The One True God and the Evil Spirits. The entire Old Testament clearly shows the difference between the One True God and the forces that men created and worshiped as gods, while they were not gods.
- “Devil spirits” are not gods
The forces that the pagans called “gods” were actually spirits—that is, products of the fallen spirit of man. When man is not united with God, his spirit becomes darkened, and evil thoughts flow from his heart (see Mark 7:21-23). Jesus did not say that evil comes first from the devil, but from the heart of man.
- Man creates “devil spirits”
Since man has a spirit, when it is corrupted, the mind and soul will produce rebellious thoughts. This is the source of evil spirits. Demons also act on these unclean spirits—for they are rooted in the authority of man on earth, which God gave him from the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:26-28).
- The Case of Peter
In Matthew 16:23, when Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross, Jesus did not say that he was possessed by a demon, but said:
“Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
The Lord called that thought Satanic, because the spirit (rebellious spirit) that emanated from Peter’s mind at that time was similar to Satan’s: focused on what was seen, on human interests, rather than on God’s will.
- The Spirit – the Link Between Spirit and Soul
The spirit is the product of the lost spirit and the fallen soul — expressed through emotions, will, and thoughts. When the spirit is no longer alive to God, it emits contaminated spiritual waves, creating an environment for demons to operate.
Conclusion
The One True God is the One who was not created, and is not influenced by the ideas or imaginations of man. He is supreme, living, and unchanging. Meanwhile, the gods created by pagans, or the spiritual energies that man emits when he is separated from God, are merely reflections of his fallen heart — they are not the true God.
“There is no other god besides me…” – Deuteronomy 32:39
“I have said, ‘You are gods, and you are all sons of the Most High.’” – Psalm 82:6
“This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” – John 17:3