The Bible represents Satan as the master manipulator of human nature.
Our weakness combined with the devil's influence has led the whole world
into sin (Revelation 12:9). Paul explains that "the god of this
age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the
light of the gospel ..." (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Paul reminds Christ's faithful disciples that "you once walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were
by nature children of wrath, just as the others" (Ephesians 2:2-3).
Because of Satan's deceptions and the sinful tendencies of human nature, "all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
We must understand, however, that the devil cannot force us to sin.
He simply influences us through our fleshly weaknesses. But several
major areas of our fleshly nature are easily manipulated by Satan.
First, our selfish, fleshly desires often get us into trouble: "Now
the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions,
factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am
warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21, NRSV).
