Originally posted by FabianFnas
Yes please, a good ref would be great.
So, according to your opinion, when a cristian says "There is only one god, and that's is God!", he forgets about Satan? Or does he mean "There is only one god worth worshipping, and that's God!"?
there are many gods Fabian, but only one Almighty God, plus a god could be anything that we give undue attention or devotion to, so that it also may not necessarily be considered a spiritual entity, as is the case with Satan
(Matthew 4:8-10) . . .Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, . . .
evidently Satan has influence over the earth, otherwise, he would have no authority to tempt Christ by offering him the Kingdoms of the world. This is why he is described as the god of the system of things.
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4) . . .If, now, the good news we declare is in fact veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, among whom
the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.
this is compounded by this statement,
(1 John 5:19-21) . . .We know we originate with God, but
the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. But we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us intellectual capacity that we may gain the knowledge of the true one. And we are in union with the true one, by means of his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and life everlasting.
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
this last phrase is interesting for anything which comes between a Christian and his God, in which he gives undue attention to , may be considered, idolatry, and by extension, a god, thus Paul speaks of those who have made gods of their bellies, because of being gluttonous.
sorry for the length of post but I could not make it smaller without omitting too many details.