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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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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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