Satan, Part 3

Jesus' suffering and death for sin can be understood as a necessary act within the material world, where life operates under time and physical existence, to demonstrate God's just and fair nature without resorting to arbitrary power; this concept ties to the Old Testament practice of sin-offerings, where life—symbolized by blood—was sacrificed to atone for sins, highlighting the significance of temporal and bodily elements in spiritual redemption. Shawn McCraney also critiques the doctrine of Sola Scriptura in his book "Knife to a GunFight," inviting non-religious, non-dogmatic perspectives on its interpretation of the New Testament.

Sin represents the taking of life, quantified in time, and requires an ultimate sacrifice through shedding of blood—a concept fulfilled by the death of Jesus Christ, who offered His perfect life to redeem humanity's sins. True believers, transformed by the Spirit, willingly sacrifice their own time and resources out of love for God and others, striving to restore time stolen by sin for the world's betterment.

The teaching emphasizes the importance of self-sacrifice, hospitality, and using one's resources to support others, as a reflection of sacrificing personal luxuries for the betterment of others, akin to the example set by Christ. Additionally, it explores the evolution of the concept of Satan from the Old to the New Testament, transforming from an accuser under God's direction to a personified evil tempter, with various influences such as apocryphal texts and Persian demonology shaping this perception.

Shawn suggests that early LDS views of Satan align with Christianity, portraying him as a pivotal figure in the Fall, but subsequent LDS teachings introduced the idea that Satan and his angels are literal offspring of God, a notion absent in Joseph Smith's lifetime. He argues that both LDS and Christians often focus too much on Satan instead of the victory won by Christ, emphasizing that Satan holds no real power unless invited, and that Christians should prioritize focusing on their relationship with God over dwelling on darkness and temptation.