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The Bible clearly affirms the reality of demons—fallen angels who oppose God and seek to harm His creation (Revelation 12:9). Throughout Scripture, we see instances of demonic possession and oppression, and we also see God鈥檚 power triumphing over these forces. Jesus Himself frequently cast out demons during His earthly ministry, demonstrating His authority over the spiritual realm. For example, Mark 1:34 says, 鈥淛esus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.鈥� This shows that Jesus had complete control over demonic forces and silenced them at will.
Jesus also gave His disciples authority to cast out demons. In Luke 10:17, the seventy-two disciples returned from their mission with joy, saying, 鈥淟ord, even the demons submit to us in your name.鈥� However, Jesus reminded them in Luke 10:20, 鈥淒o not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.鈥� So, the power to cast out demons is not something to boast in. The greatest gift someone can have is not power over demons but eternal salvation.
The early church also encountered demonic activity, and there were demons cast out during the apostolic age. In Acts 16:18, Paul cast a spirit of divination out of a slave girl by saying, 鈥淚n the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!鈥� The demon left her immediately. This passage, along with others, shows that the authority to cast out demons comes not from human power or some type of ritual, but from the name and authority of Jesus Christ.
It is important to note that the Bible never commands believers to perform exorcisms, nor does it present exorcism as a common or routine practice for Christians. The ability to cast out demons was part of the apostolic ministry and served to authenticate the message of the gospel in the first century. While God can and does still deliver people from demonic oppression today, the Bible does not instruct Christians to seek out demons in order to engage them in confrontational spiritual warfare. In fact, Jude 1:9 gives a sobering example of the humility we need in this matter: 鈥淓ven the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, 鈥楾he Lord rebuke you!鈥欌�� Even Michael the archangel did not rebuke Satan directly but appealed to the Lord鈥檚 authority.
Christians are called to resist the devil, not to engage him directly. James 4:7 says, 鈥淪ubmit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.鈥� Our focus should be on submitting to God, living in obedience to Christ, and standing firm in faith. While demonic activity is real, the Bible emphasizes the believer鈥檚 security in Christ and the sufficiency of God鈥檚 power to protect and deliver. As 1 John 4:4 reminds us, 鈥淭he one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.鈥�
We believe that casting out demons is biblical, in the sense that it occurred in several historical events recorded in Scripture. The ability to cast out demons was given to the Twelve and to the Seventy-two, but there is no blanket gift of exorcism given today, in the non-apostolic era. Our responsibility is to 鈥減ut on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, [we] may be able to stand [our] ground, and after [we] have done everything, to stand鈥� (Ephesians 6:13).
