Admittedly there are some scriptural verses when taken by themselves might lead one to consider that perhaps Satan and devils are only our carnal self destructive instincts, but if we take all the references to devils written of it becomes clear that these are real entities with a real taste for tormenting and attempting to destroy mankind.
The emails that Kat provided from Ray really hit some major points, this is one that stands out for me;
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,6300.0.html -----
Dear Ray, On the subject of satan and who or what he is or isn't, I have this suspicion that WE, OUR, carnal mind or our twisted intellect is [MAYBE] this thing called satan. Are we not our own worst enemy? Isn't our evil thoughts our own? I have pondered this for a long time, please take a look at it and tell me what you think. Thank you! God bless you! Mark
Dear Mark: Was it "the carnal mind" that presented itself to God in the opening chapters of Job? Did Jesus tells HIS OWN "CARNAL MIND" to "get behind Me, SATAN?" (Luke 4:8)? Did Jesus have a "carnal mind?" A "satan" within Him? Is God going to chain the "carnal mind" in the abyss for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-2)? Is He then going to release the "carnal mind" for a little season?
You know even if one were to believe that Christ's flesh gave Him a "carnal mind" (I certainly don't) and that is the devil He was being tempted and challenged by we have our Lord's own Words to dispel that thought. John 8 48Then answered the Jews and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil?
Joh 8:49 Jesus answered,
I have not a devil; but I honor my Father and ye do dishonor me. If indeed flesh and blood and the carnal mind is Satan then Jesus would have been lying or the experiences He had of being tempted by the devil never happened, in fact there is an adversary who dines on the dust of carnal men's minds, what better ploy than to try to get people to believe you don't even exist as you plot and work tirelessly to destroy them.
Just as a covert agent or spy does not let his enemies know his true identity or even that he really exists this is one of Satan's strategies to give him the advantage as he deals with mankind. Matthew 4 1Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4But he answered and said,
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7Jesus said unto him,
It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10Then saith Jesus unto him,
Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Matthew 17 14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17Then Jesus answered and said,
O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Was the child cured of his flesh and blood, carnal mind?
Peace,
Joe