·        Jesus came under the O.T. economy to the Jews and cast demons out of His own covenant people. If the Pharisees had said to Jesus, “Where do you find this in the scriptures?” He could not have pointed to any scripture stating that a child of Abraham could be demonized.

·        It is a matter of historical and biblical fact the Jews practiced exorcism before Jesus came and after he had left. The question must be asked, “If one needs scripture alone as a basis for the possibility of something, where did the Jews get the idea of casting out demons?” Jesus recognized the practice of it in his day. However, we have a very plain example of a saved woman who was demonized in Luke 13:10-16.

Luk 13:10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bowed together and was not able to be completely erect. 12 And when Jesus saw her, He called and said to her, Woman, you are delivered from your infirmity. 13 And He laid His hands on her. And instantly she was made erect, and she glorified God. 14 And answering, the synagogue ruler, being angry because Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, said to the crowd, There are six days in which it is right to work. Therefore in them come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 And the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the sabbath loosen his ox or ass from the stall and lead it away, to give it drink? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound, lo these eighteen years, be loosened from this bond on the Sabbath day?

Jesus called this woman a “daughter of Abraham”, which is a term in scripture only used for true believers having genuine salvation. (See Rom. 4:8-22 especially verse 11,16; Rom. 9:8;) All true believers are the children of Abraham, whether Jew or Gentile. (Gal. 3:7) In Jn. 8:31-41; 44, Jesus told the Jews who boasted in the fact that they were of the physical seed of Abraham that Abraham was not their father, rather Satan. Being a Jew did not make one a child of Abraham. 

            The argument naturally develops to the difference between a saved person under the O.T. economy, and a saved person under the N.T. economy. Those that believe that a born-again believer can’t be demonized/possessed say that the O.T. believer did not have the Holy Spirit, but the N.T. believer does. This leads to the next argument or objection.) 

2Co 11:3 But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your thoughts should be corrupted from the simplicity due to Christ. 2Co 11:4 For if, indeed, the one coming proclaims another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel, which you never accepted, you might well endure these .

            Paul speaks of the possibility of Christians receiving a different spirit. We know there are doctrines of demons that had been introduced to the church from heretics and that they would abound in the last days. ( I Timoteo 4:1) Paul warns Christians from adhering to such doctrines. Many Christians have been deceived and damaged from such doctrines. 

            Our minds can be lead astray by listening to false teachers preaching false doctrines. Paul rebukes believers for receiving a "different spirit". How can believers have a different spirit than the Holy Spirit? By "receiving" it without testing the spirits. This is what is being done in the current "counterfeit" revivals from certain Pentecostal groups and Word of Faith groups. I have personally cast demons out of Christians that had been deceived by these teachings. Christians all over the world are blaspheming God in unknown tongues from spirits they received in such meetings even though they were believed they were glorifying God. The experiences of many Christians with being “drunk in the spirit”, “slain in the spirit”, laughing in the spirit”, and “barking and growling in the spirit” are all counterfeits of the Holy Spirit. These false spirits need to be renounced and cast out of God’s people. To say that disobedience to God’s word and adhering to doctrines of demons protect a Christian from this may be a false security in my opinion. 

The evidence from the scriptures that are used to disprove that Christians can’t be demonized are not weighty and are taken out of context. In my studies I have found that the following scriptures are used to support the negative argument.  

Scripture arguement one – God is greater than demons so no demon could be in a Christian

·        Many teachers say that this verse makes no sense if a Christian can be inhabited by a demon. However, the context is making a declaration that God is superior in power over Satan. That is the very essence of deliverance ministry. It is the driving force that gives the saints the confidence to dispossess the enemy. 

·        There is nothing in this verse that proves a demon can’t be in a Christian, only that God in us is greater Satan. 

  Scripture argument two – The bible states we don’t have the spirit of the world

1Co 2:12 But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.

If one is honest with the context of this scripture it will be seen that this verse has nothing to do with a demon, but to the world’s system. The word “spirit” is also used to describe an attitude or mindset. (Eph. 4:23) 

1Co 10:20 But I say that the things which the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. And I do not desire that you should have fellowship with demons.

·        Once again, if the context is looked at, it will be quickly seen that these verses deal with eating meat offered to idols. Paul declares to eat the meat is to be a participant with the ones the meat is being offered too. He challenges the Christians not to be participants with demons by the act of eating the meat. Isn’t it interesting he declares we can be participants with them.

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

 This scripture is only dealing with the unequal yoking between a believer and unbeliever. The unsaved is a child of Satan and the saved is a child of God. The two should not yoke. Besides, there are multitudes of Christians yoked with non-Christians. It has nothing to with demons. Keep in mind that a demon in a Christian and that demon fellowshipping with God are two different things. This is light as a straw as an argument to prove a Christian can’t be demonized.

The context of this verse is dealing with the words that proceed out of the mouth of the believer, not the ability of God and demons to co-habitat the same body.

            The truth of the matter is the same for either side of the issue when it comes to answering the question, “Can a true believer in Christ be demonized?” 

Next- Early Church and the Exorcism of Believers