Can A Christian Have A Demon?

Whenever I am asked “can a Christian have a demon?” my usual response is to ask “why would they want one?” A great debate has taken place through the centuries within Christianity as to whether or not a genuine Born-Again Christian can be demon possessed. The argument revolves primarily around the translation of the Greek word Daimonizomai which is defined by virtually all Bible Dictionaries and Lexicons as “to be under the power of a demon.” Its usage throughout the New Testament has often been understood to mean; “to be possessed by a demon.” Possession implies ownership and satan doesn’t actually own anything.

When the word possession is used in the New Testament, it most often means “to hold” or to be “held by” (See Acts 16:16). There is not one single reference or warning in the Bible about a Christian being possessed, or under the control of, or being held by, an evil spirit. People have invented new meanings of the word that do not exist in Scripture.

Christians were bought by the blood of Jesus and washed clean from their sin – past, present, and future. They belong to Him, and cannot be stolen, controlled, invaded, inhabited, indwelt, or made unclean. The word Daimonizomai is most often used in the Bible in the context of evangelism and involves non-Christians.

The Fortress of Safety

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV)

The Creator of all things doesn’t live in a “Temple” somewhere “way up high in the sky.” He lives within the body of the person who has emptied themselves through repentance and obedience to His Word so that He can take up residence.

Jesus gave His disciple’s power over the devil and all sickness. Christians have already overcome the enemy. Jesus destroyed the works of the enemy and lives IN every Believer. The physical body is His dwelling place and is now His Temple - the Holy of Holy’s (See Luke 9:1-2; 1 John 2:13-14, 3:8, 4:4).

There are two words in the New Testament that are translated “Temple.” They are “Naos” and “Hieron.” The word used to describe the body as a “Temple” of Holy Spirit is the word “Naos.” This word is also used metaphorically to describe the physical body of Jesus: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19-22 NIV).

The other word used for “Temple” in the New Testament is “Hieron” which signifies the entire building, or the outer courts, where all the people had access. This is the area in Solomon’s Temple where Jesus taught His lessons.

Every person has a spirit that will leave the flesh one day. Within the Christian, the spirit dwells in the body, and Holy Spirit dwells in the spirit. The word “soul,” which is often used interchangeably with “spirit,” actually means the mind, will, and emotions. The body - every cell, tissue, and organ - is the very shrine, or Holy of Holy’s, where God dwells. Christians are “the temple of the living God” and have the “mind of Christ” (2 Cor 2:16, 6:14-16 NIV). The holiest and beautiful Creator God of the Universe lives IN every Believer and He “is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:1-5 NIV). It is because of that profound truth that every Believer has power over the power of the devil!

The Body of Christ

Christians have been “crucified with Christ,” and He now lives in them. The life they live in their physical “body” is “by faith in the Son of God” because Jesus loved them and gave Himself for them (Gal 2:20-21 NIV). Only the high priest, clothed in garments of repentance, surrounded by a cloud of incense, with the blood of sacrifice having been offered, could lawfully enter in the Holy of Holy’s (Lev 16; Heb 9:7). Born-Again Christians are a physical, as well as a spiritual, part of Jesus.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? (1 Cor 6:16 NIV)

That is why the Bible says not to have sexual relations with a non-believer because the Believer would be uniting the body of Jesus with one who is considered a prostitute. As physical union causes two people to become "one flesh," the spiritual union with Jesus causes the Believer to be one in spirit.

When Jesus was dealing with the religious leaders, He said they belonged to their father, “the devil” and did not “belong to God’ (John 8:42-47 NIV). The Bible says that "He who does what is sinful is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning" (1 John 3:8 NIV).