Our subject in this chapter is The Devil. I have two texts—John 8:44:
+"The Devil. . . .is."+
The second text is 1 John 3:8: +"The Devil Sinneth."+ The Bible
doctrine concerning the Devil, his Existence, Nature, Character, Work
and Destiny is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith, and is
of vital importance. The teaching of the Bible on this subject is not
a mere matter of theory or dogma. It is a matter of most practical
every day importance. Experience shows that if men are in error in
regard to this subject, they are pretty sure to be in error on other
questions that are fundamental. When men and women begin to question
the existence of a personal Devil it is pretty sure that before long
they will be questioning a good many other things regarding which a
true child of God should have no questions. Doubt of the existence of
a personal Devil is widespread to-day. Many preachers in supposedly
orthodox pulpits do not hesitate to say, "I do not believe in the
existence of a personal Devil." Denial of the existence of a personal
Devil is one of the main points in the system which is so widespread
to-day, and which is doing so much evil, that with considerable reason
it has been called "The Devil's Masterpiece"—Christian Science. A
well-known and popular pastor in this city some months ago proclaimed
to his people that he was going to preach to them a gospel "without
an atonement of blood, without an infallible Bible, without hell,
and without a personal Devil." If he does preach to them a system of
doctrine without any of these he will preach some other system of
doctrine than that which is contained in the book, which our Lord Jesus
Christ has endorsed as the Word of God, i.e., the Bible.