Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com

     

How Satan Attacks the Character of God

How Satan Attacks the Character of God

by

Tim Jennings, M.D.
Print

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV84).

Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), and his primary lies are about God. Satan understands that when people know the truth about God, his power over them is broken and trust in God is restored. Thus, Satan works very hard to introduce lies about God into our minds, beliefs, worldview, doctrines, educational systems, and churches.

The more lies about God we believe, the more difficult it is to know and trust Him. God is the Creator of all reality. His character is love, and His methods are truth, love, and freedom. In Jesus, the fullness of God dwelt in human form (Colossians 2:9). We can know the truth about God’s character because it was revealed in the life of Jesus. If we have seen Jesus, then we have seen the Father.

But even the disciples didn’t fully understand this:

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (John 14:8–11 NIV84).

One of Jesus’ purposes in coming was to reveal the Father to us. In His prayer right before His crucifixion, Jesus said:

“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. … I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world” (John 17:4, 6 NIV84, emphasis mine).

Satan hates the truth about God, and he hates it when the truth about God is revealed. Thus, he works to obscure the truth about God, to infect it with lies, to pervert it with distortions, to corrupt it with aspects of his own character so that people eventually replace the truth about God with a counterfeit in the image of Satan.

There are many ways Satan attacks the character of God; here are a few:

  • By replacing the truth that God’s laws are design protocols upon which the Creator built reality to operate with the lie that God’s laws function no differently than the rules sinful humans make up. Once believed, this lie causes God to be viewed as:
    • The source of pain, suffering, and death as punishment for sin
      • This lie manifests when people cry out, “What sin did I commit that God gave my child cancer?” Or, “What sin did I commit that my husband cheated on me?” Or, Job’s friends arguing that the calamity that befell Job was because God was punishing him for some sin.
    • The one from whom we need protection
      • This lie manifests in teachings that say payments need to be made to a punishing god, to do something to that god so that god will not hurt us.
    • Different in character than that of Jesus—that Jesus is merciful and loving while the Father is severe and punishing
  • By undermining the divinity of Christ:
    • If Jesus isn’t fully God, then His death reveals that God is willing to sacrifice others to protect Himself, which makes God to be selfish rather that love.
    • If Jesus isn’t fully God, then God is something other than love because love does not exist or function in a singularity; functional, active love requires an other. If there were a time when Jesus did not exist, then God was something other than love at that time.
  • By undermining the divinity of the Holy Spirit:
    • If the Holy Spirit is not fully divine with His own identity and individuality, then God is something other than love, as love fully operates only with an other and with a minimum of three.
      • Two individuals can exist in a dyad of narcissistic reinforcement in which they both adore and worship each other, being gratified and sustained by the attention. But when a third enters and takes the attention of one, anger and hostility emerge. Only when genuine self-sacrifice for the beneficence of the other is manifest does agape love exist.
    • Denying the existence of the Holy Spirit undermines the character of God and reinforces the notion of a self-centered god with a hierarchy style of government.
  • By suggesting God operates upon authoritarian hierarchy—with one being ruling over another:
    • This is Satan’s method and government (Isaiah 14). But because Jesus is fully God, we see, as described in Philippians chapter two, that He did not think equality with God as something to be grasped but humbled Himself for the uplifting of others. There is no hierarchy among the Godhead; they are all eternal and equal in power and authority.
  • By teaching that there is no God and that humans evolved randomly on our own:
    • This undermines not only God but also the nature and purpose of humanity.
    • It undercuts our individuality and the sanctity of life.
  • By teaching that God uses evolution to create:
    • Evolution teaches that organisms adapt and advance through eliminating weaker competition for resources. Thus, this lie teaches that God uses pain, suffering, and death to create.
    • God is the source of life, spoken into existence by His Word; according to the Bible, Satan and sin are the actual sources and causes of death.

We are in a war for our hearts and minds, and the central issue in the war is the knowledge of God. Don’t listen to the lies. Focus on Jesus, the Word, the Truth of God lived out for us to see, and be won back to love and trust in our incredible Creator, whose laws are the protocols of love built right into reality. Life, health, and happiness are only possible by living in harmony with God and His designs for life—so don’t believe the lies; embrace and live out the truth!

 

 

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.
By subscribing, you agree with our privacy policy and our terms of service.

Tim Jennings, M.D.

Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist, master psychopharmacologist, Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association, and an international speaker. He served as president of the Southern and Tennessee Psychiatric Associations and is president and founder of Come and Reason Ministries. Dr. Jennings has authored many books, including The God-Shaped Brain, The God-Shaped Heart, and The Aging Brain.

Recent blogs
here’s what’s new!
donate

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).

cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

view calendar
calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 3

My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

C. F., NC, USA

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 27

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 12

I have been really blessed reading your response to the various questions on your site.

K.C., OH, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 2

I continue to enjoy your lessons every week. The more that I research your conclusions, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has lead you to distill out the essence of human redemption. Thank you for your courageous stand for the truth.

S. G., TX, USA