father, rather Satan. Being a Jew did not make one a child of Abraham.
John says - “Proponents of today’s spiritual warfare movement say yes, but they base their answer on subjective experience, not on God’s Word. The Bible makes it clear that such a claim has no justifiable basis.”
This isn’t true, John needs to do a lot more research. I have read a lot of material on spiritual warfare and often they are stacked with the word of of God. Far more than what John’s article contains.
Deliverance ministry isn’t a new charismatic phenomenom. It has been practiced for two thousand years. Read the following carefully:
Early Church And The Exorcism Of Believers
It isn’t a new idea that Christians were in need of deliverance after faith in Christ. In my studies of church history I have found that exorcism for the believer was a common practice prior to their baptism.
I want to make it clear that the early church believers do not supersede scripture but at times they can be helpful to our understanding of early practices and beliefs whether they were bad or good. The first three centuries of church history is replete with pre-baptism converts to go through exorcism. Cultic worship mixed with sexual perversion, idolatry, drunkenness, and drugs was so rampant that exorcism was a constant practice among early believers.
Church leadership began to deal with a new convert’s past before he/she was baptized. In the early Church a person especially trained and appointed to pray and drive out evil from those about to be baptized performed exorcisms.
Read the following accounts of some early church writings concerning what we would call today, “Deliverance Ministry”.
“This exorcism, which at first only called on them to renounce the devil and all his works, was subsequently modified so as to include certain prayers; adjurations in the name of Christ, commanding the demons to leave the persons about to be baptized; and imposition of hands.” (Tertullian, Apology, 23, translation in ANF 3:37–38.)
Breathing upon (insufflation) the catechumen (prebaptism convert) was next added and was administered both before baptism to signify the expulsion of the devil and after immersion to symbolize the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cyril of Jerusalem exhorted his catechumens to receive exorcism with diligence in the time of catechising; for whether it was insufflation or exorcism, it was thought to be salutary to the soul. (Cyril of Jerusalem, Procatechesls, 9, translation in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 14 vols. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1978),
“Moreover, from the day they are chosen, let a hand be laid on them and let them be exorcised (exorkizein) daily. And when the day draws near on which they are to be baptized, let the bishop himself exorcise (exorkizein) each one of them, that he may be certain that he is purified. But if there is one who is not purified let him be put on one side because he did not hear the word of instruction with faith. For the evil and strange spirit remained with him” (Apostolic Tradition 20.3-4, 8 This instruction appears in every versional form of the Apostolic Tradition, including the Sahidic, Arabic, and Ethiopie, implying that this was the practice in these areas of the church as well.)
And when the days approach [for the occasion of baptism], let the bishop exorcise each one of them separately by himself, so that he may be persuaded that he is pure. For if there be one that is not pure, or in whom is an unclean spirit, let him be reproved by that unclean spirit. If then anyone is found under any such suspicion, let him be removed from the midst (of them], and let him be reproved and reproached because he has not heard the word of the commandments and of instruction faithfully, because the evil and strange spirit remained in him (Testamentum Domini 2.6).
Egcria attests to this practice in the Jerusalem catechumenate (Peregrinatio 46). Similarly, Cyril of Jerusalem urges the catechumens to receive the exorcisms with earnestness and goes so far as to say that “without exorcisms the soul cannot be purified” (Prochatechesis 9). In one of his writings on catechesis, speaking about an exorcism prior to baptism, he told a catechumen, “on the command to stretch out your hand, you renounced Satan as though he were there in person” (Mystagogical Catechesis 1.2).
Chrysostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Ambrose, Cyprian, Augustine, and other early Church fathers testify to the practice. It certainly cannot be described as a practice isolated to the Roman church; it was practiced in the catechumenate in Syria, Jerusalem, Egypt, North Africa, Asia Minor, Italy, and elsewhere.
A corollary to this practice was a time of renunciation of Satan and deliverance during the actual baptismal ceremony. As the new Christians were baptized, they were also instructed to make a verbal renunciation of Satan:
“And a deacon shall take the oil of exorcism and stand at the left hand of the presbyter . . . And when the presbyter grasps each one of those who will receive baptism, let him command him to renounce, saying, “I renounce you, Satan, with all your service and all your works.” And when he has renounced all these, let him anoint him with the oil of exorcism, saying, “Let every spirit be cast far from you” (Apostolic Tradition 21.8-1O).
Immediately following this exorcism and renunciation of Satan, the person being baptized would confess their allegiance to Christ in a creedal form:
I believe in the only true God, the Father, the Almighty, and his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior with his Holy Spirit, the giver of life to everything, three in one substance (homoousios), one divinity, one Lordship, one kingdom, one faith, one baptism, in the holy catholic apostolic church, which lives forever. Amen (Apostolic Tradition 21.12).
Deliverance ministry has taken place throughout church history. It isn’t a new doctrine produced by charismatics. It crosses all denominational lines. I can’t think of a more logical time to deal with people than right after their conversion and before their baptism. Especially with the kinds of gross sin that have invaded our society.
Too many in the church today have reduced everything to a simple prayer that they believe immediately brings us into God’s fullness. However, we know in Ephesus people burned their books and renounced the hidden things of darkness.
Deliverance ministry contains within itself a form of discipleship that runs counter to our modern culture and seems strange to the majority of Christians today. It is equated by many denominations and church movement leaders as balderdash, hogwash, and as foolish as little green men on the moon. However, I think it very important to begin to take it more seriously in this time of great falling away where people are getting more involved with strange fire religion.
Deliverance ministry in the early church also involved bible study, learning Christian doctrine, and growing in the grace of God. There are so many important truths being overlooked by conservative Christian leaders because of outrageous and sensationalistic abuses by some in the church. I think that we need to revisit what the early church understood about the power and influence of the enemy. Instead of overreacting and condemning deliverance altogether, it may be better to learn how to employ better deliverance methodologies and create a better environment for discussion.
The teaching of demonology and spiritual warfare may be considered irrelevant to people who have been raised in modern society that has a world view so different from the first-century polytheistic culture. But if we throw out the baby with the bathwater then we are in danger of not being able to deal with the full effects of the rise of false religions that are exploding in the west.
This is a real phenomenon in our postmodern world. People in the west are deserting Christianity while at the same time exploring spirituality through other religions. Are we ready to deal with people and their religious experiences as they are converted and come into the church?
What will be the most effective form of discipleship? Could deliverance play an important role as it has in the past?
The early church sets for us a challenging example on how to train new believers and help them grow in Christ during the first three years of their walk with the Lord. It is my hope that evangelical churches would invest more time, thought, prayer, planning, and resources into a healthy assimilation of new believers.
Thank you Pastor Tony Butler for your words of wisdom. I am a born-again Christian who came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior back in 1982. I have lived a radical sold-our life for Jesus for the past 25 years, being used by God to plant a new Evangelical Free Church with my husband, and together we were used by God to see many people surrender their lives to Christ and receive the gift of salvation.
This past March I was tormented by many demons. THe Holy Spirit taught me how to do self-deliverence. I cast out MANY demons using the power of God’s Word and the power in the name of Jesus. I was told by the Holy SPirit that I had a generational curse on my family. (Exodus 34:7 and Deutoeronomy 5:9) I knew that I still have more demons in my body (but not in my spirit where the Holy Spirit reigned). There was no one in the Evangelical Churches in my city that would help me. Instead, I was told to go to a psychiatrist. My church banned me from doing any further ministry, even though I was leading a bible study where people were growing in the Lord and one girl came to know the Lord for the first time and experienced a radical conversion. At my whit’s end, I asked Jesus where should I go for help. He led me to three ministries who supported me and sent me help. It was Jack Hayford’s ministry in California called Cleansing Streams, Peter and Doris Wagner’s ministry, Global Harvest Ministries in Colorado. ANd finally ministering deliverence, where Pastor John Crable who was touring the United States doing deliverence came to my house and delivered me from 4 more demons who claimed they had legal right due to my family being involved in false religion. I received great healing and restoration and my husband and I who never believed in demonoic oppression because our church taught us that this was not possible, became firm believers that true Spirit-filled Christians can have demons come and live in them. I know there are a lot of fruitcakes out there preaching a fruitcake gospel, but there are true deliverence pastors who really are given the gift of casting out demons. I owe my life to one. You can reach him at johnc@ministeringdeliverance.com
I praise God for pastors like him and others. Now my husband and I are trying to find a new church where I will not be shunned and will be allowed to minister. I love Jesus way too much not to tell others about Him. If I can find no church that will allow me, I will have to do it like the early church did, and not under any organized denomination.
Please contact me if anyone has questions. I would love to hear from you.
Becaues of Jesus,
Pat Chwialkowski
I am amazed the powers that be allowed my statements to stand and be read by others. So, I would like to throw in a little more info concerning deliverence in the hope it will invoke much more discussion.
In my opinion, believing that a Christian is automatically protected from demonization when they disobey God or adhere to demonic doctrines solely by the virtue of being a true believer produces a false security and doesn’t take into account the stern warnings and exhortations contained in God’s word.
I think it is shallow and unreasonable to say that all the people that have pursued false spiritual experiences are unsaved or merely self deluded. Their experiences are very real but demonically energized
Argument Three - The scriptures teach that it is impossible for a Christian to be
demonized.
The evidence from the scriptures that are used to disprove that Christians can’t be demonized are not weighty and are taken out of context. In my studies I have found that the following scriptures are used to support the negative argument.
Scripture argument one – God is greater than demons so no demon could be in a Christian
1Jn 4:4 You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Response
• Many teachers say that this verse makes no sense if a Christian can be inhabited by a demon. However, the context is making a declaration that God is superior in power over Satan. That is the very essence of deliverance ministry. It is the driving force that gives the saints the confidence to dispossess the enemy.
• There is nothing in this verse that proves a demon can’t be in a Christian, only that God in us is greater Satan.
Scripture argument two – The bible states we don’t have the spirit of the world
1Co 2:12 But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.
Response
If one is honest with the context of this scripture it will be seen that this verse has nothing to do with a demon, but to the world’s system. The word “spirit” is also used to describe an attitude or mindset. (Eph. 4:23) It is interesting to note that in II Cor. 11:3 Paul speaks about the Corinthian believers receiving, “another spirit”.
Scripture Argument Three – We are separated from demons
1Co 10:20 But I say that the things which the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. And I do not desire that you should have fellowship with demons.
Response
• Once again, if the context is looked at, it will be quickly seen that these verses deal with eating meat offered to idols. Paul declares to eat the meat is to be a participant with the ones the meat is being offered too. He challenges the Christians not to be participants with demons by the act of eating the meat. Isn’t it interesting he declares we can be participants with them?
Scripture Argument Four – There can be no fellowship of God with demons
2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you 18 and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Response –
• This scripture is only dealing with the unequal yoking between a believer and unbeliever. The unsaved is a child of Satan and the saved is a child of God. The two should not yoke. Besides, there are multitudes of Christians yoked with non-Christians in marriage, and in business. It has nothing to with demons. Keep in mind there is a huge difference between a demon in a Christian vexing him and that same demon fellowshipping with God. The two are completely different things. This is light as a straw as an argument to prove a Christian can’t be demonized.
Scriptural Argument Five – God and demons can’t be in the same body
Jas 3:11 Does a fountain send forth at the same hole the sweet and the bitter?
Response
• The context of this verse is dealing with the words that proceed out of the mouth of the believer, not the ability of God and demons to co-habitat the same body.
• Even though a fountain doesn’t send at sweet and salt water at the same time we know all too often it happens concerning believers with gossip, backbiting, and judgmentalism.
Scriptural Argument Six – Demons look for unoccupied houses, a believer is an occupied house - Their soul of the man below is “unoccupied” — that is, the Holy Spirit does not indwell him. Thus he is open to demonic invasion. That cannot be true of those whose bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 6:16).
Mt. 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came” ; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation .
Response
• The context of this verse is obvious. Jesus declared that the present generation of Jews to which he ministered was like a man who had demons cast out of him but wasn’t repentant, resulting in a worse condition. Jesus said it would be the same for the present generation of Jews who had the Messiah in their midst, bring truth and deliverance but still they rejected Him. The house of Israel was an empty house which refused its builder entry.
• Notice, this has nothing to do with believers, only unrepentant unbelievers that Jesus called “evil”.
• We have already discussed other verses that hold dire warnings in connection to the believers walk and what happens if he gives ground to the enemy.
• This isn’t a proof text that can be used to say that demons can’t enter a believer because a believer as a temple is occupied by the Holy Spirit. Satan enters the occupied temple of God to accuse the brethren before God day and night.
Scriptural Argument Six – A born-again Christian is promised he can’t be touched by Satan
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God guards himself, and that wicked one touches him not.
Response
• The word “touched” is the Gr. word “haptomai” which means to cling, to fasten oneself to. It is used by Jesus when he told Mary not to “touch” him because he had not yet ascended to His Father. This verse isn’t speaking to whether or not a believer can have a demon but that Satan doesn’t have the hold on us that He had before our new birth. The whole world lies in wickedness but we have eternal life in Christ.
• The Christian can be vexed by demons but Satan can’t have a hold on them the way he does in the lives of the unsaved.
• The new birth brings a change of nature so that the one born again can’t practice sin as a lifestyle the way he did before his salvation, he is a new creation in Christ. But he must guard himself so that he doesn’t give Satan a place or advantage. We know that there are many exhortations to believers concerning the possibility of failure and disobedience.
• The bible makes it very clear a believer can be taken captive by Satan
2Ti 2:24 But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but to be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient, 25 in meekness instructing those who oppose, if perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 26 and that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one.
• This verse is written about believers and not unbelievers who were opposing Timothy’s authority. All unbelievers are already captive by Satan and are the children of wrath. The whole world lies in wickedness. The unbeliever is captive the moment he is born. The ones Paul speaks of are people who had been taken captive by falling into a snare.
A Quote from John MacAuthor - You say, “You mean a Christian could be caught in the snare of the devil?” You better believe it. First Timothy 3:7 says even an elder could, an overseer. It says, when you’re choosing men to be pastors and overseers, make sure that they have a good reputation with those outside the church so they don’t fall in to reproach and the snare of the devil. Yes, the warning there is that even an elder could fall into the snare of the devil. And I see right here believers who have listened to vain speculations, who have gotten involved in useless words and arguments and debates and have bought in to the lies of Satan, have fallen into his trap, have gone into a spiritual stupor. And they need to get out of because he says at the end of verse 26, “They are held captive by him to do his will.” They are literally in a captive state, captive to Satan. Christians…imagine that…becoming captive to Satan, becoming the pawns to do Satan’s duty in the church because of their sin. (John is totally opposed to the teaching that a Christian can be inhabited by a demon but he does acknowledge II Tim. 2:24 IS SPEAKING ABOUT BELIEVERS)
Scriptural Argument Seven – Jesus disarmed the enemy and rendered him powerless
COL. 2:14-15″When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him” (or, through it, the cross).
Response
• Then why put on the whole armor of God if we wrestle with a powerless foe that can’t attack us? This makes no sense. The disarming was God taking the power of sin, which was the law, which Satan used for guilt and condemnation and nailing it to the cross rendering it of no effect. Though glorious, the law was an administration of death that was powerless to save or produce righteousness.
• Once again this has nothing to do as to whether or not a Christian can be demonized.
• The scripture makes it clear by way of admonition that we as the church are to learn from Israel, whom God has established as an object lesson.(I Cor. 10:1-11; Heb. 4:1-11) Because of unbelief and disobedience they were taken captive and defeated many times by their enemies. Though given great promises by God that depended on their obedience, they were never protected by their enemies solely by virtue of being the covenant people of God.
I could go on and on with verses that people use to teach that a Christian can’t be demonized but in reality and truth it is a vain attempt to find in scripture immunity from the demonization of demonic spirits. Many Christians prior to their salvation have been in deep gross sin that may have opened the door for demonic infestation. It is unwise and scripturally presumptuous to presume that just because they asked Jesus in their lives and received forgiveness of sin, that the enemy automatically vacated.
There is no statement of Scripture to clearly indicate that Christians are incapable of being harassed or even invaded by evil spirits if they give ground to evil spirits. Ignorant Christians have done many foolish things because of lack of understanding and knowledge. They have pursued false religious experiences that emanated from doctrines of demons, and have dabbled in horoscopes, ouija boards , Bloody Mary, making the table talk, practicing old wives tales that have occult roots, putting occult objects in their homes, astrology, hypnosis, Yoga, transcendental meditation, cast spells through occult video games like “Dungeons and Dragons” and dabbled with Harry Potter style incantations and chants, and the list goes on.
I know the subject of deliverance ministry evokes much debate and emotion, we must not allow emotions to obscure our objective approach to the Scriptures. The Word of God, not our religious prejudices must be our foundation and hope. Satan will flee from the believer who submits to God and resists him (James 4:7). We have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, the authority of Christ, and the whole armor of God that enables us to stand and be delivered from every trick of Satan (Eph. 6:10-13). Deliverance ministry directly confronts a powerful adversary and overcomes him with truth and the power of God. May all of God’s people who are in need of deliverance stand strong and begin to take back what the enemy of their souls has stolen.