Chapter 57 - Utter Defeat

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The devil and his angels were utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Christ Jesus. As a result, they were rendered powerless, bound, their abode plundered, works destroyed, and they were made a public spectacle. (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Colossians 1:13; 2:15b; 1 John 3:8)

Congruent with the redemptive work of Christ, the New Testament church was justified from all transgression of law, released from the jurisdiction of the rule of law, and rescued from the realm of satanic authority. Justified, it has no remaining guilt related to the transgression of the rule of law. Released, the New Testament church is set free from the demands of the rule of law. Rescued, it is delivered from satanic authority. Consequently, the New Testament church is “holy and blameless and beyond reproach” in relation to the demands of the divine rule of law and therefore, beyond accusation in regard to its transgression. (Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Colossians 1:22)

Roaring Defeat

Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion” in order to keep the New Testament church from recognizing his powerlessness. (1 Peter 5:8) His roaring is nothing more than a distraction. It is a desperate attempt to keep the ecclesia of God from knowing about his utter defeat:

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Defeat of Satan

1. The defeat of Satan was initiated on earth by the arrival of God manifested in human flesh, Jesus the Christ.

Through the Christ, the redemptive presence of God entered into the realm of satanic authority, the “domain of darkness.”
He established the precedent for divine life (zoe) indwelling mankind on the darkened earth.

2. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.

The earthly ministry of the Christ was inclusive of His defeat of the devil during the "wilderness temptation."
More generally, the earthly ministry of the Christ included the proclamation of the Gospel, the release of captives, the healing of the sick, the oppressed set free and the dead raised. (Matthew 11:5; Luke 4:18)
The entire earthly ministry of the Christ provided a clear demonstration of the attributes of the divine nature, including but not limited to the attributes of selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice.

3. The defeat of Satan was advanced by Christ's fulfillment of the rule of law on earth.

Concordant with eternal plan, fallen mankind on earth is subject to the rule of law (law of sin and of death).

The rule of law is “holy and righteous and good.”
The justice of God demands the fulfillment of the righteous requirement of the rule of law.
The righteous requirement of the rule of law is perfect obedience.
The justice of God demands the fulfillment of the righteous requirement of the rule of law.
Despite its demand, fallen mankind does not possess the capacity to fulfill the righteous requirement of the rule of law. He is unrighteous by nature.
Moreover, the rule of law does not include any provision to help the fallen fulfill its righteous requirement of perfect obedience.
For benefit of the fallen, the sole purpose of the rule of law was to reveal transgression of law or sin and, thereby, clarify the need of fallen mankind for a Savior.
Relative to the incapacity of fallen mankind to fulfill the righteous requirement of the rule of law, the redemption of the fallen necessitated its fulfillment by the mediatorial work of the Savior.

As evidenced in the New Testament, the requirement of the rule of law on earth was fulfilled by His lifetime of righteous obedience.

The righteousness of Christ was imputed to the New Testament church.
By the imputation of Christ's righteousness, the requirement of the rule of law was fulfilled in the New Testament church.
While Satan can justly accuse the fallen of the transgression of the rule of law, he cannot justly accuse the redeemed of the New Testament church of transgression.
Satan was disarmed against the New Testament church by Christ’s perfect fulfillment of the requirement of the rule of law and the subsequent imputation of His righteousness to the church.

Nevertheless, the transgression of the rule of law remains Satan’s primary point of contention with mankind. He is the “father of lies.”

4. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the divine fulfillment of the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant.

The willing death of Jesus the Christ paid in full the penalty and debt of all human transgression of the rule of law (law of sin and of death).
Demonstrating His acceptance of the efficacy of the sacrificial death, the heavenly Father facilitated the resurrection and ascension of the Son.

5. The defeat of Satan was advanced when the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant was applied to the elect of the New Testament church.

The elect of the New Testament church were justified from all transgression of the rule of law (law of sin and of death).

The penalty and debt of all transgression of the rule of law was imputed to the account of Jesus the Christ.
Concordant with the application of His sacrificial death, the penalty and debt of all transgression of the rule of law by the elect of the New Testament church was paid in full and, as a consequence, they were forgiven of all transgression of the rule of law; past, present, and future.
The righteousness of God in human flesh was imputed to the account of the elect of the New Testament church.
As a result, God declared the elect of the New Testament church righteous with an eternally binding declaration.

Forgiven of all transgression of the rule of law and declared righteous, the elect of the New Testament church became legally suitable to share life with God in Jesus Christ, the mediator of the Eternal Covenant.
Joined to God by a union of shared life, the elect of the New Testament church are positioned in perfect victory and incomparable power with the ascended Christ at the right hand of the heavenly Father.

6. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the rescue of the redeemed of the New Testament church from the “domain of darkness.”

Justified from all transgression of the rule of law and joined to God in an intimate union of shared life, the redeemed of the New Testament church have been rescued from the realm of satanic authority.

Satan’s abode, his darkened realm of authority gained by the abdication of Adam, was plundered.
The redeemed of the New Testament church were transferred from subjection to his authority.

As a result, Satan has no authority over the redeemed of the New Testament church.

7. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the release of the redeemed of the New Testament church from bondage to the rule of law (law of sin and of death).

Concordant with the eternal plan, the redeemed of the New Testament church on earth are not subject to the rule of law.

The requirement of the rule of law was fulfilled by the righteous life of Christ on earth. He was without sin (transgression of the law).
The penalty and debt of all transgression of the rule of law by the elect was paid in full by the death of Christ.
Intimacy with God required that the redeemed of the New Testament church be released from bondage to the rule of law.

As a result, the sinful nature of the redeemed was “rendered powerless” to control and condemn and, therefore, Satan was “rendered powerless” to accuse.

8. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the transference of the redeemed of the New Testament church to the kingdom of God.

Made legally suitable and organically compatible with God, the redeemed of the New Testament church were transferred to the kingdom of God, the realm of divine authority.
With heavenly citizenship, the redeemed of the New Testament church exist in the eternally secure realm of divine authority.

9. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the liberation of the redeemed of the New
Testament church from the rule of law to the glory of rule by indwelling life (zoe).

Justified from all transgression of the rule of law, the redeemed of the New Testament church were made legally suitable to enjoy an intimate union of life with God.

The redeemed of the New Testament church were made accommodative of divine life (zoe) by means of regeneration.
The redeemed of the New Testament church were indwelt by divine life (zoe) through means of spiritual birth.
Joined to God by an intimate union of shared life, the redeemed of the New Testament church were released from the demands of the rule of law.

The redeemed of the New Testament church are obligated to God by the intimacy of the gracious rule of indwelling life (zoe).

10. The defeat of Satan will be secured at the Second Coming.

The confinement of Satan and the redemptive work of Christ on earth for 1000 years will serve to vindicate the nature of God from angelic challenge, accusation or scheme related to the nation of Israel.

11. The defeat of Satan will be completed shortly after the Second Coming.

The vindication of the divine nature will then be sufficiently fulfilled and the justice of God fully satisfied.
Satan will be temporarily released from confinement and his final defeat decisively demonstrated.
Afterward the devil and his angels will be “thrown into the lake of fire” for eternity.

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Powerless, Bound, Unarmored, and Disarmed

Satan is utterly defeated. Thus, he no longer has authority over the New Testament church. Concordant with the redemptive work of Christ, he was bound; his abode plundered (his abode is his realm of authority; the “domain of darkness”); and his works destroyed. (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 3:8) In addition, he is without armor, disarmed, and powerless. (Luke 11:22; Colossians 2:15a; Hebrews 2:14) Moreover, the devil and his angels were made a public spectacle. (they were exposed as shattered, empty, and defeated to the heavenly host) (Colossians 2:15b)

Powerless, bound, unarmored, and disarmed, Satan was left with only one means to oppose the object of his intense hatred and jealousy, the New Testament church. His sole weapon against the church is falsehood. Jesus said, “[Satan]…does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

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"Spiritual" Warfare

The lies and deceptive schemes of the devil and his angels are spiritual in nature. They are derived from fallen spiritual beings that exist in a fallen spiritual abode. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Spiritual lies that are derived from a spiritual source can influence life in the physical realm. However, they cannot be defended by physical weaponry.

Deceptiveness that is spiritual in source and nature can only effectively be combatted through spiritual weaponry. “…the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely (and thus, spiritually) powerful.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Satan enjoys spending time with the believer that attempts to employ the physical weaponry in spiritual battle. He is not moved or intimidated by unbiblical strategies, formulas, religious prayers, etc.

All temptation to fight spiritual battle in the physical realm with fleshly weapons must be resisted. Instead, the New Testament church is to “…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” and “put on the full armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

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New Testament Church

The New Testament church has an essential purpose in God’s eternal plan. (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 4:3; Revelation 13:8) He designed it to contribute to the vindication of His nature from angelic challenge and accusation and to facilitate the repopulation of His kingdom with willing citizens predominantly from the Gentile nations.

Despite constant, spiritual opposition, the New Testament church actively participates in the vindication of the divine nature by willfully choosing to fellowship with God. Contrary to the historical example provided by the devil and his angels, it serves to demonstrate that the creatures of God can freely choose God above self-interest. The outcome is a progressive display of the attributes of the nature of God in a concurrent and unbiased fashion within the confines of time. It is witnessed by the entire heavenly host.

Demonstrating the divine nature on earth, the New Testament church is a source of public humiliation that ultimately reveals the fallen angels as foolish, weak, and defeated. As a result, they view it with intense hatred.

The fallen angels recognize that the New Testament church is a primary instrument for the repopulation of the kingdom of God. Through its ministry, it is clear to them that they are being replaced in the kingdom with undeserving, inferior human beings. Thus, they view the church not only with intense hatred but also with great jealousy.

Although the devil is utterly defeated, the eternal purpose of God allows him to prowl “around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” It is for that reason Peter exhorts, “…resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

© 2022 James Hiatt

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