Is Exorcism Proof of One's Status? (TMF:1436)

Monday, August 17, 2020
Peace to Live By: Is Exorcism Proof of One's Status? (TMF:1436) - Daniel Litton
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       But what about casting out demons in Jesus’ name? Surely that’s a sign that a person is in Christ. Maybe, maybe not. Recall, the Pharisees had accused Jesus in Matthew 12 of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons. And he told them, “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (v. 26, ESV). We could also consider the passage in Acts 19 where some Jewish exorcists were trying to cast out demons from people by using Jesus’ name, but were attacked by a demon in the process. I think it is obvious that not everyone who professes to cast out demons is actually casting them out. That is, they are putting on a show in front of a crowd in order to get money, or perhaps just attention and fame. They use the name of Jesus when they do this. It could also be that people who are false are using Jesus’ name to cast out demons, but that the demons are actually coming out of the people. Remember, Judas Iscariot was not saved, and yet he casted out demons as we see in Matthew 10:1.