The question has been raised regarding whether a child of God can be possessed by demons.
Now, the Bible tells us several incidents of people being possessed by demons. In our modern world, and especially in the Western world, the activities and even the existence of demons are downplayed, if not totally denied. We don’t base our decisions on the opinions of people, but rather on what the Bible says. Of course, it is true that demonic powers show themselves differently. However, they are real, and people can still be possessed.
But the question really is whether a child of God can be possessed by demons. Before we answer the question, it will be helpful to define exactly what we are talking about. When we talk about a child of God, we are talking about someone who has been born again and has thus eternal life, God’s own life.
We read in John 1:12.13: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Such a person then is also indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit, as we read in Ephesians 1:13.14
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Let us also look at 1. Corinthians 6:19: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
Therefore, the Holy Spirit, a divine person, not merely a power, is living within a believer. In 1 John 1:5, it says that “God is light and no darkness in him”. That means that God and sin can absolutely not be brought together. God Himself is absolutely free of sin and cannot even tolerate sin in His presence. If we think about that, then that answers the question already. Because when we talk about a demon, the Bible also talks about “unclean spirits”. They belong to Satan and are darkness, absolutely characterized by sin.
Now, the answer is clear: It is IMPOSSIBLE that a child of God can be possessed by demons! The example of Peter illustrates that while a believer can fall under satanic influence and even be used by the devil, they can never be possessed by him. In support of this, let us look at a number of other Bible verses.
The first is Colossians 1, verses 12 and 13: “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” A child of God has been saved from the “power of darkness,” which is the power of Satan, clearly demonstrated at the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.
Another passage is 1 John 4, 4: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is GREATER than he who is in the world.” This verse addresses the children of God, emphasizing that they have experienced the new birth that the Lord Jesus refers to in John 3. As we have seen, children of God possess eternal life and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within. As overcomers, they triumph over everything that opposes God. This is possible because the Holy Spirit, who dwells within them, is GREATER than “he who is in the world.” God’s children are under the protection of the One who is “greater” than all satanic and demonic powers in this world.
We see a similar thought in Mark 3, 27, where the Lord Jesus states, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then he will plunder his house.” Isn’t the Lord Jesus the “STRONGER one,” who bound the devil, the “strong man,” to plunder his house? Did He not “destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”? It is impossible for Satan to regain power over those who have been saved from the “power of darkness” by the “stronger one.” So, not only do we belong to the “STRONGER one,” but we also have the “GREATER one,” the Holy Spirit, residing in us. To put it in a nutshell: Where the Spirit of God is present, there is no room for evil spirits!
Lastly, we refer to 1 John 5, 18: ”We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and – now it comes – the wicked one does not touch him.” A child of God cannot be harmed by the evil one.
We should stay away from occult practices and demonic teachings. While we are not immune to evil (since our flesh remains), there is no need to live in fear. Satan cannot take possession of us or re-impose the chains that our mighty Savior has broken.
In Scripture, we only find instances of demon expulsions in cases where individuals did not yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Those who know and believe in Him are genuinely free. Such people cannot and will not fall prey to the devil again.
It is as John 8:36 states: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
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