Now thanks be unto God, which always
causes us to triumph in Christ...
2 Corinthians 2:14
The Bible declares Christ's defeat over the devil...
causes us to triumph in Christ...
2 Corinthians 2:14
The Bible declares Christ's defeat over the devil...
Yet for the Christian, the devil still remains a formidable foe to be reckoned with. As the Scripture clearly states, "Be alert and vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour. Resist him steadfastly in the faith..." (I Peter 5:8-9).
While in another Scripture passage, the Holy Spirit, speaking through the pen of the apostle Paul, tells us to always have on the full armor of God. Why? Because we are in a spiritual wrestling match against the rulers of evil, and we must battle against "wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:10-18).
In Paul's letter to the Ephesian church, he lists all the necessary armor that a disciple of Christ must wear in order to successfully withstand his opponent. And while the "battle belongs to the Lord," as we Christians often like to say, the fact is, we are to stand alongside Him until the victory is won.
To some, this may sound like a paradox. If Christ has already defeated the devil, which He has, then why do we have to stand against him? I've read various commentaries on the subject. Even scholars of the Bible have differing views. My personal thought, however, is that since the devil has not as of yet been confined to what the Bible refers to as the Abyss, also known as "the bottomless pit," and still has limited freedom to roam the earth and cause harm to mankind, Christ has afforded His church the opportunity to join with Him by engaging in spiritual warfare against the forces of Satan.
It's not that the Lord needs us, as He could easily defeat the devil all by Himself, and scripturally He already has. But Christ, who had foreknowledge of us even before the world began, decided to allow His disciples to be participants in the universal defeat of evil.
Jesus himself has chosen those who believe in Him to be partakers of this marvelous honor. He has given to the Church, the "bride of Christ," the role of joining Him in the fight. While He has likewise given us the responsibility of telling the world about the life transforming Gospel, how Christ died for our sins. That He has risen from the grave, thereby defeating death, along with taking upon Himself the eternal punishment that we deserved for those sins.
For now, however, because we live in fleshly bodies which are so easily prone to sin and sickness, the Lord has furnished us with everything we need to withstand our adversary and resist his temptations. He has likewise given us, through the Holy Spirit, the power and authority to put the devil to flight.
As the disciples of Messiah Jesus, we need never fear the devil, but we do need to resist him by standing firm in our faith, while having on the "full armor of God." This should include a wise knowledge and skillful use of the Scriptures.
The victory belongs to Jesus, alone. Yet, through the graciousness of our God, He has allowed for the church to share in His glorious triumph over wicked Lucifer.
D.B.
While in another Scripture passage, the Holy Spirit, speaking through the pen of the apostle Paul, tells us to always have on the full armor of God. Why? Because we are in a spiritual wrestling match against the rulers of evil, and we must battle against "wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:10-18).
In Paul's letter to the Ephesian church, he lists all the necessary armor that a disciple of Christ must wear in order to successfully withstand his opponent. And while the "battle belongs to the Lord," as we Christians often like to say, the fact is, we are to stand alongside Him until the victory is won.
To some, this may sound like a paradox. If Christ has already defeated the devil, which He has, then why do we have to stand against him? I've read various commentaries on the subject. Even scholars of the Bible have differing views. My personal thought, however, is that since the devil has not as of yet been confined to what the Bible refers to as the Abyss, also known as "the bottomless pit," and still has limited freedom to roam the earth and cause harm to mankind, Christ has afforded His church the opportunity to join with Him by engaging in spiritual warfare against the forces of Satan.
It's not that the Lord needs us, as He could easily defeat the devil all by Himself, and scripturally He already has. But Christ, who had foreknowledge of us even before the world began, decided to allow His disciples to be participants in the universal defeat of evil.
Jesus himself has chosen those who believe in Him to be partakers of this marvelous honor. He has given to the Church, the "bride of Christ," the role of joining Him in the fight. While He has likewise given us the responsibility of telling the world about the life transforming Gospel, how Christ died for our sins. That He has risen from the grave, thereby defeating death, along with taking upon Himself the eternal punishment that we deserved for those sins.
For now, however, because we live in fleshly bodies which are so easily prone to sin and sickness, the Lord has furnished us with everything we need to withstand our adversary and resist his temptations. He has likewise given us, through the Holy Spirit, the power and authority to put the devil to flight.
As the disciples of Messiah Jesus, we need never fear the devil, but we do need to resist him by standing firm in our faith, while having on the "full armor of God." This should include a wise knowledge and skillful use of the Scriptures.
The victory belongs to Jesus, alone. Yet, through the graciousness of our God, He has allowed for the church to share in His glorious triumph over wicked Lucifer.
D.B.
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