Peter teaches us that we should be ever ready to give an answer to all who ask questions concerning the scriptures and life. (1 Peter 3:15). The Bible reveals that God, indeed, created Satan. One thing we learn from the scriptures is that Angels were not from eternity. Nehemiah said, “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee” (Nehemiah 9:6 KJV).
Therefore we can conclude that Angels were created beings. As to which day they were created, we know it was within the six day creation period (Exodus 20:11). We read in Job 38:3-7, “Sons of God” (Angels) shouted when God laid the foundations of the earth.” However Adam was not created until day six. The Psalmist states that Angels were created by God when he made the heavens (Psalm 149:1-5). The Apostle Paul helps us to know that God created all things in heaven; if this is so then angels were created by God. Paul said, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:15-17 KJV). God’s Word describes God’s relationship with mankind and heavenly creatures in (Ephesians 3:14-15). Paul said, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”
Since God created Satan some wrongfully contend that He thus is the creator of all evil and sin in the world. This simply is not true. James said, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed (James 1:12-14 KJV). (See also Habakkuk 1:13, I John 1:5). Simply put, God is light and is in no way associated with sin.
Knowing that God is not the creator of sin and evil we need to know where it comes from. God reveals that Satan is the origin of all that is amiss in our world. Peter in 2 Peter 2:4 teaches us that Satan is a fallen Angel, Jude concurs with Peter’s argument (Jude 6). This fall was in no way God’s fault. Paul shows us it was due to his own pride. (I Timothy 3:6). This all shows us that Satan and all angels have the same ability to chose and with the ability to be tempted as do men.
Some site Isaiah 45:6-7 and Amos 3:6 to prove God created evil. In Isaiah, God said, “That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Then Amos said, “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” Here it must be understood that the evil in question is not a matter of lust and sin but rather a matter of the punishment that evil men will receive. In this sense evil is the absence of God, His mercy and His grace. This is part of eternity in Hell; it is a place where God will not abide because of the sin associated with it.
(Tony Hoss is minister at the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton.)